MUSIC fans across the Far North have turned up the volume to pay tribute to music legend Michael Jackson, who died yesterday of a sudden heart attack.

Tears flowed freely and classic Jackson hits were played proudly in many stores and arcades and on local radio stations throughout the city yesterday.

Pictures: Michael Jackson's life and times

Cairns-based dancer Roger G was yesterday mourning "the loss of a brother".

The Brooklyn-born performer said he had the King of Pop to thank for his career, which all began after a successful audition with the late Jackson.

In 1986, a young Roger G met his idol when he performed in the film clip for Jackson’s hit, Bad.

Pictures: Cairns dancer Roger G

"Meeting him was one of the highlights of my life," he said.

Roger G also performed alongside his mentor, dancing with him in his closing set for a show at Paramatta Stadium in Sydney.

"When I was on stage with him doing the closing show, I was just in awe," he said.

A spokesperson for the Cairns JB Hi-fi store said the Thriller star’s back catalogue had been on constant rotation since staff heard the news of Jackson’s death yesterday.

"We have seen quite a few people come in looking, mostly, for his greatest hits," he said.

"We’ve had it playing all morning. I think people are cushioning the pain with music." Port Douglas Hog’s Breath Cafe front of house duty manager Gary Maitland admitted he shed a tear when he heard the news.

"I reckon it is going to be an unofficial tribute week at Hoggy’s. I’m in the kitchen for the next few days so I’ll definitely be blasting it in there," he said.

"I heard the news on the radio while I was driving to my girlfriend’s parents' place and pulled over so I could hear it properly.

"When I saw my girlfriend and told her she ran upstairs and got the greatest hits album and we had a dance around in the lounge room."

ZincFM’s morning presenter John Piva said while Jackson’s antics were not to everyone’s liking, no one could deny the legacy he had left behind and the influence he had on pop culture.

"Unfortunately, a whole generation of people are going to remember him as a reclusive guy who hid under a mask and covered his kids with blankets but I think his influence is up there with his idol's, Elvis Presley," he said.

"He was the first person to cross the rap/pop divide and brought rap music to a lot of white people."

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