KCOOL, are you trying to win a contest for the most post count? I still don't understand why you're trolling here with emoticons.

His last crowning achievement!

I NEVER tire of this.

^^ Indeed, one of his best songs and two of his best videos.

The whole HIStory era was a brilliant time. The singles, the videos, the new songs on BOTDF, the Ghosts boxset... Such a great time!

alphastreet said:

KCOOL, are you trying to win a contest for the most post count? I still don't understand why you're trolling here with emoticons.

Yea! This last post just won me million dollars.....

Berry Gordy Remembers Michael Jacksons Motown Audition

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ZSX9Lpf1o[/youutbe]

HAPPYPERSON said:

Berry Gordy Remembers Michael Jacksons Motown Audition

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ZSX9Lpf1o[/youutbe]

I'm so tired of the trolls in this thread, I try not to come here, but when I see that you wrote the post, I know it's something interesting and relevant.
Thank you.

^Will they EVER release these? I know Michael hated them, but hatred be damned, I want my copy!

NaughtyKitty said:

Michael Jackson’s brothers prep for gig with AEG Live as wrongful death suit against company continues

Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson are gearing up to perform at the AEG-owned Staples Center on June 30. A lawyer for the family says the brothers have no other 'options' as AEG owns most key venues in the music industry.

BY NANCY DILLON / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013, 10:21 AM

As Michael Jackson’s mother wages her megabucks war against her son’s “This Is It” concert promoter in court, the King of Pop’s brothers are prepping for a gig with the same company.

A lawyer for AEG Live highlighted the off-the-wall twist as the concert giant fights Katherine Jackson's wrongful death lawsuit.

The company claims it had no idea Jackson’s doctor was recklessly treating his insomnia with a hospital-grade anesthetic.

Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson are slated to perform at the AEG-owned Staples Center June 30 — less than a week after Michael’s June 25, 2009, death anniversary — as part of a festival produced and promoted by AEG Live, the company’s CEO Randy Phillips testified Tuesday.

“For at least the third time since Michael Jackson’s death and the filing of Katherine Jackson’s lawsuit against AEG Live, Michael Jackson’s brothers, the Jacksons, have chosen to work yet again with AEG Live,” Marvin Putnam, the main lawyer representing AEG against the mom, said in a statement Tuesday.

“Most recently, they agreed to perform as part of the BET Experience scheduled to take place at LA Live later this month,” Putnam continued. “In fact, just this past week the Jacksons specifically requested that AEG Live provide them with a VIP suite during the BET Experience.”

Putnam added that AEG Live has worked to put on concerts with Janet Jackson four times since her brother’s death and the filing her mother’s lawsuit.

One of Katherine Jackson’s lawyers said the brothers are simply dealing with a market reality: AEG has a stranglehold on key venues in the music touring industry.

“What are their options? Stop performing?” lawyer Kevin Boyle asked outside court.

“Hopefully they’ll survive their experience with AEG.”

The four brothers currently are on their international Unity Tour, which passed through Europe and Australia earlier this year on its way back to North America.

The upcoming concert is part of a three-day festival for BET (Black Entertainment Television), Phillips said, with other acts including Beyoncé, R. Kelly and New Edition.

"BET approached management to have the four brothers play the festival," Joann Mignano, a publicist for the Unity Tour, told the News.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.co...z2W1gHUwGN

Can I just say how much it bothers me whenever I see Jermaine dressed up in MJ style clothing? That white jacket looked epic on MJ when he wore it on the HIStory Tour.

Jermaine's cheap knock off version makes him look like an overgrown has been whose been playing dress up in his little brother's closet.

Get your own style! Pathetic fool!

[Edited 6/15/13 11:31am]

I'll just leave this here....

Btw, these pictures are lists of songs Michael was working on that were found taped to the walls of his bedroom when he passed.

Anyone see any Cascio songs on there? Nope, cos there are none. Surprise, surprise.

Cascio?

amit1234 said:

Can I just say how much it bothers me whenever I see Jermaine dressed up in MJ style clothing? That white jacket looked epic on MJ when he wore it on the HIStory Tour.

Jermaine's cheap knock off version makes him look like an overgrown has been whose been playing dress up in his little brother's closet.

Get your own style! Pathetic fool!

[Edited 6/15/13 11:31am]

Can't stand him too for the very same reason. OK, it's one of the reasons I can't stand him.

MICHAEL JACKSON'S DAUGHTER PARIS WANTS TO LIVE WITH DIANA ROSS

Jacko’s girl told the US Child Protective Services she can no longer bear to be under the care of grandma Katherine, 83, and cousin TJ Jackson.

Paris, 15, is even prepared to leave her brothers Prince, 16, and Blanket, 11, behind at the family estate in Calabasas, Los Angeles.

She was last night under observation at UCLA Medical entre having been transferred there from a psychiatric unit at another hospital, where she was taken after her suicide attempt.

Before being moved, the teenager was interviewed by social workers who are investigating her case.

Paris slashed her wrists and swallowed an overdose of prescription painkillers.

LA Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, who originally imposed the joint guardianship order, demanded a full investigation into the “health, education and welfare” of the King of Pop’s daughter.

