When Michael Jackson was just a little boy he told his mother, “I know I can’t heal the world, but I can do my part.” To say that Michael did his part would be a gross understatement. Michael Jackson was more than the greatest entertainer that ever lived, he was one of the greatest humanitarians, something that the media rarely reported.
“Jackson has unselfishly helped every cause, and individual child, I have sent his way…In one case he hired a circus for the Down’s Syndrome children of a special school of the daughter of a friend of mine, and showed up to happily watch the show with them…His feathers may be badly burned…but he is something of an angel.” Pete Townshend of The Who
Much of what Michael did for others was done quietly as he understood good deeds done silently are a greater blessing and it is only through narratives like the one above, that we can even grasp the enormity of his heart.
In a more public expression triggered by the famine in Ethopia and Somalia, he co-wrote “We Are The World” as an anthem to raise the awareness of the world to the plight in Africa. Dr. Wayne Dyer expressed succintly, with that song Michael “fed half the population of the world.” Since healing the world was Michael’s lifelong mantra, we feel that the Africa Water and Life organization is very much in line with his passion.
BECAUSE WATER ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
This organization works with the people of the area to empower them to make life changing implementations and control their own future.
Current Projects- Well Drilling and Thresher Business Program
Donate Generously to this endeavor that will change the world.
For more information regarding AFRICA WATER AND LIFE 10330 Carmel Mountain Road San Diego California 92129
Enjoy this rare find of the 1988 documentary on Showtime of Michael Jackson Music Career -
It begins “His name has become synonymous with Super Stardom”
……. he is simply – Michael Jackson
Transcript -
James Earl Jones (JEJ): His name has become synonymous with super stardom. He turned on million selling records when his peers were still in grade school. He has single handedly rewritten recording history. His dancing seems to defy the laws of physics. His fans are both loving and frightening.
Fans: “I’d die if I ever got to meet him because he’s just so great”. “He waved and me and said “HELLO” I can’t believe it. He waved at MEEEE (screaming)
Gene Kelly: He’s charged with energy
Cyndi Lauper: He’s got a lot of soul!
Young Fan: Oh, he’s lovely.
Fan: This is like the Beatles (Waiting for Michael)
Fans screaming they have seen him, hugging each other
Hermes Pan (Choreographer of Fred Astaire): You are the greatest!
JEJ: He has redefined the term “professional entertainer” HE IS SIMPLY…. MICHAEL JACKSON
Young MJ: I like swimming, playing basketball and other things.
MOTOWN ON SHOWTIME MICHAEL JACKON …. the legend continues.
JEJ: Michael Jackson’s story is spectacular and intricate. It covers the more than two decades since he began performing but any story about Michael would not be complete without including Michael’s fans and to let some of Michaels fans become part of the story a contest was prepared by Showtime and MTV.
Announcer: “What would you ask Michael Jackson? There’s an MTV contest riding on your answer”.
Katharine Hepburn: Michael, what is your favorite vegetable?
Announcer: “Just think of the best three questions to ask Michael Jackson and you could win a tour of Michael’s home, a meeting with Michael.”
Fan: (translated) “Do you like peanut butter with your sushi?
Announcer: “MTV Ask Michael Contest”
JEJ: From all the contestants, Kathy Burke from Atlantic City NJ, Troy Counsel from Tallahassee, FL & Erica Salsbury from Lakewood CA, were chosen to visit Michael’s home and share their feelings about Michael’s career from the very beginning with the Jackson 5.
(Clip shown from the Ed Sullivan Show)
JEJ: Michael and his brothers and sisters grew up listening to their father Joe play guitar and often joined their mother Katherine harmonize on country western songs. When Joe realized that their home spun rhythms showed promise he began urging more and more practice. Before long they had taken their act on the road in the midwest and the east coast including the Apollo Theatre and an appearance on The Miss Black American Pageant.
(Clip of Miss Black America Pageant)
Winning Contestants: “Well who discovered them?” “I don’t know, I mean did somebody tell them to go to Motown or maybe somebody heard them sing some place”?
