12-летний Бенни Вестал воссоздал легендарный концерт Майкла Джексона в Эстес-парке

An incoming seventh-grader to Riverbend Middle School, Iowa Falls, has perfected many of the signature moves and rhythms of his idol, Michael Jackson. Benny Vestal took his skills to Estes Park June 25 to wild applause. Benson “Benny” Vestal, 12, of Iowa Falls, has mastered many of the intricate dance styles and legendary movements that characterized his idol, Michael Jackson, performances. On June 25, on the stage of the Bill Riley Bandshell in Estes Park, Vestal did a half-hour Memorial Performance of some of Jackson’s signature moves to his original music. The crowd was as large as – or larger – than the crowds that turn out for the June Lawn Chair Night performances. Benny’s parents, Jessica and Chris Vestal, said he chose that night because it was the anniversary of Jackson’s passing on June 25, 2009. Both parents are supportive of their son’s passion and are his biggest supporters. When asked how Benny got started with his passion, his mom shared an interesting story as it was read the night of the performance to the crowd by emcee Jeff Burchfield. “Picture this: A ‘thunderstormy’ day, two rambunctious boys, a headlock, and a mom who had absolutely had enough. For the record, mom did ask nicely several times. She needed at least 30 minutes of peace, so she did what any mom would do – she sent them to their rooms and said, “Maybe take this time to learn something. Anything. “Thirty minutes later, Benson came out and said: ‘Mom, my feet won’t match my brain!’ He showed her what he was trying to do…and BOOM. That moment was the spark. That’s where this whole journey began.” Jessica said she is overwhelmed by the support shown by the Iowa Falls community for her son. “Living in a small town that shows so much love and support for its people is truly something special,” she said. “I want to thank everyone for taking time out of your evenings to watch Benson do what he loves – and what he has practiced so hard for.” Jessica said in an online Facebook post promoting her son’s show, how thankful and impressed she was working with the City of Iowa Falls staff when she went to rent the stage. “I went to City Hall today to ask permission, and they were so sweet and supportive,” Jessica wrote. “I love that for him! So, now he is turning everything into ‘Benny’ perfection! Golf glove bedazzled.” When asked before the performance what it feels like for her to watch her son perform at such a young age, she was quick to answer. “It truly gives me goosebumps watching him evolve in all of this,” she said. “He makes all of his own outfits right down to the rhinestones on his golf glove.” Jessica said he won his fifth-grade talent show and has been asked to perform during the upcoming Riverbend Rally festivities. She said one of the things the family admires about Michael Jackson and his legacy is that “he was not just a singer – he was a performer.” “He invented moves like the moonwalk, changed what music videos could be, and inspired millions of dancers, singers and artists…including my son,” she said. The incoming seventh-grader performed several famous Jackson songs. They were, in performance order, “Beat It,” “Bad,” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough!,” “Rock With You,” “Smooth Criminal,” and “Billie Jean.” The song that started Benny’s journey was “Billie Jean.” She noted that this was the song Jackson used to introduce the world to the moonwalk. “This is the song that started it all for Benson,” Jessica said. “It was his first performance, his first win, and his first spark of confidence. And tonight, he closed the show with it.” She added that the first four songs of the evening she and her husband have only seen Benny perform a handful of times. So, they were unique for them to watch, too. For the future, mom said Benny is now working to actually sing the songs rather than perform to Jackson’s original recordings. “We think within the year, he’ll be singing and dancing his performances,” she said. The crowd loved his performance and gave him thunderous applause for his work. And, of course, mom got choked up. “It still makes me pretty emotional to watch him perform,” she said after the show. “It’s super cool.” Watch for Benny’s performance during Riverbend Rally. Last year, his mom said he competed in the Rally’s Talent Show, where a few hiccups were experienced, but he still captured the hearts and souls of Iowa Falls residents and visitors alike. “Our house literally has mini concerts in the living room every night,” she said. “We couldn’t be prouder.” Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.