A visitor who saw Paris in hospital revealed she told a social worker: “I want to live. I just don’t want to live at home any more. I feel like I’m being stifled there.

“I miss my dad terribly still and at times I feel like there’s no one I can talk to about how I feel. I want to go and live with Diana, who was one of dad’s closest friends.”

Paris said that at first she had hoped to apply for a legal emancipation order like the one obtained by actress Drew Barrymore, who a judge allowed to “divorce” her parents at 15 and look after herself.

But Paris was advised against this course of action by a lawyer who told her there was “no way” an LA judge would allow her to do that given her “extraordinary circumstances and security requirements”.

Motown legend Diana, whose hits include Chain Reaction and Rescue Me, was named in Jacko’s will as a back-up guardian should anything have happened to his mother.
Paris added that, despite becoming close to her real mum Debbie Rowe, 54, in recent months she was aware that the former medical assistant signed legal papers drawn up by her father’s lawyers agreeing to play no part in her upbringing.

Paris is said to feel under a lot of pressure as she is due to testify in the multi-million dollar civil action which members of the Jackson family are engaged in against entertainment giant AEG.

They claim the concert promoter put undue pressure on Michael to perform his This Is It series of gigs at London’s O2 arena and failed to supervise his doctor Conrad Murray.

He is serving a four-year sentence for manslaughter after administering a lethal dose of anaesthetic Propofol.

A spokesman for Diana, 69, who has six grown-up children of her own, declined to comment.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/320688/Michael-Jackson-s-daughter-Paris-wants-to-live-with-Diana-Ross/

---------------------------------

I think Diana just "happy" at the prospect.

What you upto Mike? Oh nothing, just making history.

Free2BMe said:

Scorp, your response to Gold Dolphin was the same OLD, TIRED crap that you ALWAYS post. You say nothing of substance. You ramble and you rant. You try and diminish what Michael went through in order to defend the Jacksons. NONE of them went through what Michael went through. Damn, NO ONE ELSE, except Jesus,went through the negativity and "crucifixtion" that Michael went through. You talk about what the other jackson granchildren went through. If you multiply that by a 100X's, it still will not equate what Michael's children are going through, only because Michael is their FATHER. Jackie and Jermaine are not blaming Michael for the hate against them, they are blaming the media and the others who couldn't stand for a BLACK MAN to be the most POPULAR and WELL-KNOWN artist in history. You see scorp, Michael's SUCCESS caused the backlash against him. How dare a black man become more famous and bigger than Elvis or the Beatles!! Are you too far gone mentally to see the REAL reason for the hatred of Michael and the NON-STOP media campaign against Michael. Michael KNEW and said so in interviews and song. I don't know of ANY OTHER artist who went as far as he did in confronting his haters. He did it with "Leave Me Alone", "Stranger In Moscow", "D.S.","Money", "Tabloid Junkie", "Scream", "THreatened", "Ghosts", "Is it ScarY", "Unbreakable", "Invincible" and the list of songs goes on and on. Michael didn't just sit back and ALLOW this stuff to happen. He fought back and EVERYTIME that he fought back the media came back and added more lies and manipulated what he said in his music, words, interviews, etc. Just as YOU do everytime that you post about Michael. You and others like you help to perpetuate the negativity because either you are gullible and believe all of the tabloid lies or you are just too stupid and lazy to see the truth with it starring you in the face.

THIS! I appreciate everything you said - your entire comment. Many MJ fans do not understand, or accept, that much of the hatred geared toward Michael was because of the unparrallel success of this black man. Thanks for pointing this out. Those of us who realize this fact must continue to stress it so it's handed down and not lost in the drivel and ongoing lies.

But you have to admit Michael fans are irrational, and a little bit scary.

They hate EVERY SINGLE JACKSON save Michael, a character so far gone I'm sure his family couldn't save him the way the fans wished they could.

It seems like everything bad that happens to Michael and his kids is the families fault.

CynicKill said:

CynicKill said:

But you have to admit Michael fans are irrational, and a little bit scary.

They hate EVERY SINGLE JACKSON save Michael

Generalizing much? You'll find that many of the more, shall we say, intelligent MJ fans love and respect the entire Jackson family. There are a number of people well known in the community that do, and those are the people that I engage with the most and have become my friends. I'm speaking of people like Damien Shields, Charlie Thomson, Chris Cadman and the org's own bboy87.

[Edited 6/18/13 3:52am]

“Diana Ross has told me that people in show business can get hurt. I don’t see how, to tell the truth. Maybe one day I will, but I kinda doubt it” — Michael Jackson, age 12, 1970

CynicKill said:

But you have to admit Michael fans are irrational, and a little bit scary.

They hate EVERY SINGLE JACKSON save Michael, a character so far gone I'm sure his family couldn't save him the way the fans wished they could.

It seems like everything bad that happens to Michael and his kids is the families fault.

What fans hate is the blatant greed you see from everyone including MJ's own family. We're just reacting to what the family themselves put out there. Why is it expected of MJ fans to like the family when the family doesn't do anything for fans to like them? And about blaming the family, did the family not set Paris up to be bullied? All that unnecessary overexposure and their twitter handling has been strange. As old as these people are, they should have known better.

