Excerpt from CNN
Michael Jackson dead at 50 after cardiac arrest
* NEW: Marlon Jackson: Manager said doctor was at Michael's home Wednesday night
* NEW: Jackson said he wasn't feeling well Wednesday, brother says
* A Jackson family attorney says Michael Jackson collapsed this morning
* Security blocking all entrances to emergency room, people crying outside
(CNN) -- Entertainer Michael Jackson died after being taken to a hospital on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest, CNN confirmed.
A Los Angeles fire official told CNN that paramedics arrived at Michael Jackson's home after a 911 call.
Lt. Fred Corral, the Los Angeles County Coroner said Jackson was pronounced dead at 2:26 p.m. Thursday.
He also said Jackson was unresponsive when he arrived at the hospital.
Brian Oxman, a Jackson family attorney, said he was told by brother Randy Jackson that Michael Jackson collapsed at his home in west Los Angeles, California, Thursday morning.
Family members were told of the situation and were either at the hospital or en route, Oxman said.
"I can only tell you that the family members are crying," Oxman said.
Fire Capt. Steve Ruda told CNN a 911 call came in from a west Los Angeles residence at 12:21 p.m.
Ruda said Jackson was treated and transferred to the UCLA Medical Center.
Law enforcement officials said the Los Angeles Police Department robbery-homicide department opened an investigation into Jackson's death. They stressed there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
Still, officials said they would conduct interviews with family members and friends. The Los Angeles County Coroner will be conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
CNN Analyst Roland S. Martin spoke with Marlon Jackson, brother of Michael Jackson.
"I talked to Frank Dileo, Michael's manager. Frank told me that Michael last night was complaining about not feeling well. He called to tell him he wasn't feeling well.
"Michael's doctor went over to see him, and Frank said, 'Marlon, from last night to this morning, I don't know what happened.' When they got to him this morning, he wasn't breathing. They rushed him to the hospital and couldn't bring him around."
The music icon from Gary, Indiana, was known as the "King of Pop." Jackson had many No. 1 hits and his "Thriller" is the best-selling album of all time.
Jackson was the seventh of nine children from a well-known musical family. He is survived by three children, Prince Michael I, Paris and Prince Michael II. Video Watch Jesse Jackson share memories »
Jackson's former wife, Lisa Marie Presley, said she was "shocked and saddened" by Jackson's death. " My heart goes out to his children and his family," she said.
At the medical center, every entrance to the emergency room was blocked by security guards. Even hospital staffers were not permitted to enter. A few people stood inside the waiting area, some of them crying. iReport.com: Your Michael Jackson tributes
A large crowd gathering outside the hospital, could be seen on video footage.
Some of Jackson's music was being played, said Oxman. The sounds of "Thriller" and "Beat It" bounced off the walls.
"It is one of the most unbelievable, surreal scenes I have ever experienced," Oxman said. Video Kingston: Jackson "a legend" »
Outside Jackson's Bel Air home, police arrived on motorcycles. The road in front of the home was closed in an attempt to hold traffic back, but several people were gathered outside the home. Video Sharpton: Jackson "was a trailblazer" »
Jackson had some legal troubles later in his career.
He was acquitted of child molestation charges after a well-publicized trial in Santa Maria, California, in March 2006.
Prosecutors charged the singer with four counts of lewd conduct with a child younger than 14; one count of attempted lewd conduct; four counts of administering alcohol to facilitate child molestation; and one count of conspiracy to commit child abduction, false imprisonment or extortion.
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Jackson was star the world could not ignore
LONDON, England (CNN) -- Michael Jackson had a level of hero worship on a par with Elvis Presley or the Beatles but he was the first black star to inspire such a massive following around the world.
Michael Jackson courted controversy in 2002 when he dangled his son over a hotel balcony in Germany.
Total worldwide sales of more than 350 million records over his 40-year career give just a hint of the adoration there was for the "King of Pop." The fact that his death came on the eve of a comeback tour in London will leave his devotees feeling even more bereft.
While his career -- and wealth -- had waned greatly in recent years, there was still enough support for the concerts to sell out at a rate of nearly 40,000 an hour. Fans from as far afield as Japan, Germany and Dubai queued to buy their tickets.
Steve Greenberg, founder and CEO of S-Curve Records, was a disc jockey in Tel Aviv, Israel, when "Thriller" first dropped and witnessed first-hand how Jackson became an international icon.
His was a global appeal, Greenberg said, among fans and artists worldwide.
"He was as big in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as he was in America and Europe," Greenberg said. "He had that universality that not many people had. The Beatles had it, Muhammad Ali had it, but not many other people have had it."
Jackson was known for far more than his music though. Speaking after his death in Los Angeles was announced, U.S. civil rights campaigner Rev. Al Sharpton paid tribute to the work of a "trailblazer" in helping people around the world through his charities.
Sharpton added that the song Jackson co-wrote with Lionel Richie, "We Are the World," a 1985 charity single that raised an estimated $50 million for famine relief in Africa, ushered in Live Aid and the era of celebrity philanthropy.
Jackson was the supreme showman who had an unrivalled knack of grabbing headlines. From his precocious abilities as the 11-year-old singer in the Jackson 5 to his legendary "moon-walk" dance, the star craved attention, and was rarely disappointed. Video Jackson "as big as it gets" »
But in the years after his colossal 1982 hit album "Thriller" and its 1987 follow-up "Bad," much of the focus did not cast him in a good light.
In 1996 the lead singer of Pulp, Jarvis Cocker, caused a furor at the Brit Awards in London when he invaded the stage during Jackson's performance of "Earth Song" in protest "at the way Michael Jackson sees himself as some kind of Christ-like figure with the power of healing."
