Ca$hing In On Michael Jackson

By Marcus Gilmer in Miscellaneous on Jul 8, 2009 8:40PM

It was only a matter of time, but JWR Tours has beat others to the punch to open a "hometown" tour of Michael Jackson-related sites around the area. According to the company's website
[via CBN]:

Share in the rich history of 2300 Jackson Street in Gary, Indiana as J W R Tours takes you to the place where it all began. Our buses leave from Chicago and take you safely to 2300 Jackson Street, the origin of the Jackson legend. Along the way you'll be treated to a history lesson on life in Gary during the time the Jackson family was being formed. The people and places that make up the environment from which the King of Pop sprang will guide you through life back then and bring you face-to-face with greatness.

Of course, it'll cost you $55 for an adult and $45 for a child to take the tour of places like like the Jackson family home, MJ's junior high school, and even "the corner store they went to often for bread."

Meanwhile, the Sun-Times caught up with Jackson impersonator Rico Hampton to get his thoughts on the passing of the pop legend. Hampton said, "my business has jumped 60 percent." He also expressed genuine emotions tied to Jackson's death as well, adding:

I think once I put the makeup on and look at myself in the mirror it's show time. I get out there, the music gets on and the spirit jumps into my body. I turn into Michael for the few minutes I'm up there.

I realize some of the spirit has left me [since Jackson died]. I feel everything I do and ever since he passed it's kind of like some of that intensity is not there.

I believe I will regain that intensity but it keeps going through my mind that he's not here and he's gone. My heart flutters [onstage] but I try to compose myself.