Soul Train History Book: The King of Pop, Michael Jackson

[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/tumblr_mejhuyq2mp1qz8fjho1_500.gif?w=230&h=230&crop=1[/img:$uid] [img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/michael-jackson-on-soul-train-1979-196x300.jpg?w=230&h=230&crop=1[/img:$uid]

There are some people in show business history whom you recognize by only one name: Beyoncé, Gladys, Aretha, Patti, Smokey, Diana, Luther and…Michael.

To commemorate the fourth anniversary of Michael Jackson’s untimely passing, this month’s edition of Soul Train History Book will focus on Michael’s solo work on Soul Train and Soul Train-related programming.

The late King of Pop was a performer ever since the age of 5, when he and his band of brothers, the Jackson 5, played in local clubs and bars in their hometown of Gary, Indiana. They made such a big name for themselves that they eventually played arenas such as Harlem’s Apollo Theater, Chicago’s Regal Theater, and Philadelphia’s Uptown Theater opening for big name acts like James Brown, Jackie Wilson, The O’Jays and many others. Although all of the brothers were talented, Michael was always the standout.

When Motown Records Chairman Berry Gordy saw the Jackson 5‘s audition tape, he enthused about the whole group, but he was especially impressed with Michael. So Berry signed the group to his Motown Records, label and the rest is history.

Soul Train creator and host Don Cornelius promoted a concert at Chicago’s Regal Theater in 1967 when he was a radio deejay at Chicago’s WVON. The Jackson 5 was the opening act for Gladys Knight & The Pips on this show and Don, like everyone else in attendance, was in awe of the entire group, particularly young Michael’s showmanship.

As a group, the Jacksons appeared on Soul Train four times. On three of those appearances, Michael did solo performances. He also made an appearance on Soul Train once all by himself when his brothers were not present. Any solo performance or appearance by Michael on Soul Train, as on any program he performed with or without his brothers, had all of his fans watching with bated interest and excitement.

Michael’s very first solo performance on Soul Train was in October 1973 on a special show which spotlighted The Jackson 5′s current album Get It Together. About halfway in the show, Michael was alone on stage with Don Cornelius, joking that Michael was “thanking him for teaching him all of the heavy dance moves” he had executed earlier in the show. He asked Michael if he wanted him to show him any other moves to which Michael jokingly replied, “Yeah, you can teach me a couple of more things.” Don and Michael laughed after Don told him, “When I get more time.”

Don reminisced about how he remembered Michael and his brothers performing in and around Chicago before signing with Motown, and how they were such a sensation that “no one else wanted to share the same stage with The Jackson 5.” Don wanted to know from Michael who was an influence on his performing ability; Michael responded that since the group didn’t have any songs out at the time, they would study and do songs by James Brown, the Temptations and the Supremes. Don noted that Michael used to do James Brown’s moves very well. He then asked Michael to perform his most recent solo hit, the poignant “With a Child’s Heart.”
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/images6.jpg?w=230&h=230&crop=1[/img:$uid] [img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/tumblr_lyqmn7upkd1r1epupo1_500.jpg?w=230&h=230&crop=1[/img:$uid]

Seeing Michael perform this touching song, in light of his untimely death and how he spoke often about his missed childhood due to being in show business, makes one a little emotional. If anyone didn’t know that this song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1966, one would think the song was written specifically for Michael. Lines such as “no grown up thoughts to lead our hearts astray” and “nothing’s gonna get, nothing’s gonna get me down” truly touch the heart with Michael’s incredible vocal.

The song reached number #14 on the soul singles charts and no higher than #50 on the pop charts, but the chart showings don’t reflect the beauty of this song. It’s one of Michael’s best and is a cherished classic.

Michael’s next solo appearance on Soul Train was on the show’s September 1974 taping. By the time this episode aired in most areas on October 5, 1974, the Jackson 5’s latest album Dancing Machine had been released. So when viewers watching Soul Train that day saw that Michael Jackson was going to be a guest, many assumed he was going to be doing songs from a new solo album, presumably the solo album that was being produced by Stevie Wonder, a story that was printed in various magazines. However, when Don Cornelius was about to introduce Michael, he was holding the group’s Dancing Machine album in his hand telling the audience that Michael was going to “help us check out some of the terrific tunes on the hot new Jackson 5 album entitled Dancing Machine.” Michael, looking dapper in his pink suit, received thunderous applause from the Soul Train Gang as he did his first number, the funky, mid-tempo “Whatever You Got, I Want,” which went number three on the soul singles chart but no higher than number 38 on the pop charts–kind of a blow for the group after the tremendous success of their most recent single “Dancing Machine.”

Stevie Wonder also had written and produced tunes for a Jackson 5 album as well, but both the group’s songs and Michael’s songs produced by Stevie remained in Motown’s vaults until one of those tracks, “Buttercup,” was released in 2010 as part of a CD compilation. Interestingly enough, during those recording sessions, the Jackson 5 did “doo doo wop” background vocals on Stevie Wonder’s number one soul and pop hit “You Haven’t Done Nothin,” which was a message to the then scandal-plagued President Richard Nixon.