Jackson failed to see the humor in Cocker's mockery, responding that he was "sickened, saddened, shocked, upset, cheated, angry" by the protest. He also alleged that Cocker had attacked children on stage, something that the Pulp singer denied. But many in the music industry backed Cocker, who was arrested but later released without charge.
The theme of children was one that continued to haunt Jackson. In 2002 he caused a public outcry by dangling his baby son Prince Michael II from a third-floor hotel balcony in Germany before the world's press. He later said he regretted the incident.
And in a 2003 interview with British journalist Martin Bashir that was supposed to repair his image around the world, the singer revived allegations of child abuse when he said of sharing a bed with a young boy: "It's a beautiful thing. It's very right, it's very loving. Because what's wrong with sharing a love?"
A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges of sexually molesting 12-year-old Gavin Arvizo. Jackson surrendered himself to police amid a media furor.
In the 2005 trial conducted in the glare of the world's media spotlight, Jackson was cleared of child molestation charges. Following the trial, Jackson's finances took a hit and he was forced to sell his Neverland ranch in California.
He later kept a low profile in the United States and spent time in Britain, where his friends included psychic spoonbender Uri Geller and Harrod's owner Mohamed Al Fayed, and also in Bahrain.
But in November last year, Jackson was sued by an Arab sheikh at the High Court in London for $7.7 million. They parted "amicably" after agreeing a settlement.
Jackson had been invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain by the king's son, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who lavished money on Jackson and built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums by Jackson using material the sheikh had helped to write.
But Jackson insisted there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh's case was based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence." He said sums of money paid out by the sheikh were "gifts."
As fans around the world mourn it is likely Michael Jackson will be remembered as a musical hero -- but also a man with human flaws.
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Michael Jackson remembered as 'consummate entertainer'
(CNN) -- Following is a sampling of reactions from Michael Jackson's friends and admirers to his death:
The Rev. Al Sharpton says people around the world should pary for Michael Jackson and his family.
The Rev. Al Sharpton says people around the world should pary for Michael Jackson and his family.
Russell Simmons, pioneering hip-hop artist:
"Michael Jackson was my generation's most iconic cultural hero. Courageous, unique and incredibly talented. He'll be missed greatly."
Lisa Marie Presley, musician and Jackson's ex-wife:
"I am completely shocked and saddened by Michael's death. My heart goes out to his children and his family."
Jim Henke, vice president of exhibitions and curatorial affairs at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum:
"Michael Jackson was one of the most creative and successful recording artists of the last 40 years. He became an instant star when he was only 11 years old, fronting the Jackson 5. His solo career was so extraordinary that he became known as the King of Pop. Few other artists of his era reached the peaks that he did, both in terms of sales and critical acclaim. His legacy will live on for a long, long time. We join the world in mourning the loss of this twice-inducted member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame."
John Landis, director of Jackson's "Thriller" and "Black or White" music videos:
"I was lucky enough to know and work with Michael Jackson in his prime. Michael was an extraordinary talent and a truly great international star. He had a troubled and complicated life and despite his gifts, remains a tragic figure. My wife, Deborah, and I will always have great affection for him."
Dick Clark, television and radio personality:
"I knew Michael as a child and watched him grow over the years. Of all the thousands of entertainers I have worked with, Michael was THE most outstanding. Many have tried and will try to copy him, but his talent will never be matched. He was truly one-of-a-kind."
Brooke Shields, actress:
"My heart is overcome with sadness for the devastating loss of my true friend Michael. He was an extraordinary friend, artist and contributor to the world. I join his family and his fans in celebrating his incredible life and mourning his untimely passing."
Celine Dion, singer:
"I am so devastated by this terrible news. From the beginning of my career, he was my idol in show business. He was a genius and an incredible artist! I remember when I was growing up and watching him on TV, and all his videos...I had his poster on my wall...he was so amazing...his singing, his writing, his dancing. ...It's unbelievable that he's no longer with us."
Quincy Jones, conductor, composer, arranger, trumpeter:
"I am absolutely devastated at this tragic and unexpected news. For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don't have the words. Divinity brought our souls together on "The Wiz" and allowed us to do what we were able to throughout the '80s. To this day, the music we created together on "Off The Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad" is played in every corner of the world and the reason for that is because he had it all ... talent, grace, professionalism and dedication. He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I've lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him."
The Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist:
"A friend of Michael's for the last 35 years, I call on people around the world to pray for him and his family in the hour. I have known Michael since we were both teens, worked with him, marched for him, hosted him at our House of Justice headquarters in New York, and we joined together to eulogize our mutual idol, James Brown. I have known him at his high moments and his low moments and I know he would want us to pray for his family."
Linda Johnson Rice, chairman and CEO of Ebony:
"I am deeply saddened by the news of one of the world's greatest and most influential entertainers, Michael Jackson. He was unquestionably an incredible and unique talent for the world to enjoy. I, along with my mother and father, John H. and Eunice Johnson, were extremely fortunate to have a great relationship with the Jackson family.
"In our hearts he will always be the The King of Pop, and I will personally miss him."
Neil Portnow, CEO of Recording Academy:
"Rarely has the world received a gift with the magnitude of artistry, talent, and vision as Michael Jackson. He was a true musical icon whose identifiable voice, innovative dance moves, stunning musical versatility and sheer star power carried him from childhood to worldwide acclaim. A 13-time Grammy recipient, Michael's career transcends musical and cultural genres and his contributions will always keep him in our hearts and memories. We are deeply saddened by this tragic news and our hearts go out to his family and to music lovers around the globe who mourn this great loss."
Wyclef Jean, Haitian musician, actor:
"Michael Jackson was my musical god. He made me believe that all things are possible, and through real and positive music, he can live forever! I love Michael Jackson. God bless him."
Gloria Estefan, singer:
"The two great losses that we have felt today can only be balanced by the beautiful things that they left behind in our world. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson will live forever in my heart as unforgettable and eternal."
