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Michael Jackson
The King of Pop, who will be forever immortalized for his world-famous, trademark dance moves and chart-topping success, was arguably one of the most popular recording artists of all time, his success peaking during the 1980s.
Jackson was born in Gary, IN on August 29, 1958. Before he became a solo artist, Jackson was the youngest member of the Jackson Five, the explosive '60s band formed by his four older brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon Jackson -- put Jackson on the path to stardom.
Jackson's talent was brought to the attention of producer Quincy Jones, who cast him in the role of Scarecrow in 'The Wiz' (1978), a musical based on 'The Wizard of Oz.' The film also featured Diana Ross and Richard Pryor. The rising pop star reunited with Jones in 1982 with the mega-hit album, Thriller. The title track, along with "Beat It," "The Girl is Mine," and "Billie Jean," would make him an indelible icon of pop culture. The album garnered seven Grammy awards. His unmatchable musical talent was coupled with an intriguing idiosyncratic image that, in later years, overshadowed the singer's own success. But the '80s marked Jackson as a contemporary legend.
Jackson's eccentric persona was perpetuated with the help of his one-gloved hand. In 1993, a mother accused Jackson of molesting her 13-year-old son during a visit. The case was eventually settled out of court for a reported $20 million. Still, America remained enamored with the pop star; a reported 62 million viewers tuned in to his 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. The later years of his career and personal life proved to be a tumultuous affair. The change was perhaps foreshadowed most significantly a year after he married Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley. His album, HIStory, released in 1995, failed to become the success it was anticipated to be. His 2001 album, Invincible, which reportedly cost $30 million to produce, would suffer the same fate.
During the same year, in November, he married former nurse Debbie Rowe. She gave birth to Prince Michael Jackson I in 1997. Two years later Jackson and Rowe filed for divorce. In November 2003, more legal trouble emerged when a 12-year-old boy claimed that Jackson molested him at his Neverland Valley Ranch. A year later Jackson gave his DNA sample to authorities after police searched his estate for evidence.
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Michael Jackson: Man in a Jazz Mirror - Part II
by Ludovico Granvassu
The second part of this week's special edition dedicated to jazz renditions of the songs of Michael Jackson (and the Jackson 5!) showcases a wide range of approaches, ranging from the muscular, to the atmospheric, deconstructivist and straight-ahead groovy, including a compare and contrast between Vijay Iyer's and Miles Davis cover of “Human Nature." At the end of the show, Jimmy Smith's precious collaboration with the King of Pop. [For the first part click here]
Continue ReadingMichael Jackson: Man in a Jazz Mirror - Part I
by Ludovico Granvassu
This week let's pay homage to the musical legacy of Michael Jackson. It has been 10 years since Michael Jackson passed away and lots of things have emerged since then, but the popularity of his music remains strong, including among jazz musicians (the majority of the tracks featured this week was released after his passing). If you are concerned that jazz interpretations of pop music come very close to smooth jazz, don't worry... that's not Mondo ...
Continue ReadingMichael Jackson: The Possibility of Communion
by Jeff Dayton-Johnson
Can anyone write about Michael Jackson's music without talking about themselves? My story goes like this. An after-school dance in the multi-use room at Charlotte Wood Junior High School. I'm 13 years old, my back firmly affixed to the wall, together with my coterie of friends, watching the less socially awkward kids dance in the center of the room. All of a sudden an insistent bass line, tapping me on the shoulder, resonating in my gut like butterflies in my ...
Continue ReadingRemembering Michael: Help Me Sing It
by Chris M. Slawecki
“Lift your head up high / And scream out to the world I know I am someone / And let the truth unfurl Ain't no one can hurt you now / Because you know what's true Yes, I believe in me / So you believe in you Help me sing it..."
Just like I remember where I stood in 1977 when news of Elvis' death ripped across televisions everywhere, most ...
Continue Reading25th Anniversary of Michael Jackson's Landmark Album Bad Celebrated with September 18 Release of New Bad 25 Packages
Source:
Sony Music Entertainment/Legacy
MICHAEL'S PERSONAL VHS COPY OF HIS JULY 16, 1988 PERFORMANCE AT WEMBLEY STADIUM UNEARTHED FOR THE RELEASE NEWLY DISCOVERED OUTTAKES AND DEMOS FROM BAD ALBUM RECORDING SESSIONS TO BE RELEASED Twenty-five years after the phrase “Who's Bad" became a generation's cultural catchphrase, Epic/Legacy Recordings, in collaboration with the Estate of Michael Jackson, will celebrate the legendary album and record breaking BAD tour on September 18, 2012 with the release of a deluxe package, BAD 25, which includes three CDs, two ...