Viewers who were watching this episode of Soul Train were puzzled. Where were Tito, Marlon, Jackie and Jermaine? Why were they not on stage performing with Michael?
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/flipwilson.jpg?w=268&h=232[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/soul-train-1974-michael-jackson-34215865-399-266.jpg?w=241&h=161[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/102611-shows-soul-train-jackson-5.jpg?w=188&h=106[/img:$uid]
After the Jackson 5 were a smash at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, the powers-that-be at Motown had boosted the group’s fee for making personal appearances, especially on television. It was learned that Don Cornelius could not afford the new performance fee Motown was asking to have all five brothers appear on his program. So since Michael did most of the lead vocals on the new album, as with previous albums, it was decided that he would come on Soul Train by himself to promote three of its tracks which featured his lead vocals.

The Dancing Machine album, which Michael had said in interviews he was not pleased with and was not as good as it could have been, was basically comprised of previously unreleased tunes that Motown Records put together in an obvious attempt to cash in on the huge success of the “Dancing Machine” single. Most of the songs on this album were recorded during the sessions for the Get it Together album, with the exception of their outstanding track “I Am Love,” which was supposed to be the concept for the new album, but Motown rejected the concept, and threw that track along with “Dancing Machine” and other previously unreleased tunes to fill up the album.

Michael didn’t look too enthused when Don was interviewing him about the album, half-heartedly stating his favorite tracks from the album. Don noted that the album was inspired by the success of the single “Dancing Machine,” which Michael said sold 4 million, but that the group’s biggest selling single was “I’ll Be There.” Don also asked about the group’s performance in Las Vegas, and Michael replied that the group always wanted to play Vegas (however, the group wasn’t initially happy about doing Vegas when their father Joseph Jackson made arrangements for them to perform there).

Later in the show, Michael did a question-and-answer session with the Soul Train Gang. Numerous hands went up from people who had many questions to ask him. This is rare to see since this was one of the only times Michael ever took questions from an audience on a television show. The gang asked many interesting questions, such as one by a dancer who asked Michael if he thought that the Jackson 5 influenced a lot of the other young groups. Michael more than happily answered, “Yeah, that is true.” He added that after his group came on the scene, the Osmonds and other groups followed. That statement received thunderous applause and approval from the Soul Train Gang.

Another dancer asked Michael about the movie he and his brothers were working on. Michael answered that the movie was scheduled to start shooting in November with tentative stars Bill Cosby and Cicely Tyson (he had incorrectly said Liza Minnelli, prompting him and the Soul Train Gang to laugh).

The movie that was being referred to was “Isoman Cross & Sons,” which was written and going to be produced and directed by veteran actor Raymond St. Jacques and was going to star the Jackson 5 as slaves in 19th century America. Joseph Jackson had a huge press party a few months earlier to make the announcement about the movie. Unfortunately, the movie never materialized and was never made.

Michael then performed a beautiful ballad from the album entitled “If I Don’t Love You This Way.” He closed the show with a percolating track called “What You Don’t Know,” causing Soul Train dancer Little Joe Chism to blow his party whistle and the Soul Train Gang to scream and cheer.

A sister group, MDLT, who had been performing with the Jackson 5 as an opening act for their concerts in 1974, also performed two tracks on this episode, the second being one that the Jackson 5 wrote and produced for them entitled “What’s Your Game?” It was released on Joseph Jackson’s new label Ivory Tower Records, and their Soul Train appearance helped boost the single up to 89 on the soul single charts.

The Dancing Machine album went to number 16 on the pop album charts, becoming the Jackson 5’s last gold album at Motown. The album did not score at all on the soul album charts. It was rumored that the powers-that-be at Motown were angry that the group’s smash Las Vegas act and them writing and producing songs for their dad’s new record label as well as doing a movie were moves controlled by their dad and not Motown. So somehow the album’s sales were not accurately reported for the soul album chart, causing it not to appear on the chart at all, which was Motown’s way of telling the group who was ultimately in control of their recording career.

The next time Michael performed solo on Soul Train was on a show taped in December 1975, featuring tunes from his Forever, Michael album, the last studio album he recorded for Motown. He also performed two tracks with his brothers on this program, the disco stomper “Forever Came Today” and the superb ballad “All I Do Is Think of You.”

[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/fb9e2__jackson-51-e1328111574368.jpg?w=469[/img:$uid]
Michael did three tracks, his number 4 soul and number 23 pop hit “Just A Little Bit of You,” which was a danceable, bouncy track and one of Michael’s best cuts; the classy and touching ballad “One Day in Your Life,” which Motown released as a single in 1981 to compete with Michael’s new work at the Epic Records label; and the heartfelt tune “We’ve Got Forever.”

Don asked Michael what his hobbies were, to which Michael replied reading books and feeding the birds in his bird collection. On the subject of school, Michael told Don he attended a private school with other celebrity child stars such as Danny Bonaduce from the by-then defunct TV program The Partridge Family. Don asked if Danny was a good kid and Michael half-heartedly replied, “Yeah, I guess you can say that.” “That’s not what you told me before,” Don countered. “You told me that Danny gets into trouble at school, right?” “Yeah, sometimes,” Michael responded. Little did Michael know that his classmate watched Soul Train also.