Quincy Jones: I heard that Diana Ross was responsible for it in some fashion.
Suzanne de Passe: The legend was born because it seemed a good idea at the time that Diana Ross had discovered them because she was a big star and Diana Ross would present them which she did in fact present them but I’m not sure she discovered them.
(Clip of The Jackson 5 on the Ed Sullivan Show)
Ed Sullivan: Out in our audience is Diana Ross and the Supremes who discovered the Jackson 5 in Gary Indiana wasn’t it? Stand up and take a bow there. Diana Ross! (Diana stands up in audience) Diana those youngsters are amazing and the little fellow in the front is incredible.
Marlon Jackson: Some people say Diana Ross discovered them, some people say Gladys Knight, some people say Bobby Taylor but I know the truth because I was there when it all happened
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Transcript-
Jim Nabors: 5 young brothers from Gary, IN have three number 1 records, well it’s phenomenal and that’s exactly what they are ladies and gentlemen my friends the Jackson 5.
JEJ: Their next single quickly became their fourth consecutive number 1 hit.
(Clip from the Jim Nabors Hour 1970 Michael singing “’ll be There”)
Interviewer: What do you do about things like school?
MJ: Well we have a tutor when we go on the road, we do about three hours or four
(MJ’s report card is shown with all A’s and B’s)
Marlon Jackson: And after that we did what we did. Have rehearsal and sound check on the road or whatever. (clip of rehearsals, etc)
JEJ: Some of the Jackson 5 early steps toward stardom were organized and guided by a young Motown executive Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe: I can remember working out the choreography to “I want you back” in my living room. We would put the record on and someone would have an idea, I would have an idea and we would put it all together. In those days we did it ourselves. They became so successful so quickly that none of us were prepared for it. We went from being able to go anywhere to get a hamburger, go to a movie, go shopping to being able to go nowhere.
(Clips of fans mobbing the Jackson 5)
(Stephanie Edwards Interview 1971)
Stephanie Edwards: With me are the guest stars of the Diana Ross Special. The group that has sold more single records in the country this past year than anyone else – The Jackson 5 and from left to right they are: “I’m Jermaine”, “I’m Jackie”, “Marlin”, “Tito”, “and I’m Mike”
SE: Now Michael you are the lead singer of the group and you’re also the youngest. You are how old?
MJ: Eleven
SE: Eleven. Do they give you any trouble, your brothers?
MJ: Not really, cus we all sing and whatever we do, we do it together as a group.
SE: Now we would like to have you hear some of their latest important record which is my favorite while they go off to school can you bear it? It’s called “Never can say Goodbye” and thanks for coming fellows. (Clip of “Never can say Goodbye” Flip Wilson Show 1971)
Going back to Indiana Special 1971)
Bill Cosby: (In reporter character) This is your roving reporter Scoop Newsworthy standing in front of the actual rehearsal hall where the Jackson 5 have been preparing for their Indiana Concert.
Tom Smothers: Hi, what’s going on?
Bill Cosby: Jackson 5 is rehearsing in there but you can’t go in.
Tom Smothers: J5?
Bill Cosby: J5, J5… but you can’t go in. You’re going to be thrown right out.
(Tom Smothers walks in)
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Transcript-
Announcer: Let’s all stand and welcome the Jackson 5 (clips of performance on stage)
JEJ: The Jackson 5 grew up in Gary IN so this concert was really a celebrated and joyful return to their roots (singing “Going back to Indiana”)
(Clip of Rona Barrett 1973)
Rona Barrett: Not since the hey day of the Beatles has the music world seen anything like the Jackson 5 about to receive yet another platinum record denoting sales of two million discs. These amazing little Motown cats already have four platinums to their credit now being honored in Atlanta by Mrs. Coretta King and hosted by the black luminaries.
Dick Clark: A man of many versatile talents, not the least which is always being a gentleman. Would you greet our special guest Mr. Michael Jackson. (Clip of MJ singing Ben)
JEJ: In the late 70’s Michael and his brothers worked their already perfected style into some of the best and most successful music of the time.