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Mystery surrounds Michael Jackson's sudden death
Reuters, Jun 26, 2009 6:38 am PDT
One day after Michael Jackson's sudden death, speculation was already turning on Friday to what killed the 50-year-old "King of Pop" just weeks before his long-awaited series of comeback concerts.
Jackson, a former child star who became one of the best-selling pop artists of all time before a descending into a strange and reclusive lifestyle, died on Thursday afternoon at a Los Angeles hospital, where he had been rushed in full cardiac arrest after collapsing at his nearby rental home.
His passing was front page news around the world, airwaves were filled with his greatest hits from "Thriller" to "Billie Jean," social networking sites were bombarded with messages and tributes from fans and musicians continued to pour in.
"It's so sad and shocking," said former Beatle Paul McCartney. "I feel privileged to have hung out and worked with Michael. He was a massively talented boy man with a gentle soul. His music will be remembered forever."
Few details were known about the circumstances surrounding Jackson's death, but the entertainer was reportedly unconscious and not breathing by the time he arrived at UCLA Medical Center, and doctors were unable to revive him.
His body was flown by helicopter from the hospital to the coroner's office late on Thursday.
Brian Oxman, a spokesman for the Jackson family, told CNN on Thursday the family had been concerned about his health and had tried in vain to take care of him for months.
"Michael appeared at rehearsals a couple of times, he was very seriously trying to be able to do those rehearsals," Oxman said of Jackson's preparations for a series of 50 concerts that were scheduled to begin in London in July.
"His use of medications had gotten in the way, his injuries which he had sustained performing, where he had broken a vertebrae and he had broken his leg from a fall on the stage, were getting in the way," Oxman told CNN.
Authorities have scheduled an autopsy for Friday. But they cautioned it could take weeks to determine a cause of death, which will likely have to wait for the return of toxicology tests. Those tests will determine if Jackson had any drugs, alcohol or prescription medications in his system.
Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery Homicide division searched Jackson's home in the upscale Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles at the behest of Chief William Bratton. But they called the investigation an "every day" event.
TAINTED TALENT?
Jackson dominated the charts in the 1980s and is considered one of the most successful entertainers of the past century, with a lifetime sales tally estimated at 750 million records, 13 Grammy Awards and several seminal music videos to his name.
"Michael was and will remain one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived," said Motown Records founder Berry Gordy, Jackson's first label boss.
"He was exceptional, artistic and original. He gave the world his heart and soul through his music."
But Jackson's reputation as a singer and dancer was overshadowed in recent years by his increasingly abnormal appearance, and bizarre lifestyle, which included his friendship with a chimp and a preference for the company of children.
He named his estate in the central California foothills Neverland Valley Ranch, in tribute to the J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan stories, and filled it with amusement park rides and a petting zoo.
Jackson was twice accused of molesting young boys and was charged in 2003 with child sexual abuse. He became even more reclusive following his 2005 acquittal and vowed he would never again live at Neverland.
Facing a battered reputation and mountain of debts the Wall Street Journal reported ran to $500 million, Jackson had spent the last two months rehearsing for the London concerts, including Wednesday night at the huge Staples Center arena, home to the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
Despite reports of Jackson's ill-health, the promoters of the London shows, AEG Live, said in March Jackson passed a 4-1/2 hour physical examination with independent doctors.
"I can't stop crying over the sad news," Madonna said in a statement. "I have always admired Michael Jackson. The world has lost one of the greats but his music will live on forever."
Jackson was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana, the seventh of nine children and first performed with his brothers as a member of the Jackson 5.
His 1982 album "Thriller" yielded seven top-10 singles. The album sold 21 million copies in the United States and at least 27 million internationally.
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Michael Jackson's wonder years: Leading The Jackson 5, he moved music industry to a new beat
By Jim Farber
DAILY NEWS MUSIC CRITIC - Saturday, June 27th 2009, 4:00 AM Corkery/News
Michael Jackson bore the confident gait, vocal range and unfailing charisma of a star from an astonishingly early age.
Pop has never known a greater prodigy than Michael Jackson.
By age 9, he already served as the commanding focal point of his talented group of brothers, three of them his senior.
While barely out of toddlerhood, Jackson bore the confident gait, vocal range and unfailing charisma of a star. Before he even reached puberty, he would achieve that status - in the extreme.
The first recordings Jackson made with his family were cut in 1967 for the local label, Steeltown, located close to their hometown: gritty, working-class Gary, Ind. Within one year, those raw songs, and a brief tryout for Motown's Suzanne de Passe, would be enough to convince label czar Berry Gordy he'd found a group capable of bringing to his enormously successful business a whole new level of creativity and excitement.
The first single released by Motown of the Jackson 5 - 1969's "I Want You Back" - put the label's trademark catchy soul sound into italics. A hyperbolic blast of pop, the song pumps along at a dizzying speed, marked by a manic stop-start rhythm, topped by Jackson's quickly escalating cries. The song wasn't just a pop marvel. It begged a nagging question: How could a boy of 11 know a need this deep? The wonderment of it all drew older fans to the child, as surely as his character and charm entranced those closer to his own age.
The string of singles that followed in dizzying succession - "ABC," "The Love You Save" and "I'll Be There" - rank among the most catchy and exciting recordings in the last half-century of pop. Yet none would have jumped out of the speakers with as much verve were it not for the spark of Jackson's voice.
He used it to great effect, not only blended with those of his brothers' but in solo works, including the yearning single "Got to Be There" and a pitched remake of Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin."
Though still a boy, his voice nailed a great range of feelings. The wisdom and implicit experience in his singing rivaled that of adult pop-soul icons, from Sam Cooke to Marvin Gaye.
