Copyright Chicago Tribune
After a musician dies, the average fan would continue to listen to their music, maybe even wear some of the artist’s merchandise. But to some, Michael Jackson is considered the greatest musician to walk the Earth, so his fans may be a little different. Enrico “Rico” Hampton isn’t your average Michael Jackson fan. He’s loved the “Bad” album since its debut in 1987, specifically songs like “Dirty Diana” and “The Way You Make Me Feel.” So every weekend, he dons makeup, boots, gloves and goes wherever he’s called. He’s performed for everyone from Louis Farrakhan to the Chicago Bulls over the years. For baby showers, a 100-year-old’s birthday or social-media live streams, Hampton is only a moonwalk away. Now, with the rise of short video platforms like TikTok and Instagram, the Ashburn resident is connecting with the next generation of Michael Jackson fans who never had the chance to see the legend perform live. Last November, a video of Hampton dancing with a woman at a nursing home that he posted on his TikTok page got a combined 50,000-plus views over two posts. Another video of Hampton sliding on the ground towards a guest at an event went viral in August, with a repost viewed more than 8 million times. Since then, he’s gotten calls to perform in Los Angeles and on the East Coast on top of his regular circuit in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. “It’s been a really interesting ride over these last few months,” he said. Hampton, 57, grew up in North Lawndale and has been impersonating Michael Jackson since the mid-1980s. A performance at his brother’s work Christmas party is what sparked his nearly 40-year career. “From day one, I think because you get that love from the people when you perform and once you get that love from the audience, there’s no better feeling than to make people happy and make them smile,” Hampton said. He quit his job at the Department of Family and Support Services to pursue impersonating full-time in 2000 and started his production company, Gold Coast Entertainment. He later expanded the business to hire DJs and other celebrity mimics like Elvis and Mickey Mouse to perform at events. Nine years later, his world halted when news broke of the death of Michael Jackson. He found it difficult to get booked by the younger generation. “It was a little bit hard, like Gen Z, they are a different crowd,” he said. “I think now, because of the internet, that played an even better role into what I’m doing because now you see so much Michael Jackson stuff on TikTok and Instagram.” Despite all of the attention he’s getting on social media, the older generation is doing its part in teaching youth about Jackson. On Sunday, Kimberly Watkins Almond hosted a celebration of the 30th anniversary of her daycare center at the Calumet Park Parks and Recreation Center, where Hampton was booked to perform. Lately, she’s been teaching the kids about the icon so they can understand his impact, she said. “I felt it was important because music is not the same anymore and I wanted to show the kids that it is good music out there, even if it’s old or if it’s current,” Watkins Almond said. One of her sons, Tyden Almond, 10, is a fan of Michael Jackson, she said. He’s even dressed up like Hampton one of the times when he went to see him. “When we were listening to it, we all thought it was really inspiring,” Tyden Almond said of Jackson’s music. Watkins Almond met Hampton 15 years ago when he came to perform at her relative’s house. She said she’s been to several of the events that Hampton had, just to enjoy and observe his work to see if it would be appropriate for children. She’s seen him perform several times, and no one else compares, she said. “If I wanted to see anybody impersonate the King of Pop, I think Rico would definitely be that,” she said. When the time came on Sunday for Hampton to come out and begin his half-hour performance, children pulled their phones out and crowded around him. They followed him as he performed in a gymnasium at the recreation center, even parents and guardians filmed. One even got up and danced with him. Noah Johnson, 8, followed Hampton around in a glittery Michael Jackson costume, while roller-skating across the gymnasium floor. Johnson was smiling with excitement when Hampton came out. Johnson first found out about Michael Jackson when he was four years old through the Wii game “Michael Jackson: The Experience,” a dance simulation game that came out in 2010. Some of his favorite songs are “Ghosts,” “Thriller,” and “Billie Jean.” Hampton said his career longevity comes from his not being afraid to do what he loves. Whether he’s sliding across dance floors or jumping on top of cars, he says he gives it his all. The moves come as a surprise to the audience, just as they do to Hampton. They aren’t rehearsed or practiced. He simply does what he feels at the moment. “(It’s a) very dangerous thing to do because sometimes I do some crazy stuff and I’ll jump on top of a table and the table will be wiggling and wobbling,” he said. On his off-days when he’s not booked, Hampton uses the time to figure out what he can post online and keep the attention. He scours the internet looking for ideas and things to create on social media. He finds this as a way to connect with people and “meet them where they’re at.” Even before his performance on Sunday, he was recording a video for social media. He’s also a recording artist in his own right. He’s got a few songs like “Girl Shopping” and “My Addiction” that are on streaming platforms. To be able to create memories for people has been something Hampton has grown to value throughout his time as an impersonator. He runs into people that he performed for when they were younger and commonly hears “you’re still doing it,” or “you’re still here?” Sometimes they’ll just go up to Hampton to let him know that they remember the time they shared together. “Stuff like that really touched me because it lets me know that what I’ve been doing over the years is working, which is creating memories of a lifetime,” Hampton said.
