Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell is one of a number of well-known African-Americans who has paid tribute to Michael Jackson in the run-up to the music legend’s funeral.

In between comments about Iraq, Presidents Bush and Obama, Powell told CNN that while the King of Pop was a controversial figure, his art should be celebrated.

The 72-year-old told State of the Union: “Yes, there were some challenges in his life. Yes, there was a great deal of controversy about him.

“But he’s now passed on. Let’s celebrate his art.”

Singer Beyoncé Knowles led tributes at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

In the middle of performing her hit song Halo, her band stopped the music, to show a home movie of the R&B singer, aged five, talking about attending a Jackson concert.

“When I saw Michael Jackson hit the stage, that’s when I decided who I wanted to be,” she then told the audience.

R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo – who was working on Jackson’s comeback album – told the New Orleans crowd: “I’m going to do what I can to keep the memory alive.”

Fellow singer Robin Thicke sang an acappella version of Jackson’s single, Human Nature, while comedian Steve Harvey took a break from telling jokes to call the King of Pop “the single greatest live performer of our lifetime”.