(Cher Show 1976 Singing “Dancing Machine” with Cher)
JEJ: The Motown Years were a blur of hit records and professional growth for Michael and his brothers. Under the direction of Barry Gordy they had become one of the most successful recording groups in history. (Clips of the family) The Jackson 5 epitomized the Motown slogan “The Sound of Young America” and fit perfectly the Motown philosophy of reaching both soul and pop music. In their 7 years at Motown Michael and his brothers sold nearly one hundred million recordings but in 1976 The Jacksons chose to move to CBS Epic Records.
5 Transcript only – (Video can not be accessed due to SME restrictions)
Marlon Jackson: So 5 guys went to a different company and one guy stayed at Motown and we respect Jermaine’s decision because that was a very difficult decision for him to make. The time we left Motown was a growth period for us because I’m sure what I’m going to say everbody can relate to because there comes a time in life where you want to grow and branch and try something different. It was like a challenge for us. The first time we got to produce a whole album and that was the first platinum album we had on Epic Records.
(Clip from “Blame it on the Boogie” 1978) (American Bandstand 1978 “Shake you Body”)
JEJ: Michael and his brothers ended the movie video era early with a level of sophistication never seen before.
Dick Clark: The Jacksons have put together a film and Michael has personally had a hand in this. I think to tell you the truth, he has hand in everything, not only the music but the directing and the concept and he asked me to look at it and I said “Michael we don’t show films, I don’t want to show films, what do I want to show films for and then i saw it and said aaaaaaah (takes a deep breath in)
(Clip of “Can you Feel It” 1981)
Sammy Davis Jr.: Going on your own opens up many avenues for you and I think that’s what Michael was probably thinking about was the ambition that comes from being in this business from a child and you see another horizon over there and you know the best way to get over that peak is to do it alone.
(Clip from the Wiz (1978)
JEJ: So Michael travelled to New York to costar with his friend Diana Ross in the film version of “The Wiz” and there a professional partnership began that would change popular music forever.
Quincy Jones: I ran into Michael as one of the principals in “The Wiz” I was the musical director of the film and he was trying to find a producer for his next album. The more I knew him and the more I became fascinated with the idea of maybe working with him
Dick Clark: Quincy and Michael… now ummm.. you know what? All you have to do is look at what they have done together. There’s never been a success that could touch this. These two guys fit like a glove.
Quincy Jones: …and I said Michael why don’t we try and work on an album together and we did.
(Clip from “Rock with You” 1980)
Contestant Winners: My favourite album from Michael Jackson is the “Off the Wall” album, it really is and my favourite song on the album is “Don’t Stop til you Get Enough”
(Clip of “Dont Stop Til You Get Enough” 1979)
JEJ: Although “Off the Wall” was not Michael’s first solo album, it was his first with Quincy Jones. The remarkable success of this album helped push Michael to further dazzling heights.
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Transcript-
Winning Contestants: (Looking at MJ’s wall) “Whoaa look at all the stars”, “there’s Jackie Onassis, there’s Sophia Loren”, “and here’s Barbara Streisand and there’s Elizabeth Taylor”.
JEJ: Michael grew up watching stars like Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. There strengths and talents gave Michael a path to follow.
Hermes Pan: They inspire him with their artistry. Now an artist is always inspired by another good artist.
Katharine Hepburn: I think he is a brilliant dance and a wonderful singer and an amazing produce of this universe.
Elizabeth Taylor: I have absolute faith and trust in Michael’s abilities. I think they are much larger than anyone has dreamt of. I think he is going to be one of the great superstars of all time.
Sophia Loren: When I met him it was really (chuckles) love of at first sight. I think when you get to know Michael you understand the nature of his charisma.
Gene Kelly: I think he will go on and on because I think there are too few song and dance men around.
Sean Lennon: I never met him before and I had no idea what he was like and it turns out he is the nicest person in the world.
Yoko Ono: I think Sean feels that Michael is a brother who is more experienced than him so Sean tends to listen to Michael.
Elizabeth Taylor: I think Michael appeals to the child in all of us and I think he has the quality of innocence that we would all like to obtain or have kept.