Jackson also served as an ideal teen idol with his adorable looks, easy demeanor and eager fashion sense. From the moment the group began, he and his brothers held the imagination of all young listeners - yet none more than African-Americans, who saw in Jackson a role model of success, grace and talent that they could carry their entire lives.
The following year, he unveiled his signature "moonwalk" dance move, gliding across the stage and setting off an instant trend, while performing "Billie Jean" during an NBC special.
In 1994, Jackson married Elvis Presley's only child, Lisa Marie, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
"I'm so very sad and confused with every emotion possible. ... This is such a massive loss on so many levels, words fail me," Presley said in statement.
Jackson married Debbie Rowe the same year and had two children, before splitting in 1999, and he later had another child with an unidentified surrogate mother.
He is survived by three children named Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II, known for his brief public appearance when his father held him over the railing of a hotel balcony, causing widespread criticism.
(Editing by Dean Goodman, Anthony Boadle and Matthew Jones)
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Mark Steel: The macabre details of Michael Jackson's death
One reporter told us the news from LA was 'truly a JFK moment'
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Within minutes of the first reports, it was clear the world was going mad. The reporter on Radio 5 Live told us the news from Los Angeles "was truly a JFK moment". Because the sense of shock and grief were identical, in one case millions feeling a new era of civil rights and peace had been cruelly snuffed out; in the other, the realisation we would never again see a man go "Yow" while spinning in a circle.
From the tone, you expected the next reporter to say: "I think it's much more momentous than that, and feels like the Norman victory at the Battle of Hastings, or even the collapse of Roman civilisation into warring feudal tribes."
Then came the messages: "Judith from Luton has texted to say nothing matters any more so she's going to convert her Facebook page into a suicide cult. Well, Judith, I think we all feel that way and wish you the very best of luck with that project."
Then the newspapers started, with 63 pages devoted to pictures of painkillers and articles about the impact of "ABC" on linguistic theory, and agony aunts advising how to console an orphaned monkey. It seemed every bit of every paper had to be dedicated to him, so the chess puzzle would go "Today, in honour of Michael, the pawns are allowed to move one square backwards as long as they make it look like they're going forwards. And both players can be on the same side, as the black pieces are allowed to pretend they're white."
And the crossword would be full of clues like "Tennis queen who loses her King is not my lover. 6,4."
At one point on Friday evening, while in a bar in Runcorn, I noticed a huge TV screen was displaying tributes, and for a whole minute it told us: "Amanda Holden says 'I'm thinking of his family on this sad day'." Well that must have been a comfort to them. But presumably this kept going all day, so eventually it was displaying messages such as "Mick McCarthy, the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, says, 'I'm absolutely gutted. I haven't felt this bad since I was relegated with Sunderland in the 2002-3 season. Rest in peace, Michael'."
And it's still going on. The front page of yesterday's Daily Mirror showed a picture of Michael, declaring that it was taken on the morning he died, and asking in huge letters "So what went wrong?" It certainly is a mystery, how anyone that dies in the evening can have been alive in the morning. Presumably, inside it carried on, "Our investigations have revealed that he may have been living RIGHT UP TO THE MOMENT HE DIED. But still the authorities have provided no explanation."
One music journalist on Radio 5 Live told us "he was the most influential pop musician ever," and on Radio Four we were told he was "more influential than any other soul artist, including James Brown". And this is where the madness springs from, because they seem to confuse record sales and celebrity status with influence. For example, James Brown's "influence" cannot be measured just in retail units, but from the impact of him yelling to people categorised as officially inferior, "Say it out loud, I'm black and I'm proud." Whereas Jackson's attitude towards his colour was slightly less forthright. Still, he could at least have made an effort and sang, "Say it's apparent, I'm almost transparent."
Michael Jackson aimed solely to make people dance, which is a fine aspiration, and he was himself a fantastic dancer. But while he provided a catchy soundtrack to the early 1980s, truly influential dance music has created more than a hypnotic beat, it has made its audience want to dance to express itself, finding pride in its colour, sexuality or youthfulness that is restricted in other areas of society and transform the world beyond the dancefloor,
Jackson, though, was tragically hollow, shich may be why his main influence was on combining music with new technology, firstly by transforming videos into mini-feature films, then by becoming the subject of the world's first globally mass-texted useless jokes.
So, as the media assured us the universe was in mourning, most of the planet's JFK moment will mean always remembering where you were when you read a contrived question that could arrive at the punchline "Don't blame it on the boogie".
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July 3, 2009
Michael Jackson: The evolution of a musical genius (by David Alston)
Michael Jackson accepts the 1981 American Music Award for Favorite Male Vocalist and R&B Album of the Year for “Off the Wall.”
Having been snubbed at the Grammys that year, he was determined to win the honor. The fact that his talent is now celebrated and he himself cherished around the world predicts his music will never die. And now that his creativity has ceased, perhaps we’ll better appreciate the love he showed his people, all people, with lyrics reflecting a high political consciousness and little known but generous support for those doing good in the ‘hood, such as YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
Michael Jackson accepts the 1981 American Music Award for Favorite Male Vocalist and R&B Album of the Year for “Off the Wall.” Having been snubbed at the Grammys that year, he was determined to win the honor. The fact that his talent is now celebrated and he himself cherished around the world predicts his music will never die. And now that his creativity has ceased, perhaps we’ll better appreciate the love he showed his people, all people, with lyrics reflecting a high political consciousness and little known but generous support for those doing good in the ‘hood, such as YMCAs and Boys and Girls Clubs. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
On Thursday, June 25, 2009, the world received the shocking news that King of Pop Michael Jackson was on his death bed. By 2:26 that afternoon the much repeated international rumor had become a heartbreaking fact. Musical genius and King of Popular music Michael Joseph Jackson had died at the age of 50 in his Los Angeles home of cardiac arrest, or heart failure, on the eve of his first major tour in 16 years.
