Among those paying tribute to Michael Jackson is a concert promoter who brought the pop superstar to Montreal in Sept. 1984.

Donald K. Donald recalls Jackson's two concerts at Olympic Stadium as one of the "special moments in rock and roll history."

The 50-year-old musical superstar died Thursday, just as he was preparing for what would be a series of 50 concerts in London.

His brother, Jermaine Jackson, believes his brother suffered a cardiac arrest at his rented home in Los Angeles. An autopsy is planned for today, although the results are not likely to be final until toxicology tests are completed.

Donald said the Olympic Stadium performance, which attracted more than 100,000 fans over two nights, began on a stressful note.

He said Jackson began by "appearing out of nowhere" with fireworks, which knocked out a computer running a large screen.

"Luckily, the screen came back on and the audience was treated to one of the great concerts of all time, Donald told CTV News. "

Donald also recalled how Jackson gave an impromptu street performance following one of the Montreal concerts after he and the band left the stadium to return to a hotel.

"Michael Jackson actually stopped the van about a half-mile from Olympic Stadium, got out, they put a boom-box on top of the truck and he got out on top of the van and did his moonwalk and his dance to an impromptu audience of 500 people until the police came."

Donald said everyone thought it was an impersonator at first, but then realized it was Michael Jackson and "mayhem broke loose."

"He was prankster, he was a character, he was one of the most creative people that has ever been part of show business."

Many tributes are calling Jackson the greatest entertainer of all-time and Donald agreed that Jackson is high on the list.

"I think (he's) certainly in the top five category of all-time greatest entertainers."

"Some people might refer to some of his activities as being a little bit wacky, and certainly that got in the way of some of his success, but deep down, he was a true entertainer," Donald added.

Following the Montreal concerts in September, as part of the "Victory Tour." Jackson performed three nights at CNE Stadium in Toronto in October and three nights at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver in November.

Bobby Taylor, meanwhile, of the 1960s band "Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers," is credited with helping to discover Jackson.

Taylor told CBC News he first saw Jackson at the Regal Theatre in Chicago when the Jacksons were the opening act for his band.

He said a producer told him and a bandmate -- Tommy Chong of Cheech and Chong fame -- to "check out this kid."

"That kid turned out to be Michael," Taylor said from Thailand.

He said the first time he saw Jackson perform, he considered him a "miniature James Brown."

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time.

His 1982 album "Thriller" -- which included the blockbuster hits "Beat It," "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" -- is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.