Michael’s comments about Danny nearly caused him to get into a fight with his classmate the Monday after this program aired. Danny recalled in his book and on the nineties program An Evening With Clint Holmes that when he went to school that Monday and saw Michael, he screamed, “Jackson, I’m gonna kick your butt!” He then said all of a sudden, Michael’s brothers appeared from out of nowhere and when he saw what a big guy Tito was, he backed down. “Yessir, the Jackson 5 can beat up the Partridge Family,” Danny Bonaduce joked.

Michael told Don of his future plans, which included recording other artists and doing movies which he stated he really wanted to give a try. When Don told Michael that he had the looks for being an actor, Michael shrugged off the remark (Don, like many other people, had no idea the agony Michael was going through at this time battling acne).

Michael’s promotion of Forever, Michael was an attempt to boost sales of the album, which sold poorly when it was released in January 1975. While fairly successful on the soul album charts at number 10, it peaked no higher than 101 on the pop album charts. This was one of the motivating factors which led Joseph to search for a new record label, one which would promote his sons better as well as give them the opportunity to write and produce their own material, which Motown would not allow.

Michael’s last solo performance on Soul Train was on the January 1979 taping, a tenth anniversary salute to the Jacksons career in the entertainment industry as well as a promotion for their new album on Epic entitled Destiny. Before Michael performed during a solo spot, Don Cornelius asked him about his work on his new motion picture The Wiz. “It was a lot of fun,” Michael said. “I had to be in makeup everyday for six months.” Don asked him if acting was hard, and Michael told him other actors such as Sidney Poitier and Ryan O’Neal helped him to prepare for the role. Michael then performed the dreamy, moody ballad “Push Me Away,” the second track off the group’s Destiny album.

Michael’s very last appearance on Soul Train was a cameo spot to further discuss his work in The Wiz (this segment was taped the same day of the tenth anniversary salute of the group). “It was terrific, something I always wanted to do,” Michael told Don. “It was a lot of fun working with all the greats–Sidney Lumet, Quincy Jones, everybody.” They played a clip from the film featuring Diana Ross as Dorothy and Michael Jackson as the Scarecrow singing “Ease On Down the Road.” Michael explained to Don that the scene had to be shot a couple of times since the road they danced on was actually a hill so they were really “easing on up the road,” and they were out of breath during the filming of the scene. Don asked Michael if he would come back to Soul Train despite the fact that he was a big movie star. Michael laughed and replied, “Definitely!” Alas, this was Michael’s swan song appearance on Soul Train. From 1979 on, Michael became a megastar by way of his Off the Wall and Thriller albums.

Although Michael no longer performed on Soul Train, his affiliation with the show did not cease. His music was always a constant favorite on the show. Songs such as “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough,” “P.Y.T.,” “Bad,” “Smooth Criminal,” “Jam” and others were played heavily on the show. He also took several honors at the Soul Train Music Awards. In 1988, he received awards for the Best Soul Single Male for “Bad” and Best R&B Album of the Year for his album Bad. Because he was on tour, he was unable to personally accept the awards.

At the third annual Soul Train Music Awards, Eddie Murphy and legendary movie actress and Michael’s dear friend Elizabeth Taylor presented him with the Heritage Award for Career Achievement and the very first Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year. This was where Elizabeth bestowed him with the title “King of Pop, Rock & Soul” (Michael’s former PR person Bob Jones claimed that he coined the term “King of Pop” at Michael’s urging and it was placed on banners at arenas during Michael’s Bad tour throughout 1988). When Michael came out to receive his award amidst a standing ovation, Eddie humorously adjusted the microphone for Michael, a funny dig at Michael for asking him to adjust the microphone stand at the American Music Awards three months earlier. Michael also received awards for Best R&B Contemporary Single, Male for “Man in the Mirror” and Best R&B Contemporary Video for “Man in the Mirror.”

[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/soul-train-10-402.jpg?w=469[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/tumblr_l4d6sm1ttb1qawq94o1_500.jpg?w=469[/img:$uid]
At the seventh annual Soul Train Music Awards, TV viewers and those in attendance at the ceremony were shocked to see Michael on crutches which he later explained was due to him twisting his ankle while rehearsing, Michael came to not only receive several awards, but to also present an award to Eddie Murphy for that year’s Heritage Award for career achievement. “Isn’t it nice to see him (Michael) getting out and giving people awards?” Eddie joked. Michael himself received the Humanitarian of the Year Award, Best R&B Soul Album for Dangerous and Best R&B Soul Single, Male for “Remember the Time.” Michael also performed “Remember the Time” while sitting in a throne. Although he couldn’t dance due to his injury, his energy was still high as he did a lot of hand and neck movements with the audience repeatedly chanted, “Go Michael! Go Michael!” and got a standing ovation for his efforts. His appearance on the show was part of a strategy to boost sales of his Dangerous album by making several TV appearances, most notably his half-time performance on the Super Bowl and his interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was watched by 90 million people around the world.
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/eddie_murphy_michael_jackson_1993.jpg?w=469[/img:$uid]
[img:$uid]http://vallieegirl67.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/tumblr_lkl5v7mocy1qb9vkco1_400.jpg?w=230&h=230&crop=1[/img:$uid]
In November 1995, Michael took part in a 25th anniversary special saluting the Soul Train television series. Aside from being an anniversary special, it inducted several R&B music stars into the program’s hall of fame, including Michael Jackson, Barry White, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston, Al Green and others (notoriously missing were the Godfather of Soul James Brown and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin

some reason, Michael’s performances for the special were filmed on a separate night apart from the main ceremony. Michael did a truly incredible performance of his song “Dangerous” along with his new number one hit “You Are Not Alone.” During the number, a teenage girl came out of the audience and went on to stage to hug Michael, but that was pre-planned before the ceremony.

