Michael Jackson Open Casket And Funeral Details

A Quick Look Back Through History - This Rise And Rise Of Michael Jackson

There are few who have not heard of the name ‘Michael Jackson.’ His music was the soundtrack to the core memories of an entire generation or two back in the day, spanning several decades from the sixties to the new millennium. 

A pop singer, dancer and entertainer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of all time, Michael Jackson rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Motown group The Jackson 5. Later, he went on to achieve massive success as a solo artist, thanks to hit music videos such as Thriller, Beat It and Black or White. 

During the peak of his career, he was famously known for his signature high-pitched voice, electrifying stage presence, and the moonwalk dance move. Jackson’s music revolutionized the industry and continues to remain iconic to this day. His impact on pop music is undeniable, and he was rightly dubbed the King of Pop. 

Jackson also won numerous awards, including 13 Grammy Awards and 26 Billboard Music Awards. His top albums like Thriller, Bad and Dangerous have sold hundreds of millions of copies worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Furthermore, his influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary artists and his music continues to be popular even today.

The Loss Of A Legend - Michael Jackson Dies At 50

In June 2009, the world lost the legend, who was aged only 50 at the time. Jackson passed away due to acute propofol intoxication in the morning of June 25, 2009. The night before his passing, the King of Pop was enthusiastic and had great energy all through his rehearsal at the Staples Center, Los Angeles. The rehearsal concluded at around 9 PM, after which Jackson returned to his home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood in the wee hours of the following morning. 

It was then that trouble began. Jackson found it hard to fall asleep on account of his chronic insomnia. His physician, Conrad Murray, was by his side and offered him different drugs to induce sleep, including ativan, diazepam, midazolam and lorazepam. The drugs were to no avail, following which Jackson repeatedly asked his physician for a dose of the powerful sedative propofol. 

After this, Murray left Jackson’s bedside for a while and returned, only to find the latter had a weak pulse and was not breathing. The physician allegedly administered the drug to counteract the overdose, tried to revive Jackson using CPR and called for help. The paramedics also tried to revive the legend for over 40 minutes, but to no avail. 

In the following weeks, an investigation was launched into the death of the King of Pop. And on August 28, 2009, Michael Jackson’s death was ruled as a homicide by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner. Further, in November 2011, Conrad Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter leading to the death of Michael Jackson. 

The Final Goodbye - Michael Jackson’s Casket And Funeral Details

Nearly a fortnight after his demise, a public memorial service was held for Michael Jackson on July 7, 2009 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Jackson’s final resting place was the gorgeous gold-plated Promethean casket made of solid bronze by the Batesville Casket Company. Back then, it cost around $25,000. Jackson’s brothers escorted the casket during the memorial service. Later, the remains of the legend were interred on September 3, 2009 at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale.

Prior to the public memorial service, a private service was held for the legend’s family and close friends at the Hall of Liberty in Hollywood Hills. Here, the box used was an open casket, so friends and family could view and bid goodbye to Jackson one last time. Family in attendance recalled that Jackson looked peaceful, like he was simply sleeping. 

Buying An Open Casket In Today’s Times

Open casket funerals continue to remain popular even today. What’s more, it is now possible to buy a casket of your choice online, without the hassle of having to visit multiple stores in person to find the perfect casket for a ceremony. Whether you wish to host an open casket funeral or to hold a traditional closed casket ceremony, you can find the ideal casket at our online store. Check out the wide range of casket options on offer and compare the models to find what you’re looking for.