Jackson was found in his bedroom unconscious Thursday afternoon by his live-in personal cardiologist, Dr. Conrad Murray. It has been alleged that Dr. Murray tried to resuscitate the music legend with a lethal prescription shot when it was discovered that Jackson was not breathing and had no pulse.
Dr. Murray, an African American, who had an aide call for an emergency ambulance while he franticly tried to give Jackson CPR, can clearly be heard on the recently released 911 call shouting in the background, “They need to come NOW.” The call indicates that Jackson may have been dead or slipping away before the ambulance ever arrived at his Bel Air estate.
Sources close to Jackson reported that Dr. Murray was hired by Jackson, at a cost of $150,000 a month, when it was discovered the star had emphysema and a rare form of skin cancer, which was “draining his energy.” It is not clear what practice Dr. Murray came from, or if he was certified by the medical board to practice in California, but some reports indicate Murray was needed to keep Jackson in shape for the much anticipated “This Is It” concert tour set to kick off this month at London’s 02 Arena. Despite negative media attention regarding Michael’s health and financial issues, Jackson himself was said to be “eager to get back to my fans.”
Michael was said to be under a litany of pressure to perform and raise cash to help with his financial obligations. Jackson had already started auctioning off numerous personal items including the original glitter glove worn on 1983’s Motown 25 and the Neverland Ranch gates, when what had originally started out as 10 dates at famed Wembley Arena in London grew in demand to 50 cross country shows starting July 13, at the 02 Arena in Britain. The shows were expected to bring in well over $200 million if successful. It has also been reported that All Good Entertainment promoters filed a lawsuit against Jackson’s managers to push the star to tour the states first.
With a career spanning four decades, Michael Jackson became a mega superstar surpassing his peers to become one of the most popular and charismatic entertainers in music history. Michael captured the attention and hearts of music lovers around the world by utilizing a soaring vocal range and inventing mesmerizing dance moves unmatched by his competitors then and now.
The legacy Michael Jackson leaves cannot be understated. Along with his brothers Jermaine, Tito, Marlon and Jackie, the original Jackson 5 would sign with Motown in 1969, thanks to the help of Gladys Knight and Bobby Taylor, and become one of only two groups ever to be personally managed by Motown founder Berry Gordy. With Gordy’s help they would produce four consecutive No. 1s: “I Want You Back,” ABC,” “The Love You Save” and “I’ll Be There.” The Jackson 5 with Michael on lead would shatter the sound and color barrier in a way that had not been seen since the 1950s produced Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.
For the first time in music history there were five gifted Black adolescent boys showcasing their natural looks and talent in all its glory without having it suppressed, ignored or dismissed by mainstream white America. With Michael’s first appearances on the Hollywood Palace and Ed Sullivan in 1969, the world witnessed a magic that would not be ignored. In essence he became a new ambassador for a generation of Americans of African descent who longed to achieve the success they had previously been denied based solely on the color of their skin.
Throughout his career Michael openly paid homage to those who had influenced and paved the way for his arrival. From Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, Fred Astaire, Diana Ross to his idol, James Brown, Jackson made it his mission to acknowledge their contribution to his craft by liberating himself from the stereotypical images placed upon him in a white controlled society.
When the Jackson 5 left Motown in 1975, it was Michael who asked Berry to allow his bothers to retain their name and be allowed to write songs. When the verdict was “No,” Michael said fine, “We’ll go elsewhere and be ‘The Jacksons’ because I built that name, not you.”
By the time Michael collaborated with Quincy Jones during the filming of “The Wiz,” neither of them knew their work together on Michael’s landmark 1979 “Off the Wall” album would send them into the stratosphere. “Off The Wall” would be Michael’s official declaration of independence.
The 10 songs on this album would become timeless masterpieces and spawn four Top 10 singles, including the No. 1s “Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough” and “Rock With You.” This album would take Michael out of the bubble gum soul genre of music and establish him firmly next to peers like Diana Ross, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Barbra Streisand, Paul McCartney, Rick James and Marvin Gaye as a bonafide singer songwriter.
With this album, Michael had reignited the emotional connection with old fans and introduced himself to new record buyers with a spark that had been missing in the past. Though industry big wigs treated him as just another “Black artist,” fans didn’t.
During the 1987 “Bad” album era, Michael Jackson’s lightening skin was said to be caused by the skin disease Vertiligo. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
During the 1987 “Bad” album era, Michael Jackson’s lightening skin was said to be caused by the skin disease Vertiligo. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
By now Jackson was starting to distance himself from his brothers when it became clear they didn’t have the vision to grow in other directions as he did. I remember reading interviews in Jet and Right On! in the early 1980s when it was obvious Jackson wanted to branch out. It was also clear he felt obligated to his brothers and father, Joseph Jackson, who had “discovered” him and placed him on the road to success, but Jackson knew he would never reach those heights unless he broke away from a cycle that was killing him emotionally and artistically.
It should be noted the beginnings of Jackson’s inner turmoil started around this time, for he would have to fight to get his next solo project recorded, released and promoted correctly, as well as fight to keep the Jacksons as a group a competitive commodity. With producer Quincy Jones again at the helm of 1982’s monster hit, “Thriller,” Jackson and Jones consciously set out to force the entertainment industry to take notice of the musical genius of Michael Jackson. It seems to have worked, for the album made it into the Guinness Book of World Records, which named “Thriller,” with over 40 million units sold, the best selling album of all time.
Black culture as created by African Americans has always been pop culture – how boring would America be if it weren’t for the influences of Black people! – but Michael Jackson made being Black in America acceptable during a time when prime time television refused to show Blacks unless they looked like “Good Times” rejects, and MTV only played videos by artists that looked like Rod Stewart.
Michael and Prince were the first Black artists to break that social barrier and make a new generation of children proud to be Black. Despite this major coup, MTV had to be threatened with non-service of other videos before they would play Jackson.
