July 7, 2009 18:49

Stevie Wonder pays tribute to Michael Jackson at memorial service

Motown legend Berry Gordy: 'Michael was like a son to me'

Photo Gallery: Michael Jackson
Photo: Pa Photos

Stevie Wonder got emotional as he paid tribute to Michael Jackson at his memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles today (July 7).

Seated at his piano, Wonder - who was a child star like Jackson - began by saying: "This is a moment I wished I didn't live to see come."

Although the singer appeared to be very distraught, he added: "I do know that God is good, and although we need Michael here with us, God must have needed him far more."

Wonder went on to perform 'Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer', saying: "I never imagined I'd write a song and send it to Quincy Jones. You did this song so incredibly."

Before Wonder's performance, Motown legend Berry Gordy delivered a lengthy speech that received many cheers from the crowd.

The Motown record label founder said that Jackson "studied the greats and became even greater... Motown mourns the death of our friend and brother who was like a son to me".

"His iconic moonwalk was magic," he added. "Michael Jackson went into orbit and never came down. He's simply the greatest entertainer who ever lived," Gordy concluded, which caused the crowd to cheer for several minutes.

Stay tuned to NME.COM for live updates throughout Jackson's memorial service.

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Click to see a gallery of images from the memorial here.

--By our Los Angeles staff.
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