http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/art ... 1003824224

July 03, 2008 , 10:25 AM ET

Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
Up-and-coming singer/songwriter Claude Kelly wrote the recently leaked Akon song "Hold My Hand" featuring Michael Jackson, but he confesses hearing the legendary singer's voice on the track the first time was a total surprise to him.

"I wrote the song and gave it to Akon with the intention of it going to maybe Whitney Houston, but Akon said he wanted to cut it himself. I thought, 'It doesn't get any bigger than this'," the 27-year-old New York native tells Billboard.com. "A few months after, Akon plays the song for me and all of a sudden I hear Michael Jackson's voice. I was literally shaking by the time the song was over."

The track, which is in contention to be the first single from Akon's new album, due late this year, has since been pulled off the Internet. As per when an actual Michael Jackson album will be released, Kelly says a date hasn't been set yet. What has been confirmed, as per Kelly's manager Michael "Make" Mentore from Star Power Media/Make Moves Management, is that the track will appear on both Akon and Jackson's albums.

Since penning the collaborative track, Kelly has been tapped to work not only with Akon and Whitney Houston but also with Jennifer Hudson, Frankie J, Brandy, New Kids On The Block, Toni Braxton, recent Def Jam signee Unique and Leona Lewis, including the latter's second single, "Forgive Me," which will be released in the coming weeks. He also wrote the entire debut solo album for Corbin Bleu from "High School Musical" fame.

As a child, Kelly took piano and flute lessons and sang with local choirs. He attended Brooklyn College of Music in 1999, and in 2002 wrote his first song, which was placed in a Bathing Ape compilation released in Japan. His first major placement came with "Daddy's Little Girl" from Frankie J's 2006 album "Priceless."


In the future, Kelly says he hopes to work with the likes of Beyonce, Rihanna, Usher, Chris Brown and Kelly Clarkson, among others. He also plans on delving into country and rock music as well.

is there a thread already?

Looks like Michael is keeping this song for his album,too.

I don't mind if it's on mj's album but it would fit so much better on akon's. I wanted him to just release the duet for akon's album since it's a favour after thriller 25 and just move on from him.

I heard the song isn't even done, that it's much more like a demo and that MJ's vocals weren't programmed right. It could end up being just Michael's song when it's released. This is what I'm hearing now, lol.

Now that you mention it, mj's vocals could have been mixed much better.

Timmy84 said:

Oh, do the voices in your head tell you that?

so at least you guys know this much...


***There will be a new Michael Jackson album

***The song "Hold My Hand" (with or without Akon) will appear on it.

you got a little news to tide you over

PatrickS77 said:

What the fuck?

SoulAlive said:

It CAN change.

Timmy84 said:

LOL, what I meant is, all the things you said are just assumptions, speculations and whishfull thinking on part of the fans! Nothing you said is confirmed! So far the only thing that is semi-confirmed is, that it is supposed to appear on both Akon's and Michael's album... but what does the songwriter's manager know?? Plans can still change! Michael can still decide to not put it on his album! So why do you distribute all those speculations??

PatrickS77 said:

Haha, yeah it's assumptions.

I have problems with the story myself.

PatrickS77 said:

WTF?! You are talking like a sane and logical human being. You seem to actually have some.... PERSPECTIVE! It can't be you. Someone must have hijacked your account. Either that or the end days have finally come.

Feels dizzy

Takes aspirin

Lies down and tries to make some sense of the world