Over the years, Michael also worked with Don Cornelius to have artists on his record label, MJJ Music, to appear on Soul Train. Artists from his label that performed on the show were his nephews’ group 3T, his sister Rebbie Jackson, Tatyana Ali, a kid hip-hop duo called Quo consisting of Wade Robson and DeWayne Turrentine, Men of Vizion (who recorded the Jacksons’ hit “Show You the Way to Go”) and Brownstone. All of the artists met with good success while on the label. When appearing on Soul Train, they all spoke fondly of working with Michael.

In 2009, the year Michael passed way, he received a posthumous honor as Entertainer of the Year at the Soul Train Awards. Indeed, Michael Jackson’s music, career and legend will never die and he will always touch people around the world for many years to come with “love, peace and soul.”

http://soultrain.com/2013...l-jackson/

[Edited 6/17/13 16:41pm]

[Edited 6/17/13 16:43pm]

@ Cynickill I agree.

----

Exclusive: The Greatest Michael Jackson Photo Unveils at AMFM Fest

http://www.huffingtonpost...45019.html

Every photographer waits for the moment. In 1990, photographer Scott Christopher saw an opportunity. He knew what he wanted. The position. The angle. He took a risk and hoped for the moment. By chance, it happened. The result may be the greatest photograph of pop star Michael Jackson. It depicts a youthful man, at ease, at peace, clear eyed and creative. The photograph has now been unveiled for the very first time to the general public at the AMFM Fest in the Coachella Valley.

In April of 1990, Michael Jackson was in Washington D.C. to receive an award, the Artist of the Decade, from President George Bush Sr. One of the many related events was a visit to the National Children's Museum. Jackson was with a large entourage. His bodyguards, managers and publicists were milling with museum officials and selected guests. Photographer Scott Christopher was there to document the occasion. The group was halted as scores of school kids were assembling in the next room. Michael Jackson found a moment and he slipped away.

Jackson dodged into a small exhibit room and Scott Christopher followed. The photographer had developed a rapport with the pop star. They were comfortable with each other. Christopher and his camera had become invisible. Jackson sat down, next to a kid-sized table that held three toy xylophones. Above it on the wall was a photograph of jazz great Louis Armstrong. The trumpeter was rehearsing in a bathroom before a concert. A photographer had caught him in an unguarded moment.

Jackson took the xylophone mallet and began to play. There was a shift in the energy and Christopher sensed it. Michael Jackson was getting lost in his own little world. The photographer recalls, "Michael was within his heart of hearts." His face began to relax and his eyes lost focus. The man was having fun. He was playing music.

A photographer looks at elements. Jackson was playing with one hand, the other was relaxed beside him. Louis Armstrong held his trumpet at an angle. The contemporary pop star was lost to himself and so was Armstrong. Scott Christopher wanted a shot where Jackson's arm would parallel the trumpet. He could hope. He also could have popped off a few safe shots. He could possibly ruin the moment. He waited. Jackson continued to play, for himself.

After twenty to thirty seconds, the pressure of the photographer's finger opened the shutter of the camera for a fraction of a second. Light hit celluloid. An image was captured. Immediately, an official popped into the room and announced the start of the event. Reality beckoned. The moment was broken.

Scott Christopher has never shared the photograph of a very private moment of a very public man. He was waiting for the right moment. On June 14, 2013, the photograph was unveiled to the public at the AMFM Fest in Coachella Valley at the Incredible Artist Gallery. The festival, art, music, film and more, is sponsored by Film 4 Change, an organization that Christopher supports. The photograph is noteworthy in so many ways.

Photo courtesy of Scott Christopher

GORDY GRUNDY is a Los Angeles based artist and arts writer. His visual and literary workcan be found at www.GordyGrundy.com

Just look how dark his hand is

Michael

From Asia To Africa, The King of Pop Emerges As A Global Platform For Philanthropy and Social Change

By Sylvia Martin

Amid the developments of the ongoing Jackson vs. AEG trial, claims about Michael Jackson's posthumous earning power have been in the news lately. Recently, Cirque du Soleil premiered "Michael Jackson One" in Las Vegas, a co-creation with Jackson's estate. Meanwhile, Cirque's record-breaking touring show "Michael Jackson The Immortal World Tour" has earned an estimated $300 million since it opened in 2011. As the fourth anniversary of his death nears, Jackson undoubtedly remains a money-making machine.

