Dionne Warwick first performed (but never recorded) the song in February 1983 on a TV special titled Here's Television Entertainment as a tribute to many performers, including Janis Joplin, Elvis Presley, John Belushi, Cass Elliot, John Lennon, Bobby Darin, Minnie Riperton, Sam Cooke, Harry Chapin, Buddy Holly, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Croce, Bobby Van, and Karen Carpenter, who had died days earlier.

The song was also mixed by Swedien, and featured instrumentation by artists such as David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Michael Boddicker, Abraham Laboriel and Paulinho da Costa.

Following its release—on World AIDS Day of 1993—"Gone Too Soon" became a moderate chart success in several countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK, and Zimbabwe.

In January 1993, a live performance by Jackson at Bill Clinton's inaugural celebration also served as a promotional platform, for both the song and AIDS-related funding.

[5] Though doctors said he posed no risk to other students, AIDS was poorly understood at the time, and when White tried to return to school, many parents and teachers in Kokomo rallied against his attendance.

[5] A lengthy legal battle with the school system ensued, and media coverage of the struggle made White into a national celebrity and spokesman for AIDS research and public education.

"[6] The pop star bought the teenager a red Ford Mustang, and invited White and his mother to spend time at his Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County, California.

[5] His funeral was attended by Jackson, as well as English musician Elton John, media personality Phil Donahue, First Lady of the United States Barbara Bush, and 1000 other mourners.

To date, the demo has not received an official release, but that lyric was used in the song by Jackson when he sang it at the 1993 Presidential Gala for then President-elect Bill Clinton.

[17] The Miami Herald noted that Jackson "rediscover[ed]" his falsetto voice on the track, while the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel compared his tenor to that featured on a Broadway ballad.

[18][19] Alan Jones from Music Week wrote, "This cloying ballad from Dangerous will be used as an indicator of public support or otherwise for Jackson in these troubled times.

[22] Edna Gundersen of USA Today, reviewing the songs on Dangerous, offered the opinion that Jackson's "heartfelt" delivery redeemed the "fairy-tale cliches" of "Gone Too Soon".

It is my hope, President-elect Clinton, that you and your administration commit the resources needed to eliminate this awful disease that took my friend, and ended so many promising lives before their time.

[33][34][35][36][37][38] American hip-hop artist b-Rabbit recorded a song entitled "Broken Hearts (R&B Remix)" that sampled Jackson's vocals in early 2012.

Tichina Arnold sung the song in The Neighborhood episode "Porch Pirate" Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009, after suffering a cardiac arrest.