WagooMusic

CARDIFF, Wales — as his physician stands trial in his death, Michael Jackson was honored halfway around the world Saturday in a tribute concert..

Michael Jackson’s three children — Prince, Paris and Blanket — attended the concert and went on stage to introduce a video appearance by Beyonce.

A sell-out crowd of 50,000 people attended the concert, organizers said after the event.

Marlon Jackson said the event commemorated his brother’s life.

“The message today is have a great time and remember him as a positive person and all the different things that he stood for — not just his music but the human side of him.”

Only one scheduled performer didn’t make the concert: Jennifer Hudson, according to spokeswoman Dee McCourt of concert organizer Global Live Events.

In comments before performing, Smokey Robinson said Michael Jackson would have approved of the event — though it has stirred controversy within the Jackson family.

“I think Michael would have loved it. I am not sure he is not watching any way and that he is not smiling,” Robinson said.

Robinson noted how Jackson’s doctor is now standing trial in Los Angeles for allegedly causing Jackson’s death.

“I actually wish it was in Los Angeles so that it could really counteract the trial, so that people could have a positive image in their head about what is happening with Michael rather than what’s going on with the trial,” Robinson said.

The “Michael forever: the Tribute Concert” was held in the 75,000-seat Millennium Stadium, but many of those seats weren’t being used for the concert.

Ticket prices ranged from about $54 to about $155, another concert spokeswoman said.

The event was billed as “a worthy celebration of Michael’s life,” in the words of his mother, who McCourt said attended the event but didn’t appear on stage.

But the concert has been mired in controversy since its inception — especially about its timing.

Concert organizers also said they were not allowed to show any footage of Jackson singing or play his song tracks because of copyright issues. the concert consisted of artists doing their own renditions of Jackson songs.

Members of the Jackson family who performed on stage included brothers Tito, Marlon and Jackie — and 3T, which consists of Tito Jackson’s three sons, McCourt said.

Michael Jackson’s sister LaToya also sang at the concert, McCourt said.

Other artists performing at the concert included Cee Lo Green, Christina Aguilera, Gladys Knight, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Craig David, JLS and Alien Ant Farm, McCourt said.

But sister Janet Jackson didn’t attend. Neither did brothers Jermaine and Randy, who both have criticized the timing of the event, which is coinciding with the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray.

The Jackson family has been publicly split over the concert since Tito, Marlon, Jackie, LaToya and family matriarch Katherine Jackson announced their support for it in July.

“We want to make clear that this does not reflect the position of the entire family,” Jermaine and Randy Jackson said in a joint statement. “While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honors our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael’s death.”

Katherine Jackson has told CNN that she understood her children’s objections to the timing of the show, but she felt the event was appropriate.

While she said she will attend most of the Murray trial, she traveled to Wales for the tribute.

In a statement on the concert’s website, Katherine Jackson said she was “greatly honored” that Global Live Events planned the concert in memory of her son.

“Michael gave his entire life to the world through his love, his music and his devotion to healing the planet. It is with great gratitude for me to give my complete blessing and full support to what I consider to be the one and only Official Michael Jackson Tribute Concert,” Katherine Jackson wrote.

“I am positive that this event will be an event great enough in scale, talent and imagination to form a worthy celebration of Michael’s life. It is intended to be the biggest, and the best concert event in the world for many years to come. this is how Michael would have wanted it and I am sure it will be exactly that,” she added.

Waiting to enter the concert, fan Mandy Meek said she gets choked up at the thought of Michael Jackson — and his personal travails.

“I think he had bad press. [It’s] not nice what he went through. nobody understood him. nobody thinks about his childhood. Perhaps if we all had a childhood like that, we would be misunderstood,” Meek said.

A Jackson family source earlier told CNN that the plan to have the Michael forever tribute carried live on Facebook for $3.99 was canceled because the labels who own the music rights to the Michael Jackson songs to be performed denied broadcast rights to concert producers.

