A year after Michael Jackson’s death caused a worldwide outpouring of shock, tears and tributes, the anniversary of his passing was being marked Friday on a quieter scale, as fans remembered their fallen King of Pop with vigils, prayer and, of course, music.

Some radio stations woke up listeners to Jackson’s music; on U.S. television, all the major networks devoted a portion of their morning news programs to Jackson and more coverage was expected during prime-time hours. Events were planned across the globe, from Tokyo to New York.

Remembrances began even before the official anniversary. On Thursday night, Julia Thomas clutched her "Thriller” liner notes and stood outside the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale, Calif., Jackson’s final resting place, with about two dozen fans.

"Michael has just always been a part of my life,” said the 40-year-old Thomas, who has a tattoo of Jackson’s dancing feet on her left wrist. "I’m just hoping to embrace the fans from everywhere.”

Forest Lawn was to be just one of the many places where Jackson’s fans would gather to remember their hero, who died on June 25, 2009, at age 50 as he was preparing for a series of comeback concerts in London. Dr. Conrad Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson’s death for administering the powerful anesthetic propofol to Jackson to help the pop star sleep.

"I came because I love Michael very much,” Sofianou said Thursday night. "I came to grieve.”

BBC