Hip-Hop Media Training

Michael Jackson’s Kids Celebrate Dad’s 54th Birthday In Gary, Indiana

By | Hip-Hop Media Training – Wed, Aug 29, 2012 6:17 PM EDT

Paris and Prince Michael Jackson (photo: TMZ)Michael Jackson's children, Prince Michael, Paris and Blanket, are celebrating their father's 54th birthday in his hometown of Gary, Indiana. According to TMZ, the kids traveled with their grandmother, Katherine, aunt, La Toya, and co-guardian, T.J., to participate in the four-day Goin' Back To Indiana: Can You Feel It festival that began Wednesday, Jackson's birthday.

[Related: Judge rules website violated Jackson copyrights]

The events kick off with a Candlelight Tribute Vigil at 8 p.m. at the King Of Pop's old home located at 2300 Jackson Street. Reverend Jesse Jackson will open the program with a "message on love, peace and understanding," according to a statement on the ceremony's Facebook page.

On Thursday, the Jackson children will receive honorary uniforms from the Gary SouthShore RailCats, the city's independent professional baseball team, and will throw the night's first pitch. The game will be preceded by special musical performance by The Gratitude Project and will be followed by a moment of silence.

Blanket (photo: TMZ)Katherine will be recognized on Friday during a dinner reception hosted by Gary mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. On Saturday, a musical salute will be held at the West Side Theatre Guild at West Side High School.

Paris posted a birthday greeting about her father on Twitter. "thru my joy & my sorrow, in the promise of another 2morrow, I'll never let u apart for ur always in my heart … happy birthday I love u daddy," she wrote Wednesday morning.

[Related: Michael Jackson's dad drops wrongful death suit]

Jackson's family left Gary for Los Angeles in 1968 when he was 9-years-old. The Thriller singer said he had a rough childhood. During a 2003 interview for the "Living With Michael Jackson" television special, Jackson recalled being beaten by his father, Joe. Jackson said his dad would sometimes hold a belt in his hand as he watched the Jackson and his brothers rehearse. "If you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you," Jackson said.

Goin' Back to Indiana: Can You Feel It from TIBC on Vimeo.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter.

News for You

  • Restaurant learns online reviews can make or break

    SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — It was the customer service disaster heard around the Internet.

  • Attorney: Donald Trump lied on stand

    CHICAGO (AP) — The attorney for an 87-year-old woman who accuses Donald Trump of cheating her in a skyscraper condo deal told Chicago jurors on Wednesday that he was personally repulsed by the "Apprentice" star whom he said lied on the witness stand.

  • Debbie Reynolds: We all knew Liberace was gay

    BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — In the new film "Behind the Candelabra," veteran entertainer Debbie Reynolds has just three major scenes to flesh out one of the most complicated figures in piano-playing showman Liberace's life: his loving but sometimes manipulative mother Frances.

  • 87-year-old woman loses to Trump in civil case

    CHICAGO (AP) — An 87-year-old grandmother took on billionaire Donald Trump. And on Thursday — she lost.

  • The new consoles from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony

    NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft is the last of the three big video game console makers to unveil its latest gaming system. The unveiling comes nearly eight years after the Xbox 360 went on sale. It follows last fall's debut of Nintendo's Wii U and a preview in February of the upcoming PlayStation 4 from Sony.

  • Singer Kellie Pickler named new 'Dancing' champ

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kellie Pickler came into the final "Dancing With the Stars" episode in second place but finished in first.

Show More