Pocono News Section

Michael Jackson Fan Remembers '80s Phase

Michael Jackson Fan Remembers '80s Phase - Friday, June 26, 2009 at 3:51PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Friday, Jun 26, 2009 @ 03:51pm EST

WEST SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY -- Back in 1984, MTV was three years old, 25-year-old Michael Jackson was the star, and 7-year-old Bradley Turi of Scranton thought he was the next big thing.

Twenty-five years later, the Health and Phys Ed teacher at West Scranton High School remembers the story we did with him.

"Obviously, if you grew up in the '80s, he was a household name," said Bradley Turi of West Scranton. "I'm sure I'm justified in saying he's one of the greatest entertainers of all time. But yesterday, I was shocked. I never expected him to die that young."

Turi's not as big of a fan now, as he was in the '80s.

"Every day, after school, he practices for about a half hour," said his mom, Catheryne, in the 1984 interview. "I cook dinner while listening."

But according to Turi's friends, those days aren't so long ago. They remind him of his Jackson-wannabe days at wedding receptions.

"They'll put on a Michael Jackson song and call me out and give me a hard time," added Bradley. We asked him if he could still do the moonwalk. "I can't do any of that now. I'm the most uncoordinated dancer."

But back in the day, Bradley was confident in his fancy footwork.

"I don't want to be in a ballet class or take dancing lessons," he told us in 1984. "Because I know how to dance."

He donned a glittered coat and single white glove like Jackson did.

"I'm sorry to say I don't have them anymore," said Bradley. "I shed those long, long ago."

But mom has a surprise.

"I saved the jacket and the glove," laughed Catheryne. "Bradley doesn't know it."

And in keeping with the '80s theme, we handed Bradley a VHS copy of the story we did with him back in 1984. Maybe he'll burn it onto DVD.

Bradley laughed -- "I'll try to hide this from my friends."

Or maybe, he'll just burn it.