Michael didn’t just moonwalk his way into our hearts, he wrote about social issues of the day: From his duet with sister Janet titled “Scream” comes: “Tired of injustice/ tired of the schemes/ I’m kinda disgusted/ so what does it mean?/ Kicking me down,/ I got to get up/ … (Janet) You’re sellin out souls but/ I care about mine/ I’ve got to get stronger/ And I won’t give up the fight … Oh my God, can’t believe what I saw/ As I turned on the TV this evening/ I was disgusted by all the injustice/ All the injustice/ (Michael) All the injustice/ (News Man) ‘A man has been brutally beaten to death by/ Police after being wrongly identified as a/ robbery suspect. The man was/ an 18-year-old Black male.’/
(Michael) With such collusions, don’t it make you wanna scream.” And the classic “Money,” where he states, “Anything for money/ lie for you/ die for you/ even sell my soul to the devil.”
Taken at Michael’s very first Motown photo session in 1969, this photo shows his natural cheek bones, almond shaped eyes and his love for hats. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
Taken at Michael’s very first Motown photo session in 1969, this photo shows his natural cheek bones, almond shaped eyes and his love for hats. – Photo: David Alston’s Mahogany Archives
He wrote meaningful songs that sometimes got lost in the politics that I personally feel were set up to destroy his legacy and contribution to entertainment industry as a whole, for we finally had a Black man accomplishing what no other person had ever done. This is the man who wrote, “I’m here to remind you they don’t really care about us,” during his infamous 1993 child abuse court case.
Some reports have stated that Michael was too frail and weak to complete his massive upcoming tour. Some claims have the star weighing only 112 pounds at the time of his death, which is what he weighed in 1984. Some reports even have him strung out on the prescription drug Demoral, which he sings about on 1997’s “Morphine,” a track featured on the “Blood on the Dance Floor” CD. Jackson must have had one of the fastest autopsies in history, leaving absolutely no chance for a Walt Disney-style later day save!?
Love him or hate him, we will never again see a star with the power, presence and magnitude of Michael Jackson; he managed to accomplish in his lifetime what very few individuals have been allowed to do. Jackson put his mind, body and soul into his work, capturing the spirit of music like a heartbeat.
He wore his feelings on his sleeve, showing his extreme distress regarding the state of the world and the plight of his brothers and sisters. He was a passionate entertainer and charity giver. Michael was so loved by fans he became part of the American vocabulary. If you were caught performing certain dance moves, people would say, “Hey, you’re doing the Michael Jackson.”
If you ever want to know anything about Michael Jackson, all you have to do is listen to his music, for he left you a play by play description of what was truly going on in his life. Just listen to “Unbreakable” from his last studio project, “Invincible”: “You try to stop me, but it won’t do a thing/ No matter what you do, I’m still gonna be here/ Through all your lies and silly games I’m a still remain the same/ I’m unbreakable.”
Plans to put Jackson’s body on display for a public viewing this Friday at Neverland Ranch have been canceled as the family seeks a more accessible venue. Katherine Jackson has been named executor of Michael’s estate and guardian of his three children, who were home at the time of his death. The children are to remain with Mrs. Jackson per his request according to Jackson’s will.
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FLASHBACK
Michael Jackson's O2 shows to be his 'final curtain call'
• The singer announces 10 dates at the O2 Arena in July, his last ever shows in London
• Thursday 5 March 2009 18.14 GMT
Michael Jackson took to the stage at London's 02 Arena earlier today to tell screaming fans that his forthcoming shows in the capital would be "the final curtain call".
As reported earlier this week, the 50-year-old singer was speaking at an event to confirm his first series of full concerts in over ten years. His 02 Arena residency will begin on July 8 2009 and will run for 10 nights.
In characteristic fashion, Jackson was over an hour and a half late in making his announcement. After a brief introduction from presenter Dermot O'Leary, Jackson appeared on stage in a black and silver sparkling jacket and with just a touch of swagger in his step. "I love you so much," he told the crowd, waving peace signs and smiling. "Thank you all". He then began chanting "This is it! This is it!" along with the crowd.
"I just want to say, these will be my final show performances in London. This will be it, when I say this is it I really mean this is it." After a pause, he told the crowd: "I'll be performing the songs my fans want to hear, this is it, I mean this is the final curtain call, ok?"
Jackson then said "I'll see you in July" before departing the stage. The 2,000-strong audience was made up of reporters, camera crews and a large contingent of fans.
The singer hasn't performed a full concert since he was cleared of child abuse charges in 2005. His return to the stage is said to have been prompted by financial woes, and an auction of his personal possessions is set to take place in April this year.
Tickets for the 10 date tour go on sale at 7am on Friday 13 March 2009. Presale information is available from michaeljacksonlive.com and by texting MJ to 81707. Prices start at £50, £60 and £75.
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Mad rush for Jackson's funeral
5 Jul 2009, 0118 hrs IST, AGENCIES
LOS ANGELES: The website set up for Michael Jackson’s fans to register for the Tuesday memorial service received more than 500 million hits
within an hour of its launch, the organizers said.
The website www.staplescenter.com, which was launched on Friday, received more than 500 million hits as Jackson’s fans rushed to register for the tickets to the July 7 event at Los Angeles Staples Center.
The website was set up to prevent duplicate registrations from being accepted for the massive ceremony, a news release from the Jackson family said. The 17,500 tickets will be distributed for the event and a draw will determine the names of the attendees, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The draw will select 8,750 names, and those people will receive two tickets each and wristbands on Monday. The 11,000 tickets will be for seats at Staples Center and 6,500 for seats at Nokia Theatre, where the live feed will be broadcast.
