Lowcountry Connection to Michael Jackson

As the world mourns the death of Michael Jackson, one Lowcountry man remembers his time in Detroit with the Jackson 5.

Anthony McKnight of Charleston wants the Palmetto State to remember the Lowcountry connection to the Jackson 5 and their most famous member, Michael Jackson.

James Jamerson, of Edisto Island, played bass guitar on many of the Jackson 5 studio tracks including the popular “I Want You Back.“ McKnight, Jamerson’s cousin, says the bassist even helped Jermaine Jackson learn advance techniques on the insturment.

Though Jamerson died in 1983, McKnight says his legacy will live on forever in his music - the music of early Michael Jackson and dozens of other artists.

McKnight said we will probably never see a musical artist as iconic as Jackson in our lifetimes. He says we have lost a world treasure with the King of Pop’s death.

McKnight remembers visiting Jamerson in Detroit and hanging out with the Jacksons. While the world remembers the icon, he listens to old Jackson 5 tracks and his cousin who lives in the cords of unforgettable music that changed world.