Walk through the storied gates of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, then view his personal book collection in a study filled with his actual furniture.

Peek inside the interior of the 1999 Rolls-Royce Seraph limousine Michael designed himself with 24-karat gold embellishments, then check out the 10-foot-tall statue created for the HIStory tour. get the feel of Michael’s music videos by wandering through the spaceship set used in ”Scream,” sit in the actual throne from the Egyptian-themed set of ”Remember the Time,” then stand before the hostile tank from the live concert performance of ”Earth Song.”

Never has there been an artist like Michael Jackson and never has there been a more intimate and personal glimpse into the career and life of the King of Pop than what will be assembled during the first-ever Estate-authorized Michael Jackson Fan Fest. Scheduled for December 3-14 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the event coincides with the kick off of the extended Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour (click link to book) stop in Las Vegas during December. The Michael Jackson Fan Fest will only be in Las Vegas and will not travel to any other tour stop.

”we are thrilled to offer Michael’s fans an opportunity to experience his life and career up close through the Fan Fest while they also enjoy Cirque du Soleil’s spectacular tribute to his creativity as an artist in  Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour,” said the Executors of the Michael Jackson Estate, John Branca and John McClain.

”Michael Jackson Fan Fest will add an unparalleled addition to Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour’s extended three-week run at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino,” says Daniel Lamarre, President and CEO of Cirque du Soleil. ”Fan Fest gives fans the opportunity to experience Michael Jackson as a man, iconic performer and immortalized legend.”

Michael Jackson Fan Fest is designed to transport guests on a journey through Michael Jackson’s life, beginning with his rise to stardom through his pop super stardom and beyond as he is immortalized through fan art, photos and Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour. throughout the experience, fans will have access to rare memorabilia and have the opportunity to take their own photos in recreated sets of the historic music videos and to play the Michael Jackson The Experience video game with other fans.

A wide variety of other personal items will be on display from both his career and Neverland Ranch. Featured career memorabilia will include costumes, the Fantasy glove collection from the 1980s, award statues, tickets, the famed rocket plane from the ”Leave me Alone” video, a castle displayed in the living room of Neverland and others. for a photo gallery of featured items please click here: michaeljacksonfanfest.com/#. ( Hi-Res Photos available Upon Request.)

Each session of Michael Jackson Fan Fest will last for four hours and will allow visitors time enjoy without overlapping each performance of THE IMMORTAL World Tour shows December 3-14 in Mandalay Bay’s Bayside Exhibit Halls. Fan Fest will be open from 12-4pm and 5-9pm on December 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and from 2-6pm on December 6, 7, 13, and 14. Tickets for Fan Fest can be purchased in conjunction with Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour or individually. Fan Fest ticket prices start at $35 plus applicable fees for general admission; $75 for VIP tickets. VIP tickets include priority entrance into the event and all activities within the event, a commemorative lanyard and access to the VIP-only lounge. for more information or to purchase tickets, guests can visit: michaeljacksonfanfest.com or cirquedusoleil.com/lasvegas.

Book now and Save: Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World TourBook now and Save: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY

The first bodyguard to reach Michael Jackson’s bedroom after the singer’s doctor called for help testified Thursday that he was told by the physician to gather medicine vials before calling 911.

Alberto Alvarez said Dr. Conrad Murray grabbed the vials from a nightstand next to Jackson, who was still in his bed.

“he said ‘here, put these in a bag.’ ” Alvarez said of Murray. Alvarez said at first he thought he was bagging the items in preparation for a trip to the hospital. he said he trusted Murray because he was a doctor.

“In my personal experience, I believed Dr. Murray had the best intentions for Mr. Jackson,” Alvarez said. “I didn’t question his authority.”

Deputy District Attorney David Walgren showed Alvarez and jurors a vial of propofol while the bodyguard was on the stand at the third day of Murray’s involuntary manslaughter trial. Murray has pleaded not guilty.

