Michael Jackson tribute show set New Year’s Eve in Pasco

Michael Firestone moved around a lot as a kid.

His father was in the Air Force, and the family would pull up roots every four years or so.

New base. New city. New school. New friends.

Amid all that, “music was one thing that never really changed,” Firestone said.

The music of Michael Jackson, in particular, was inspiring.

Somewhere along the way, Firestone discovered he sounded a lot like the King of Pop. Danced like him too.

He’s parlayed that into a successful career as a Michael Jackson tribute artist, appearing on TV and performing around the U.S. and beyond.

Firestone, based in Las Vegas, is bringing his I AM KING to the TRAC facility in Pasco on New Year’s Eve.

Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show starts at 8 p.m.

“We cover a lot” in the production, Firestone said, from Jackson 5 songs to solo smashes like Smooth Criminal and Thriller.

Beat It is a crowd favorite. “People also love when I do Human Nature. That’s one people always talk about,” Firestone added.

He also loved other artists growing up, from Jimi Hendrix to Oasis. But there’s something about Jackson’s music, Firestone said.

“It leaves you in a better state of mind,” he said.

Take, Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough. “That beat, that whole song — he wanted to make people happy. That song makes you happy,” Firestone said. “It’s like the BeeGees meets James Brown and Prince. That song comes on and you can’t really have a bad day.”

Firestone, who also is a painter and a singer-songwriter, met Jackson before the star’s 2009 death.

He entered a songwriting contest, and the top prize was the chance to work on a tune with Jackson.

Firestone came in second, he said, but Jackson contacted him a while later.

“It was amazing,” Firestone said, describing Jackson as having a positive spirit.

Firestone said Jackson “doesn’t need any impersonator to keep him alive.” The music does that.

But he likes the thought of inspiring show-goers to dig deeper into Jackson’s canon.

He looks forward to the Pasco show.

“I love it when the crowd starts singing along,” he said. “We get them singing along.”

Advance tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for kids 17 and younger. The cost goes up $2 the day of the show. A limited number of $45 VIP passes are available.

Tickets are available at TRAC, the Red Lion Hotel in Pasco, the Kennewick Ranch and Home and www.traconline.com.

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Michael Jackson tribute show set New Year’s Eve in Pasco."