Someone You Should Know: 'Mini Michael Jackson'
Troy Johnson, 11, Impersonates The King Of Pop's Dance Moves Outside His Chicago Heights Home
A Chicago television tradition returns as Harry Porterfield is settling back in at CBS 2 after being away for 24 years. And Wednesday night, he is bringing back his legendary segment: 'Someone You Should Know.'
Tonight, we meet a young man who was not around during Michael Jackson's heyday but who found himself caught up in the wake of the superstar's afterglow. On his own he decided he wanted his generation never to forget the King of Pop. That's why he is someone you should know.
Right away, you begin to feel that something unusual is about to happen when 11-year-old Troy Johnson steps from his Chicago Heights home wearing a pulled down hat, an ornate jacket and one glove.
One week after the King of Pop passed away, the youngster began staging his own tribute to the superstar each Tuesday and Thursday along Lincoln Highway adjacent to his home.
He'd been studying Jackson since he was 3 years old.
"My mom was a Michael Jackson fan so she had all the videos," Troy said. "And I just started watching 'em and I started to like his dance moves so I started doing 'em, and started practicing so I got better and better."
When asked what he thinks about how people respond to him when they honk their horns and wave while he's dancing, Troy said, "It feels like I'm a mini Michael Jackson because people are giving me credit for what I'm doing like they did to Michael Jackson."
The youngster's street corner performances have become productive. He's already received a number of requests for personal appearances.
His kindergarten schoolteacher mom Torri Johnson provides the music through the radio of her minivan.
"I'm glad to see this because some kids his age don't really know Michael. When they see him dancing, it brings a smile to their face," Torri said. "So that makes me happy, to see that people are still enjoying seeing people move and dance like Michael."
An all A and B student, Troy will be a 6th grader when he goes back to school.
"I feel good because it's like I'm doing something that Michael Jackson liked to do, and I just want to do it for Michael Jackson since he passed," Troy said.
Eleven-year-old Troy Johnson, better known as T.J. - Michael Jackson impersonator, and someone you should know.
CBS / Thanks Joy C!