Yet the King of Pop gave the world more than entertainment and escapism: he also offered it charity and civic engagement.
The "King of Hearts" is how a twenty-something Chinese fan from Guangzhou province described the King of Pop to me.
A noted humanitarian, Jackson was hailed in the Guinness World Records for the most charitable contributions for a pop star (thirty-nine). He recorded charity singles such as "We are the World" and donated proceeds from multiple world tours to charities.
The deceased Jackson has in fact emerged as a global platform for philanthropy.

Spurred by Jackson's premature death at age fifty, fans from Asia to Africa make donations in his name and partner up with non-profits and charities to help complete Jackson's goals to raise awareness about the environment and provide charity for the impoverished and sick

I witnessed firsthand Jackson's ability to inspire when I attended a Jackson fan tribute in Guangzhou, China, in 2011. During the unveiling of a sculpture of the King of Pop, fans took up a collection for UNICEF. Surprisingly, I heard from numerous Chinese fans that they preferred to watch footage of Jackson's philanthropy - visiting hospitals and distributing gifts to burn victims and cancer-ridden patients while on his world tours - even more than his performances.

Fans in Beijing took Jackson's messages about the environment to the streets. On the first anniversary of Jackson's death, they organized a "green bike march" in the highly polluted city to raise awareness about toxins and encourage the reduction of car emissions. Wearing Jackson T-shirts and sequined gloves, fans biked around the city blasting Jackson's music from boomboxes and carried signs such as the one that proclaimed in Chinese and English, "Protecting the environment starts with yourself -- I Heart MJ".

Chinese fans continue to follow Jackson's example, raising money for children with diseases. Some fans note that as a result of their exposure to Jackson's messages about the environment and charity in his lyrics and music videos, they are more aware of energy conservation, recycling, and wildlife preservation.

Then there's the American organization A Million Trees for Michael, a non-profit that partners with American Forests. AMTFM plants trees around the world in honor of Jackson. Their website states, "We're committed to carrying on with Michael's message...Our hope is to have 'Michael Jackson Memorial Forests' in as many countries as possible, on every continent, as Michael was so beloved all over the world."

Founder Trisha Franklin claims she was moved by Jackson's lyrics and visuals to save the environment in his posthumous concert film "This Is It", and wanted to put his plea into action. As of June 2013, AMTFM has planted 26,922 trees in Michael Jackson's name with contributions from the international fan community.

Another project to which Jackson fans contribute is the construction of an orphanage in Liberia, Africa, called "Everland". Initiated in 2011, this project helps children from Liberia and the Ivory Coast who are displaced and orphaned from civil war and the effects of disease. Everland is organized by Michael Jackson's Legacy, an Anglo-American charitable organization. MJL was founded by Dee, who was orphaned as a child and who, according to the site, "credits Michael for getting her through a traumatic childhood and later, for instilling in her a commitment and dedication to helping those less fortunate." As of June 2013, fans from thirty-one countries have donated $49,471 to Everland.

Apparently, the realm of entertainment provides an alternate route to civic engagement, as USC's Henry Jenkins has pointed out. Professor Jenkins studies the Harry Potter Alliance, a non-profit organization that uses themes from the Potter franchise to engage youth and encourage real-world social justice. The HPA's site claims to "empower our members to act like the heroes that they love by acting for a better world." The HPA mobilizes fans to raise money for disaster relief in Haiti, donate books for literacy projects, and raise funds for civilians in Darfur.

To be sure, philanthropy cannot fully address structural issues of development and inequality. Yet as concerned citizens we want young people to become involved in caring for the planet and its peoples. My students are interested in the HPA's work and intrigued by the possibilities of fan philanthropy. Fan philanthropy, in that case, can be a powerful tool for civic engagement and social change.

Dr. S.J. Martin is an anthropologist and Fulbright Scholar who publishes on media, culture and globalization in Hong Kong, China, and Hollywood. Martin teaches anthropology at Pomona College.

http://www.opednews.com/a...1-529.html

diana dont have time to be taking in somebody elses troubled teenager,the lady still has a career (im going to see her in jersey on august 16). how can you blame the jacksons for this girls problems? first of all they didnt really know those kids because mj kept them isolated, the kids didnt have a mother because mj paid the bitch to stay out of their lives,they were in that house when he died,they have to deal with questions about their paternity, questions about their father being a child molester,the mother who sold them is back around....i guess all these things cant possibly be the reason paris has problems,it has to be the jacksons fault.

lowkey said:

diana dont have time to be taking in somebody elses troubled teenager,the lady still has a career (im going to see her in jersey on august 16). how can you blame the jacksons for this girls problems? first of all they didnt really know those kids because mj kept them isolated, the kids didnt have a mother because mj paid the bitch to stay out of their lives,they were in that house when he died,they have to deal with questions about their paternity, questions about their father being a child molester,the mother who sold them is back around....i guess all these things cant possibly be the reason paris has problems,it has to be the jacksons fault.

Michael never kept his kids iscolated, they had friends. They weren't locked in some room. Pictures of them on vacations were leaked after MJ's death, etc. Iscolated from the Jacksons? Well, Michael wasn't really close with his family in a keep in touch daily way was he? Either was Janet, she told Oprah the family kept in touch through 'Mother'. So yes, I'd say it probably was/is difficult for the kids to adjust to this new life.

