Friday, January 27, 2012

Michael Jackson The Legend and Memorial

Michael Joseph Jackson (born 1958) is truly a music legend. He became a superstar at the age of eleven as a member of his family band The Jackson 5. His solo career earned him the title "King of Pop". His studio albums have all become classics. Jackson is equally famous for his high energy and complicated dance techniques such as the Moonwalk. He died in 2009 at the age of 50.

Jackson dominated the music charts throughout the 1970s, 80s and 90s. His distinctive vocal style, rhythm and fashion were perfect for the new music video age. MTV enthusiastically played his videos to the world. His ‘Thriller’ video had all the excitement of a major movie release. Jackson became a true icon of pop culture and influenced dozens of today’s top stars.


Jackson’s personal life created significant controversy and earned him a nickname he hated, ‘Wacko Jacko’. He angered many by having plastic surgery and lightening his skin to look white. His reputation was badly damaged in several high-profile child sexual abuse cases in 2003 and 2005. The courts cleared him on both occasions.

His awards and records are proof of the phenomenal success he achieved. He won World Music Award's Best-Selling Pop Male Artist of the Millennium, and was the American Music Award's Artist of the Century. ‘Thriller’ remains the best selling album of all time. ‘Vanity Fair’ magazine named him the "Most popular artist in the history of show business".

I began working with Dick Zimmerman, who was a very popular celebrity photographer back then. He booked me on a shoot for an album cover with Michael Jackson. The album was Thriller. Michael and I got along really great! Michael requested me for his next photo session with ET … and his next assignment, Beat It… and everything after that … the rest is history. Michael was embarking on The Victory Tour with his brothers. Michael required my complete attention, so I brought in Carme to help me. I met Carme earlier while working at the Barbizon School where we both had been teaching. We had become good friends. This began Carme’s 10-year working relationship with Michael’s brothers.

The media started hounding me after the Thriller album was released. I remember being called by a tabloid reporter offering me $75,000 for any information about Michael or the video shoot we were working on for the song “Thriller.” I said no. They said, “how much then?” It just wasn’t something that tempted me. The offers got more outrageous from there. They fi nally all got to realize I was a dead end for information and it tapered off a bit. But during major controversies they still were very persistent. Anyone who is creative is naturally connected to the universe. Michael always attributed his talent to God. He said God was channeling through him, and it had nothing to do with him.

That’s right but what I fi nd more interesting is how children are drawn to him, like a magnet. I think they recognized a kindred spirit. They recognized his unconditional love and related to him because he was a child at heart. Children look at the world through fresh, unjaded eyes. Michael had the ability to see the wonderment of the world like they did.


Michael wasn’t a big eater. He thought it was a waste of time, like a child having to sit at the dinner table while hearing all the other kids outside calling him to come out to play. He chooses organic and healthy food but sure can enjoy a bucket of KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). Akasha was his chef many years ago, and now has a restaurant in Culver City, California. She would fi nd the perfect compromise. She would make him organic cheese enchiladas that he covered with hot sauce. He would want to eat them every day. She also made a killer banana cream pie that was a favorite. I will never forget these wonderful cookies she made that he nicknamed “ookies.”

It is a little diffi cult to share too much about that because it is not something Michael would talk about. He would just do it. He just did. When we were touring the world, while everyone was going out to restaurants and clubs, Michael’s joy came from visiting orphanages and hospitals. I used to go with him. He would have his team contact them before his visit and fi nd out what they needed. He would fi ll up his vehicles with toys and treats and we would go. He arranged for playgrounds to be built, bought busses and provided vehicles, paid for expensive operations for children.

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