Meanwhile, the city officials have asked Michael Jackson’s fans to avoid coming to the Staples Centre for Tuesday’s memorial unless they have the tickets. The city officials are bracing up for a major security drive to handle a massive crowd as thousands of Jackson devotees are expected to descend on the Staples Centre despite the organiser’s announcement that only people with a ticket will be allowed inside the venue.
The law enforcement agencies are expecting that anywhere from 250,000 to 700,000 people may try to reach the venue for the Tuesday memorial.
The service will be live-streamed on television and on the Internet, and there will be no funeral procession, AEG, the owner of the Staples Centre said.
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Jackson and mother Katherine had unbreakable bond
AP, Jul 7, 2009 4:56 am PDT
When ABC wanted to make a miniseries about the Jackson family's life in 1992, Michael Jackson had one major requirement before he would give his blessing: Someone beautiful had to play his mother.
The pop superstar adored Katherine Jackson, who ended up being portrayed by Angela Bassett in the miniseries. Jackson's will designates her as the guardian of his three children, and she, along with his kids and children's charities, inherit his family trust, according to a source who requested anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about the matter.
Katherine Jackson had sought to retain control of Jackson's assets, but a judge ruled Monday that attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain had been designated in Jackson's 2002 will as the people he wanted to administer his estate.
Jackson died June 25, deeply in debt. But a court filing estimates his estate will be worth more than $500 million.
He had a fractious relationship at times with various family members and other confidants, but friends say Jackson saw his mother as the one flawless, angelic constant in his life.
A Jehovah's Witness, Katherine Jackson, 79, is universally described as a gentle, loving matriarch who has doted on her family and fought to keep them united through tough times.
Born Katherine Scruse, she was reared in Chicago and overcame polio as a child (she still walks with a slight limp). She married Joe Jackson at age 19, and they had 10 children (Marlon Jackson had a twin who died shortly after birth) in nearby Gary, Ind.
Katherine and Joe Jackson are still married and recently marked their 60th anniversary. But their relationship has long been difficult and they have not lived together for years, according to a close friend of the singer who did not want to be identified because the person was not authorized to discuss the family.
Though it was Joe Jackson who managed Michael Jackson and his brothers to early stardom, Michael credited his mother with giving him his vocal gifts. He described her as a pianist and singer in her own right who was the first to identify and encourage her children's musical talents.
"Every child thinks their mother is the greatest mother in the world, but we Jacksons never lost that feeling," Jackson wrote in "Moonwalk," his 1988 autobiography. "Because of Katherine's gentleness, warmth and attention, I can't imagine what it's like to grow up without a mother's love."
Michael Jackson's three children have not had their biological mothers in their lives. But people close to the Jacksons say Katherine Jackson has an incredibly close relationship with her grandchildren, perhaps more than anyone else in her late son's life.
"She was never out of favor (with Michael), so she was able to spend a lot more time with the kids than anybody else," said J. Randy Taraborrelli, a friend of Jackson and author of the biography "The Magic and the Madness."
Katherine Jackson was by her son's side through some of his greatest triumphs and tragedies, from his stunning "Thriller" success to his 2005 acquittal of child molestation charges.
"They just loved each other unconditionally," said Taraborrelli. "Even when he was illogical in some of his decisions ... she didn't care, she just defended him and supported him without reservation his entire life."
Michael Jackson lived with his mother, along with siblings Joe, Janet and LaToya, at the family's Encino, Calif., compound until he was almost 30. After he moved to his vast Neverland estate, his mother remained part of his inner circle.
L. Londell McMillan, who is part of the legal team representing Katherine Jackson in her bid to control Jackson's estate, said Jackson trusted his mother completely and wanted to make sure she was always well provided.
"Michael would often say to those of us in his life, 'Please make sure you help me to protect and take care of my children and my mother Katherine,'" McMillan said.
Rob Goldstone, a former Jackson publicist who spent time on the road with him during his 1989 "Bad" tour, described him as "a momma's boy. He loved his mom."
"The one thing that was very apparent that everywhere we went, he would want to go shopping and buy something, and his mom was the one he wanted to buy something special for," he recalled.
Jackson's relationship with his mother was the opposite of what he had with his father, who managed Michael and his children's careers until they reached adulthood and business ties were severed.
Michael Jackson had a complicated relationship with Joe Jackson. He had described his father as physically and emotionally abusive. Even the sight of Joe Jackson would sometimes make Michael so nervous he would vomit, the son had said.
Joe Jackson was the parental figure who spent the most time with Jackson during his formative years. Katherine Jackson didn't go out on the road with the Jackson 5, staying at home to raise LaToya, Janet and Randy.
But the mild-mannered mother would stand up to her husband and defend their children when she thought things were getting out of control, Taraborrelli said.
"She's very strong, and a very powerful woman who would stand up to Joe," he said. "That's the only reason why it worked. ... She had the tenacity to defy him when it really mattered."
Though the pair do not live together, their lives are still intertwined. Ten years ago, they filed for bankruptcy, listing nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. Court records show the only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000.
Now that Katherine Jackson has been granted temporary guardianship of her grandchildren, some wonder what influence Joe Jackson might play in the grandchildren's lives. A person with knowledge of the situation, who asked not to be identified because the person was not authorized to talk about the relationship, said the children have a loving relationship with their grandfather, but said that Katherine Jackson would be their primary caregiver.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson said she has already assumed that role, shopping for clothes for her grandchildren over the weekend.
"She's doing very well," he said Sunday. "She is the matriarch of this family. She is so deep in her religion. She has a real insulation, not an isolation, kind of a spiritual, so she sees her family in the broader sense and all of them kind of gravitating a certain way to mom as they were."
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AP video journalist Mark D. Carlson contributed to this report from Los Angeles.
