Paul McCartney has released a statement to say that his memories of working with Michael Jackson "will be happy ones."

The pair worked together on tracks including Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine"and McCartney solo tracks "Say Say Say" and "The Man," before falling out in 1985 after Jackson won the bidding for the rights to over 200 Beatles catalogue songs.

McCartney has said about his former friend: "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever and my memories of our time together will be happy ones."

Jackson bought ATV music, copyright owners of Lennon/ McCartney-penned Beatles songs, for $47.5m. However, Jackson was forced to agree a $95m deal with Sony a decade later when he ran into money troubles.

New York Mourns Michael Jackson’s Death : Al Sharpton Makes Statement

(AP) People moonwalked outside the Apollo Theater, where Michael Jackson performed as a child, and texted their friends from around Times Square on Thursday to spread the word that the King of Pop was dead.
A low groan went up from a crowd outside Times Square as a JumboTron screen flashed the news that Jackson had died in Los Angeles at age 50. People pulled out their cell phones to alert their friends.
"No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow," Michael Harris read from a text message a friend sent to his phone.
"It's like when Kennedy was assassinated," he said. "I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died."
At the Apollo, where Jackson first performed with his brothers at age 9 in 1969, the billboard was cleared for the message, "In Memory of Michael Jackson. A True Apollo Legend."
Outside the theater, the Rev. Al Sharpton, a friend of Jackson, spoke to a crowd of people who were clutching the singer-dancer's pictures, playing his music and trying to imitate his signature moonwalk moves.
"Way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama, Michael did with music what they later did in sports and in politics and in television," the civil rights leader said.
Sharpton, who also knew James Brown well, said he remembered how Jackson called him in the middle of the night to ask to view the soul legend's body after his death in 2006. He said he last spoke with Jackson a few months ago.
"He talked about how many people had let him down," Sharpton said, "but I told him it didn't matter. He had never let the fans down."
About a dozen people danced outside the theater to Jackson's music, with a boom box blaring "Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough." Traffic stopped in front of the theater while cars honked.
The diverse crowd of youngsters, old folks, blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians looked like a microcosm of Jackson's worldwide fans.
Kevin Crute said he would remember Jackson's music and dancing over controversy in his life.
"Who hasn't tried to do the moonwalk?" asked Crute, 44. "Who hasn't wanted to try on a white glove? He had kids from all over the world trying to wear that glove."
Levon Kennedy said he was driving when he heard about the death and felt he needed to get out of the car and dance.
"Instead of mourning Michael's death, let's celebrate him," Kennedy said.
In Times Square, throngs of people stared at the giant television screen and chatted with friends about the news.
The Madame Tussauds wax museum moved actor Nicolas Cage's statue from its front window and replaced it with one of Jackson, in his red "Thriller" jacket and black pants. Lines of young men stood in front of the window snapping pictures. People paused briefly to smile at the entertainer's image.
Iddos Abagaro stood quietly. The Ethiopian native recalled singing Jackson's songs before he learned to speak English.
"He transcended cultural barriers," Abagaro said. "His music inspired many Africans growing up."
Arthur Murray refused to believe Jackson had died.
"I won't believe it until I see it," Murray said. "He's so well preserved. He can't die."
Just before a performance of the musical "The Wiz" at Manhattan's City Center, a loudspeaker came on and announced, "We would like to dedicate tonight's show to one of the world's most inspiring artists, Michael Jackson." The crowd cheered.
Jackson played the Scarecrow in the 1978 movie based on the original Broadway musical, an African-American take on "The Wizard of Oz."


NEW YORK, NY – June 25, 2009 - Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and profoundly influential artists of all-time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture.
Commenting on his passing, Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman, CEO and President, Sony Corporation, said: “Michael Jackson was a brilliant troubadour for his generation, a genius whose music reflected the passion and creativity of an era. His artistry and magnetism changed the music landscape forever. We have been profoundly affected by his originality, creativity and amazing body of work. The entire Sony family extends our deepest condolences to his family and to the millions of fans around the world who loved him.”
Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, Sony Music Entertainment, said: “Michael Jackson’s unsurpassed artistry and beloved music brought joy to every corner of the world. We join today with his millions of fans in expressing our profound sadness and we offer our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. It was a true privilege for all of us in the Sony Music family to work with one of the most talented superstars in the history of music. We will miss him greatly.”
Martin Bandier, Chairman & CEO of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said: “Michael was the kind of amazing talent that comes along once in a lifetime. He was an incredible recording artist, an insightful businessman, an unmatched performer, and a true icon. To all of us at Sony/ATV Music Publishing, he was also a trusted and passionate partner, who was very proud of our accomplishments. He will be dearly missed. We wish his children and entire family our deepest condolences.” Five of Jackson’s solo albums - “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” “Bad,” “Dangerous” and “HIStory,” all with Epic Records, a Sony Music label - are among the top-sellers of all time. During his extraordinary career, he sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Guinness Book of World Records recognized Jackson as the Most Successful Entertainer of All Time and “Thriller” as the Biggest Selling Album of All Time. Jackson won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award.
Michael Jackson started in the music business at the age of 11 with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5. In the early 1980s, he defined the art form of music video with such ground-breaking videos as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and the epic “Thriller.” Jackson’s sound, style and dance moves inspired subsequent generations of pop, soul, R&B and hip-hop artists.