As many New Yorkers continued Friday to mourn Michael Jackson's death, the singer's albums were flying off the shelves at local music stores. NY1's Lily Jamali filed the following report.

The celebration of Michael Jackson's life which spontaneously began on Thursday continued in Harlem well into Friday morning. At 6:30 a.m., a handful of his fans were by the street singing his early hit song "I'll Be There."

Mimosa Sapp says she showed up at the Apollo Theater at 2 a.m. because she was so upset.

"All I did was cry. I just needed to be around people celebrating his life," she said.

"He was like our icon, our idol," said a fan.

"He's just so talented. A God-given talent. By far one of those most talented human beings on planet Earth," said another fan.

"I loved him since fourth grade and I know all his dance moves and everything. I'm just sad that he passed," said a young fan.

Miles away in the Bronx, Patricia Oliver dug through old photos. At 17, she had the chance to meet Michael Jackson at the Jackson estate in Los Angeles, thanks to a connection with the president of his fan club.

"This is a picture of me and Michael at their house," said Oliver. "It was a very beautiful experience. Something I'll never forget in my life."

She remembered a man who, despite being a superstar at age 15, was polite and soft-spoken when they met. It was late by the time she arrived at the house and Michael Jackson was already in his pajamas.

"We shot pool together. I have a picture. I beat him because I'm kind of good at pool, but it was nice!" said Oliver.

Oliver did not take the news of Jackson's death well. She said it is sad that Jackson's once-perfect image was tarnished towards the end of his life.

Some questions about what people will remember most about the troubled singer, but in Harlem people said his legacy is really all about the music.

At J&R Music World in Lower Manhattan, with Jackson's music playing in the background, fans scrambled to scoop up what was left of Jackson's albums.

"I got the last 'Thriller' for now," said a fan.

"Have to have this, getting this for my husband and myself, my children," said another fan holding a CD. "If they don't know about him, they will."

They will, thanks to the music left behind by the pop legend.