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Michael Jackson Estate, Cirque Du Soleil Team up for Tour
Source:
Michael Ricci
Michael Jackson's estate and Cirque du Soleil will team up for a concert-like production that will tour sports arenas starting in the fall of 2011 to be followed late in 2012 with a permanent show in Las Vegas akin to existing Cirque productions built around the music of the Beatles and Elvis Presley. Having attended Cirque du Soleil performances with Michael, I know he was a huge fan, John Branca, co-executor of Jacksons estate, said in a statement issued Tuesday. ...
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Witness: Michael Jackson Doctor Interrupted CPR
Source:
All About Jazz
Michael Jackson's doctor halted CPR on the dying pop star and delayed calling paramedics so he could collect drug vials at the scene, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press that shed new light on the singer's chaotic final moments.
The explosive allegation that Dr. Conrad Murray may have tried to hide evidence is likely to be a focus as prosecutors move ahead with their involuntary manslaughter case against him.
The account was given to investigators by Alberto Alvarez, ...
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Prosecutors Want Michael Jackson's Doctor's License Suspended
Source:
Michael Ricci
California prosecutors filed court papers seeking to suspend the medical license of Dr. Conrad Murray, who was charged last month in the death of Michael Jackson. When Murray was charged, the judge agreed he should be barred from administering anesthetics like the ones prosecutors said killed the pop star last year when he was in Murray's care. But now, California Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown wants Murray to stop practicing medicine as part of the terms of his bail. The move ...
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Michael Jackson's Revived Captain EO is Still Wired, Slightly Tired
Source:
All About Jazz
ANAHEIM, California Michael Jackson's 3-D short film Captain EO is playing again at Disneyland, and the 24-year-old space opera still holds up. Mostly. Representing the height of 1986 movie technology, Captain EO was a lavish collaboration between Disney and George Lucas Industrial Light & Magic studio. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Jackson at the zenith of his career, the 17-minute film was shown only in custom-built theaters in Disney parks from 1986 to 1994. Following Jackson's death in ...
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New Michael Jackson Documentary Comming Soon
Source:
All About Jazz
The author behind “Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson" is tackling the King of Pop's last days for the bigscreen.
Author/filmmaker Ian Halperin is behind “Gone Too Soon," an 88-minute documentary about Jackson that is culled from 300 hours of footage shot inside the singer's camp. Shine International, which holds international distribution rights to the doc, will unveil “Gone Too Soon" at next month's MIPTV confab in Cannes. Pic is set for a theatrical run in Canada and France, ...
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Jackson Estate Signs $200 Million Sony Deal
Source:
All About Jazz
The estate of Michael Jackson has landed the late King of Pop the biggest recording deal in history: a $200 million guaranteed contract with Sony Music Entertainment for 10 projects over seven years, according to a person familiar with the deal.
The record-breaking contract could be worth up to $250 million if certain conditions are met. One of the albums will be of never-before-released Jackson recordings that will come out in November, the person said.
The person spoke on condition ...
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Michael Jackson Fans Line up at Disneyland for Return of 'Captain EO'
Source:
Michael Ricci
Fans decked out in futuristic garb formed a line early Tuesday to see the return of the Michael Jackson film “Captain EO" to Disneyland after a 13-year hiatus. At 10 a.m., the 17-minute, science fiction-themed musical returns to the Tomorrowland Theater for limited engagement. It replaces “Honey I Shrunk the Audience," which closed Jan. 3. “Captain EO" debuted at the height of Jackson's fame in 1986, featuring director Francis Ford Coppola and executive producer George Lucas. It cost a reported ...
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Michael Jackson Returns to Disneyland in Captain EO Tribute
Source:
Michael Ricci
Eight months after Michael Jackson's death, Disneyland on Tuesday will unveil Captain EO Tribute, a revamped and restored music video from the height of the pop stars fame.
Following the success of the This Is It concert film, Disney has decided to dust off the 23-year-old music video for a limited engagement at the Anaheim theme park. The 17-minute Captain EO cost an estimated $30 million to make and featured a star-studded list of credits, including executive producer George Lucas, ...
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Further Details of Jackson's Cornor Report
Source:
All About Jazz
Michael Jackson's full autopsy report was released following the filing of involuntary manslaughter charges on Monday against the singer's personal doctor. Following are some notable or new highlights of the Los Angeles County Coroner's report into Jackson's June 25 death.
--Jackson died of “acute propofol intoxication" administered at a level equivalent to that used during anesthesia for “major surgery". A consultant anesthesiologist said there were “no reports of its use in insomnia relief."
--None of the recommended monitoring, precision dosing ...
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