Jurors intently looked at the bottle, which appeared to still contain some liquid.Prosecutors are calling key witnesses in an attempt to show Murray delayed calling authorities on the day the King of Pop was found lifeless and was intent on concealing indications that he had been giving the singer doses of the surgical anesthetic.

At times during Alvarez’s testimony, he looked directly at Murray, who occasionally passed notes to his attorney.

When he entered the bedroom, Alvarez said, he saw Jackson’s eyes were open and was surprised to see the singer was wearing a condom catheter, a medical device that allows one to urinate without having to get up.

Alvarez testified that Murray only told him Jackson had a bad reaction.

Walgren played Alvarez’s 911 call for jurors. “He’s pumping the chest, but he’s not responding to anything, sir,” Alvarez told the dispatcher, urging them to send an ambulance quickly.

He said, after hanging up with dispatchers, he performed chest compressions on Jackson while Murray gave the singer mouth-to-mouth resuscitation efforts. The doctor remarked it was his first time performing the procedure.

“‘I have to,’” Alvarez recalled Murray telling him, “‘this is my friend.’”

Earlier, Alvarez testified that Jackson was in good spirits at a rehearsal on the night before he died.

“he was very happy,” Alvarez testified. “I do recall he was in very good spirits.”

Prosecutors have been calling witnesses who were with Jackson and Murray the day the singer died.

Authorities accuse Murray of giving Jackson a lethal dose of the anesthetic propofol in the bedroom.

The jury has already gotten a glimpse into the entertainer’s inner sanctum through photos and testimony.

Alvarez’s testimony will likely be challenged by Murray’s defense attorneys, who on Wednesday questioned Jackson’s head of security and the singer’s personal assistant about why they didn’t reveal certain details about the day Jackson died to police for at least two months.

Defense lawyer Ed Chernoff asked Faheem Muhammad and Michael Amir Williams about whether they conferred with Alvarez before their interviews with detectives.

Williams, who was Jackson’s personal assistant, said his interview with detectives had been delayed. he testified that he received an urgent phone call from Murray on the day of Jackson’s death but wasn’t told to call 911.

He called Muhammad, who then dispatched Alvarez to Jackson’s bedroom on the second floor of the singer’s rented mansion in the ritzy Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The room was off-limits to Jackson’s staff, and Muhammad paused before racing up the stairs after reaching the mansion just before paramedics arrived.

He described a heart-wrenching scene. By then, he said, Jackson had been removed from his bed and was on the floor, where Murray, sweaty and frantic, was performing CPR.

Alvarez was pacing nervously, Muhammad told the jury. when he saw Jackson up close, he understood why.

“what did you observe about his face,” prosecutor David Walgren asked

“that his eyes were open,” Muhammad said. “that his mouth was slightly open.”

“did he appear to be dead,” Walgren asked.

The bodyguard soon noticed that Jackson’s children, Prince and Paris, had gathered by the doorway.

“Paris was on the ground, balled up crying,” Muhammad said. he ushered the children out of the room, and then into a sport utility vehicle so they could follow the ambulance to the hospital.

Some of the scenes recounted by Muhammad will likely be repeated Thursday as prosecutors work to fill in other details about Murray’s behavior after finding Jackson unconscious.

Also expected to testify on Thursday are Kai Chase, a chef who spoke to Murray briefly on the morning of Jackson’s death, and paramedics who also tried to revive the singer. The medics believed Jackson was already dead by the time they arrived, but Murray insisted the performer be taken to a hospital for additional resuscitation efforts.

Prosecutors contend Murray did not tell any of the bodyguards or emergency personnel that he had been giving Jackson propofol and other sedatives to help him sleep.

Chernoff claimed in opening statements that Jackson gave himself the lethal dose.

Much of the trial in later sessions will focus on the science of what killed Jackson, and dueling theories of Murray’s role.