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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]
read moreMichael 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 ...
read moreMichael 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 ...
read moreRemembering 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 ...
read moreJazz this week: Keyon Harrold, a tribute to Michael Jackson, Mardi Gras, and more
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
This week's calendar of jazz and creative music in St. Louis includes the return of a favorite local son, a tribute to the late “King of Pop," various Mardi Gras festivities, and more. Let's go to the highlights... Wednesday, February 7 Trumpeter Keyon Harrold returns home to perform for the first of two nights at Jazz at the Bistro Harrold currently is riding high thanks to the critical and commercial success of The Mugician, his second album as a leader, ...
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StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: SFJAZZ Collective plays Michael Jackson
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St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Today, let's check out some videos of the SFJAZZ Collective, who are coming to St. Louis to perform Wednesday, March 30 through Saturday, April 2 at Jazz at the Bistro. Formed in 2004 as a project of the San Francisco not-for-profit presenting organization SFJAZZ, the Collective is an eight- piece, all-star band with an ever-evolving lineup of musicians from all over the USA and beyond. The current roster includes Miguel Zenón (alto sax), David Sanchez (tenor sax), Robin Eubanks (trombone), ...
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George Duke, jazz/funk keyboardist who collaborated with Frank Zappa, Michael Jackson and Miles Davis, dead at 67
Source:
Michael Ricci
Master musician bridged genres of jazz, R&B, funk and Brazilian music; Was sampled by likes of Daft Punk and Kanye West. George Duke, the master keyboardist who bridged the worlds of jazz, R&B, funk, and Brazilian music, died Monday at St John’s Hospital in Los Angeles. He was 67. No cause was given. Duke’s passing comes just over a year after the death of his wife, Corine, from cancer last July. The keyboardist dedicated his just-released album, DreamWeaver, to her ...
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25th 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's Afrobeat Birthday, at the Tractor in Ballard
Source:
Seattle Jazz Scene
The Seattle Times ran a piece in advance of a show Sunday led by Portland pianist Ben Darwish performing the music of Michael Jackson which also features Seattle trumpeter Chad McCullough. We are reprinting the excerpt below but do take exception to the line, “from PDX's mostly nonexistent jazz scene." From The Seattle Times: Happy birthday to the King of Pop! Here's a why?/why not? way to celebrate the life and death of Michael Jackson, who would have turned 52 ...
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Laurent Medelgi Scores New Michael Jackson Documentary "Gone Too Soon".
Source:
Michael Ricci
Laurent Medelgi scores new Michael Jackson Documentary “Gone Too Soon"(Reveille/Shine production). Appointed sole composer for this in-depth look at the last 6 months of Michael's Life with never-seen-before footage of the King of Pop and his entourage. “I had to move away from the hustle and bustle of New york City in order to really channel the energy of Michael in my work", says Medelgi. “This man was all about Love and suffered a great deal emotionally. It was clear ...
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Utopia Records Announces Release of Music Veteran Alfonzo Blackwell's "Human Nature" Tribute to King of Pop Michael Jackson
Source:
One Creative Publicist & Management
Contemporary Jazz Artist and Seasoned Producer Alfonzo Blackwell crafts a unique and timeless production and performance of Michael Jackson's classic hit “Human Nature".
New York, NY (USA) Utopia Records is pleased and honored to announce the new exclusive single-track release of “Human Nature" which was produced, arranged, performed, mixed and engineered by music veteran Alfonzo Blackwell. The multi-talented and multi-instrumentalist masterminds the orchestration of a flawless live performance on the soprano saxophone, electric bass, acoustic guitar accompanied by drum, percussion ...
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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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Kaori Yamada
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Stephanie McKay
vocals
Jozef Nadj
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Brian Woods
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Jamie Bullock
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Christine Manetta
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DonnyJ
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Taydem Shoesmith
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Quincy Jones
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Michael Jackson
Instrument: Vocals
Born: August 29, 1958
Died: June 25, 2009