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'Smile'
Charlie Chaplin's Theme Music for 'Modern Times' - 1936
Lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons - 1954
'Smile' was the theme music for Chaplin last silent picture 'Modern Times' in 1936. It became officially 'Smile' when John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons added lyrics to Chaplin's composition in 1954. Nat 'King' Cole recorded the song and it became a hit!
Cole's recording reached the #10 position on the Billboard Charts in 1954.
Over the years, it became a standard which many artist have recorded including Tony Bennett, Barbara Streisand, Michael Jackson and Rob Stewart. Latest to record 'Smile' is Robert Downey Jr. on his 'The Futurist' CD. Downey played Charlie in the movie 'Chaplin'.
There are people who may heard this song but still not know the melody was originally Charlie Chaplin's. You will know it quickly if you watch 'Modern Times'.
Other Chaplin music includes Academy Award winning score from Limelight and 'This Is My Song' from 'A Countess of Hong Kong'.
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Week Ending July 5, 2009: All Michael, All The Time
Posted Wed Jul 8, 2009 11:47am PDT by Paul Grein in Chart Watch
Michael Jackson has three of the five best-selling albums in the U.S. for the second week in a row. Number Ones sold 339,000 copies this week and would have held at #1 on The Billboard 200 if catalog albums were eligible to compete on that chart. (The 2003 compilation sold a little more than twice as many copies this week as NOW 31, the album that holds the #1 spot.) Thriller sold 187,000 copies and would have jumped from #3 to #2 if catalog albums were invited to the party. The Essential Michael Jackson sold 125,000 copies and would have dropped from #2 to #5. (Billboard excludes catalog albums from the big chart on the theory that new albums need the spotlight the chart provides more than past hits do.)
Jackson's catalog of solo albums sold 800,000 copies this week, up from 422,000 copies last week. (This was the first full week following Jackson's death on June 25. Last week's total reflected just four days of sales.) Billboard reports that 82% of the Jackson albums sold this week were CDs (vs. digital downloads). Last week, 43% of the Jackson albums sold were CDs. I think this shows that on a special album, people want the CD as a keepsake. (What a retro concept!)
Jackson's total song download sales this week, including hits with his brothers, stand at 2.2 million downloads, down just a little from 2.6 million last week. A total of 47 songs that feature Jackson are listed on the Hot Digital Songs chart. (This is down just a bit from last week's eye-popping total of 50.)
Number Ones racked up the biggest weekly sales total in Nielsen/SoundScan history for a catalog album (excluding Christmas albums). Jackson also held the old record, which he set in February 2008, when Thriller 25 sold 166,000 copies in its first week. Number Ones also posted the biggest one-week sales tally for an album by a deceased performer since the Notorious B.I.G.'s Duets: The Final Chapter debuted in December 2005 with first-week sales of 438,000.
Number Ones has sold 564,000 copies so far this year, which puts it at #18 on Nielsen/SoundScan's running list of the best-selling albums of 2009. If it keeps going like this, it could topple Taylor Swift's Fearless as the #1 album for the year-to-date. (Fearless has sold 1,352,000 copies since Jan. 1.) This will (in all likelihood) be only the third time in Nielsen/SoundScan history that an album by a deceased performer has ranked among the year's top 10. 2Pac's All Eyez On Me was the #6 album of 1996 (he died on Sept. 13 of that year). The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death was the #6 album of 1997 (he died on March 9 of that year).
Number Ones holds at #1 on the Catalog Albums chart. (Catalog albums are albums that are more than 18 months old, have fallen below #100 on The Billboard 200 and don't have a current radio single.) Jackson owns the entire top 10 this week, counting a Jackson 5 album. The Essential Michael Jackson holds at #1 on the Digital Albums chart. The collection sold 53,000 digital copies this week.
This is the third time that Thriller has posted sales of 100,000 or more units in a week in the Nielsen/SoundScan era (which dates to 1991). As noted above, the album sold 166,000 copies when a 25th anniversary edition was released in February 2008. It sold 101,000 last week, in the aftermath of Jackson's death. Thriller is the only the second catalog album (again, excluding Christmas albums) to top the 100,000 sales mark more than once since 1992. It follows the Grease soundtrack, a 1978 blockbuster that came back strong in the mid-1990s. The John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John tune-fest topped the 100,000 sales mark twice in December 1996 and again in April 1998, when the movie was re-released theatrically.
Jackson has five songs in the top 10 on Hot Digital Songs this week: "Man In The Mirror" at #2, "Billie Jean" at #4, "Thriller" at #5, "The Way You Make Me Feel" at #7 and "Beat It" at #10. Later today, I'll post a Chart Watch Extra in which I count down Jackson's 40 most songs with the most cumulative paid downloads. The list shows which of Jackson's songs have best stood the test of time-and which haven't.
Pop Quiz: To get you in the mood, here's a good (but seriously tough) Jackson trivia question. What do these three songs have in common: "Rock With You," "Human Nature" and "Man In The Mirror." Answer below.
Jackson is selling around the world. In the U.K., The Essential Michael Jackson moves up to #1, dethroning Number Ones (which drops to #3). In Japan, King Of Pop vaults from #43 to #6.
In a Chart Watch Extra (here's the link), I told you that Michael Jackson has had 17 #1 hits on the Hot 100 (combining Jackson 5 and solo records). Let me add that he has also had five #2 hits. Twice, he peaked at #2 behind hits that went on to be Billboard's #1 single of the year. That was the fate of the J5's "Never Can Say Goodbye" (which got stuck behind Three Dog Night's "Joy To The World," the top hit of 1971) and his own "Rockin' Robin" (which ran up against Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," the top hit of 1972). The J5's "Mama's Pearl" peaked at #2 behind the Osmonds' "One Bad Apple," which was created in the mold of the early J5 hits. His other #2 hits were the J5's "Dancing Machine" and his duet with Paul McCartney, "The Girl Is Mine."
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