Sophia Loren: He’s shy, he’s delicate and he looks at the world with innocent eyes of a child.
Elizabeth Taylor: (Smiling) I love you Michael.
(Clips of Michael with children) “With a Child’s Heart”
Elizabeth Taylor: … and there’s a quality about Michael that is so rare and unique. He is E.T. He’s not really of this planet
Quincy Jones: Somehow Steven Spielberg talked us into getting involved in a song for an ET children’s storybook. (Michael narrating ET The Storybook)
JEJ: The spell cast by Steven Spielberg’s film and Michael’s narration was strong, strong enough to capture another Grammy for Michael for his performance.
Michael Jackson: Of all the awards I have gotten I am most proud of this one, honestly (Best Children Recording Grammy)
Katharine Hepburn: He’s just an enormously gifted fellow. He’s a really fine dancer. I didn’t realize what a fine dancer he was until I saw one sort of tape that he did which I thought was amazing.
Suzanne de Passe: Michael did not want to do Motown 25. Not because he didn’t want to do anything for Motown but I think as much as he didn’t want to do television. Once he decided he was going to do it, the man was obsessed.
(Clip of Jackson 5 Motown 25 -1983)
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Transcript-
MJ: Thank you, thank you. You know I would have to say those were the good old days . I love those songs and those were magic moments with all my brothers including Jermaine but those were good songs, I like those songs a lot but especially I like the new songs.
(Clip of MJ on Motown 25 – 1983 “Billie Jean”)
Suzanne de Passe: You had to be the old Pasadena Civic Auditorium that night because I don’t think before or since will there ever be anything that would rival the discovery, the artistry, the expression. The entire audience was caught in a spell. Michael was hot record wise but we had only seen him in videos and here he was all by himself on stage doing something that no one had seen him do before.
Katharine Hepburn: I think what makes him a star is he can do it and you can’t help looking at him.
Hermes Pan: When I had dinner with him the other night I was tempted to ask “Michael, how do you do that walk?” I was dying for him to show it to me.
JEJ: Michael’s real success that night was that he had reached an audience that he had not reached before. He reached those that did not watch MTV or seen his videos. He reached those that have might not bought his albums and through this one television appearance he had suddenly gained millions of new admirers.
(Clip of Thriller Video – 1983)
MJ: I have something I wanna tell you.
GF: Yes Michael?
MJ: I’m not like other guys.
Sammy Davis Jr.: You wanna see the boy next door? Open up the door to your kitchen and look at the boy next door. Don’t go see Michael Jackson because he ain’t the boy next door.
JEJ: Although each new work from Michael was more successful than the last. Nothing could have prepared him for what happened with this album. “Thriller” won 58 platinum records in 28 countries on six continents and in America an incredible eight Grammy awards. The total sales of the album have exceeded 40 million copies, earning a place in the Guiness Book of World Records as the largest selling album of all time.
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Transcript-
Dick Clark: Everybody always talks about the “Thriller” album. First thing you have to realize is that thing sold 40 million copies. That is the biggest selling album in the music business. It was really unusual and what was extraordinary about that album was that Michael captured the very young, the very old and everybody in between. White, black, young and old and that magic happens once in a lifetime.
(Clips of Michael’s fans all over the world)
JEJ: While “Thriller” was on it’s crest of popularity, there was hardly a day where Michael’s name or face was not seen in print or on television.
Contestant winner: He took everything and put it down and he said “world here I am, here I come” and the world said “this is Michael, this is the man”
JEJ: Through it all Michael does not seem resentful. His love for his craft and his desire to learn and communicate with every one stem from the very beginning of his career.
Smokey Robinson: Mike has always been an observer and in fact, I won’t even put that in past tense because he’s the same way now.
Elizabeth Taylor: I think Michael is like litmus paper. He’s always trying to learn and he’s so intelligent, he’s alarmingly bright. He’s very curious and he wants to draw from people who have survived, people who have lasted. He wants to find out what it is that staying power because Michael is going to be a stayer.