Paris was also an anonymous person before Michael died. The press had what? 2 or 3 pictures of her over the years? When her dad dies she and her brothers are launched into the public eye, shipped around the world, selling their grief. They were under the control of adults during these periods. Why Paris felt so lost we can all come up with theories, pointing the finger at this present time is a waste of time because we are listening to 'sources', every couple of days since Paris attempted to end her life, there is a new theory. Paris AND her brothers haven't had an easy time these past 4 years, their worlds have been turned upsidedown literally. As much stick as Michael got and still gets, he was their sheild in a way, now he's gone the spotlight is on them, and one thing I think most of us can agree with is that the adults in their world should have been protecting them from it, not pushing them into it further and further.

We don't know what Paris feels, or why she decided to hurt herself, I just hope, things get better. And she gets time to privately grieve & feel whatever she needs to feel to get through these difficult times.

[Edited 6/18/13 8:00am]

lowkey said:

diana dont have time to be taking in somebody elses troubled teenager,the lady still has a career (im going to see her in jersey on august 16). how can you blame the jacksons for this girls problems? first of all they didnt really know those kids because mj kept them isolated, the kids didnt have a mother because mj paid the bitch to stay out of their lives,they were in that house when he died,they have to deal with questions about their paternity, questions about their father being a child molester,the mother who sold them is back around....i guess all these things cant possibly be the reason paris has problems,it has to be the jacksons fault.

The million dollar is, why didn't this family protect this so-called troubled kid along with her brothers, instead of exploiting them and throwing them to the wolves? Why did they allow them especially Paris, to be so accesible to the media and haters? She goes from having this peaceful and quiet life to being waay overexposed, bullied and targeted by tabloids. So no shit she eventually went over the edge. And the saddest thing is, no way the pimping of these kids ends.

Highlights of Chef Kai Chase’s Touching Account About Michael’s Daily Life With His Children

A chef who worked for Michael Jackson has described the home lives of the children during the final months of the singer’s life, including what she said was his daughter’s last birthday party.

Kai Chase told jurors hearing a lawsuit filed by Jackson’s mother against concert promoter AEG Live LLC that Jackson was a hands-on father who often played with his children.

She described an April birthday party for Jackson’s only daughter, Paris, in which she said the singer hired a private circus for his children. The Cirque du Soleil-style show featured men on stilts and a woman performing in a giant balloon, Chase said.

Paris Jackson, who was turning 11, adored her father and Chase helped decorate a room filled with posters and photos of the “Thriller” singer. The singer’s music was played throughout the party.

Chase, who continues to work for Jackson’s mother and his children, said that was the final birthday party that Paris Jackson has had.

“Paris hasn’t had any birthdays since,” Chase said. “She hasn’t wanted to celebrate since.”

Michael Jackson was fiercely protective of his children’s privacy while alive, often shielding their faces in public with masks.

Chase, who testified during Conrad Murray’s involuntary manslaughter trial, described for civil jurors the routines inside Jackson’s rented mansion in the months before his death.

She said Jackson wouldn’t allow his children to eat sweets and made sure they went to bed early so they would be alert for tutors who instructed them. Chase described Jackson as a prankster who ate meals with his children, exchanging jokes and stories.

Paris Jackson would often write notes for her dad on a chalkboard sitting in the kitchen that Chase used to list a menu of the day’s meals. One message from Jackson’s daughter shown to jurors read, “I love daddy” and “Smile it’s free.”

Chase described the close bond Jackson and his children shared, telling jurors the youngsters would run to their father when he came into a room. “They would take off like lightning,” she said, hugging their father’s ankles and legs.

http://bigstory.ap.org/ar...lives-jury

Other highlights of Kai’s Testamony:

• Chase gave her biography _ she was trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and owned a catering company before becoming private chef.
• Chase said she first interviewed with Jackson’s assistant, Michael Amir Williams. Then she went to the Jackson’s mansion for 2nd interview.
• The 2nd interview was with Jackson’s children, Chase said. They described how they and their father liked to eat healthy, she said.
• Prince, Paris and Blanket were talking over each other, Chase recounted. By the end of the session, she had the chef job.
• She described the first time she met Jackson, bumping into him while bringing water to guests in his parlor. From there, they became close.
• Chase said Jackson was a hands-on dad who often talked to her about healthy eating and nutrition.
• She said she had a chance to observe a lot of interactions because Jackson’s children often were in the den, which was next to kitchen.
• Jackson’s mansion had an open layout, so Chase said she could see into the den. Jackson spent a lot of time with his children, she said.
• “He wanted to get to know the woman who was in his life who was feeding his family.”
• “These children were his world,” Chase told jurors. She described them all eating together, telling jokes.
• Music and fireplaces were almost always on in the house, Chase said. Sometimes it was Disney music, sometimes classical.
• The soundtrack in the kitchen at Michael Jackson’s home was LA’s K-Earth 101 station
• Dinners were a major meal. Sometimes they pretended they were eating in other parts of the world,
• Chase said she was teaching Jackson’s children about food. She would write the menu on a chalkboard in the kitchen.

http://vallieegirl67.com/...-children/