Tulsa Cousin Of Jackson Mourns His Loss

By Tara Vreeland, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- Michael Jackson has fans that span the entire world. The King of Pop also has family ties to Tulsa.

"I just felt he was a phenomenal singer. Yeah, very unusual. And, he had such a charisma, you know," said Maurice Jackson.

Maurice Jackson is Michael Jackson's second cousin. Maurice's father was Michael's great uncle.

"Singing like that just doesn't come along every day. There's just something special about him," said Maurice Jackson.

Maurice last saw the pop icon years ago when he was touring with the Jackson Five. But, he followed his cousin's career and counts himself as a fan.

"All of them are my favorite. Anything he sang. Billy Jean. All of them. They are all my favorites," said Maurice Jackson.

Another family member called Maurice Jackson to inform him of Michael's passing. He says he can't imagine the tremendous pressure the star was under.

"He was a perfectionist, you know. He had to have everything just perfect and I think that put him under a lot of stress," said Maurice Jackson.

As fans mourn the loss of the legend, his cousin hopes they will remember the musician in a positive light.

"I think you should remember the good things that he did in life. The songs that he did and how he tried to pull people together. Because I feel that Michael was a person that really loved the world," said Maurice Jackson.  "And even in a lot of his music, he expresses that. And, I think that is a legacy that we can all look on with beautiful memories of him."

Jackson's music filled the airwaves around Tulsa as fans remembered the music maven.  KJAMZ and other Tulsa radio stations on Friday played many of Jackson's hits.