I never would have thought that a budding music star like Michael Jackson would make it to my hometown. But he and his brothers arrived in Sedalia to perform at the 1972 Missouri State Fair.

The group and little Michael were a favorite of my younger sisters. I can vividly see the album cover for “Got To Be There” next to our stereo, and they also owned several of his 45 RPM singles. They were certainly big fans of his music and dancing and were eager to see him. So was I and many others in the city.

The thought that such famous entertainment was actually going to be in our midst generated much excitement, especially for a 10-year-old and his family and friends. The wait for the Aug. 22, 1972, concert was all the buzz in our little West Third Street neighborhood (primarily among the kids, of course). I can’t quite recall how we secured the tickets, but am certain that there were plenty of people with connections in town who managed to snag the choice admission.

Flash forward to the concert itself, and it turned out to be the large-scale scene we had anticipated and much more. People packed in to the grandstand to such an extent that I don’t think anyone else could fit in and still breathe.

This was an event not just headlined by the Jackson 5, but also oddly included performances by the The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a cameo by Bob Hope. Old Ski Nose came in by helicopter — his trademark golf club in tow — did a brief stint of his zingy one-liners (perhaps a few about the Jacksons, I’m sure), and then was back in the air almost as soon as he landed. I think we heard that he was heading back to California. He may have been all decked out military-style as if he were hamming it up for one of his famous USO shows.

But clearly this was all about the Jackson 5 and a kid just a bit older than me who exhibited quite a bit of talent. Just ask the Dirt Band. Their sound system couldn’t hold a candle to the Jacksons, whose songs boomed across the fairgrounds at ear-throttling decibels. It took time for me to remember this, but they did perform a loud version of their hit “The Love You Save.”

My apologies to Jeff Hanna and John McEuen of NGDB, but a mandolin and banjo just don’t compete with electric guitars and keyboards. They did a nice job performing “Mr. Bojangles” and their other songs.

I remember that when it came time for the Jacksons to perform, a certain number of spectators decided they could not see the stage well enough without standing. It caused some frustration for those of us who preferred our chairs — despite the long sight distance to the stage — but thankfully it didn’t escalate into a major problem.

As advertised, the young Michael didn’t disappoint — spinning across the stage and warbling away into his microphone — as the flashy Jacksons performed their early ’70s hits to everyone’s delight.

The night turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable experience and fans of all three acts left satisfied. A lot has been said about the controversial side of Michael Jackson these last few days, but I’m preferring to remember him as the sharp kid who showed he could really sing and dance — even when it came to a little ol’ Midwestern state fair right in my hometown.

Ray Scherer, a region reporter for the News-Press, has worked at the paper since 1999. He has worked at Missouri daily and weekly newspapers in Richmond, Trenton, California and Louisiana. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg in 1985. In 1982, he earned an associate of arts degree from State Fair Community College in his hometown of Sedalia, Mo. Besides traveling, he enjoys reading and most sports.