Marlon Jackson: I remember sitting on the side of the stage watching Little Dion, watching Jackie Wilson, Temptations, James Brown, learning.. just watching and learning.
JEJ: Learning from the Godfather of Soul was something that Michael began very early. Even today the culture of music is still influenced by “the hardest working man in show business”
(Clips of James Brown and Jackie Wilson)
MJ: Some people are great entertainers, some people are followers and some people make the path and are pioneers. I would like to say Jackie Wilson was a wonderful entertainer. He’s not with us anymore but Jackie wherever you are I would like to say thank you and I love you and thank you so much.
(Clip of Michael Jackson seeing on Diana Special 1971 – (Frank Sinatra song)
Sammy Davis Jr: What I find fascinating about Michael is that he smacks of my era of show business. He is the modern day vaudevillian so that subsequently when he did the two man thing and they were doing the road show type of thing (Say, Say, Say) the style fit him.
Gene Kelly: I’ve seen some of his moves that are reminiscent of Fred and myself, yes and that’s the way music and dance should be. They should have some influence on a generation behind them and also, for Fred and myself, it’s very flattering.
Hermes Pan: I mean If I tried to compare him to say Gene Kelly or even Fred Astaire something like that I would do him an injustice because the thing that makes Michael great is his own style and his own originality.
9 Transcript (Video could not be accessed due to SME restrictions)
JEJ: Of course its always nice to hear that one’s work is appreciated by others.
(Grammy award presention clips – Michael Jackson wins 8 Grammys)
Award Presentators: “Record of the Year is Beat It by Michael Jackson. “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. “Michael Jackson”. “Beat It – Michael Jackson” “Thriller”. The Song of the Year is “We are the World”.
Quincy Jones: For years Michael and I had been taking about a song that was like an eighties version of “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” – a faith song of the eighties you know that would be an anthem. He and Lionel got together and we had to have that song quick and he jumped dead in the middle of it I mean it was right on target and just what we needed.
(Clip of behind the scenes on Heal The World)
Cyndi Lauper: Michael was going around quietly directing in a very easy manner
Constenant Winners: Do you remember when Heal The World was broadcast simultaneously around the World? I was thinking really “What Can I do to better the lives of other people in the world”.
“We Are the World is incredible that is the kind of thing that gives good vibration to the world and I think he’s doing that.
(Clip of the video “We Are The World”)
JEJ: The power of music was never more clearly demonstrated then the overwhelming response to this simple song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Ritchie.
(Clip of a children’s choir singing “We Are The World”)
JEJ: As important as the other world was to Michael, it was one of only many examples of his willingness to act and speak out for what he believes in.
(Clip of Michael, President Regan at the White House – 1984)
President Ronald Reagan: “To Michael Jackson with the appreciation with the outstanding example you have set for the youth of America and the world.
JEJ: And after a serious accident during the filming of a television commerical he created the “Michael Jackson Burn Centre” in Los Angeles.
(Clip of Michael Jackson meeting a young boy from Make A Wish foundation)
Patrick Tuohy: (Make A Wish Foundation) We are here today because of a little boy named George. A thirteen year old boy from San Diego who is suffering from a life threatening illness. It was always George’s desire to meet Michael Jackson.
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Transcript -
JEJ: Meeting Michael Jackson for thousand, perhaps millions would surely be a dream come true and for Troy Counsel, Kathy Burke and Erika Salsbury that dream came true when they met Michael after a record breaking performance in Australia.
(Clip of Michael performing “Heartbreak Hotel” in Australia live)
(Clips of Michael throughout the years and Michael singing “When you wish upon a Star”)
JEJ: For every one of us there will always be hopes and dreams and wishing upon a star to achieve those dreams has been a legend since the childhood of us all but for Michael Jackson the legend continues….
Also Please note: 2,5,9 were not located - We are Searching for bits that are missing
Michael Jackson was sensitive to all ailments inflicting children. He made it part of his life’s mission to help children all over the world. It is no secret that Michael donated over 300 million of his earnings to a variety of charities. Michael opened his Neverland home to children worldwide to spend a day at the ranch so they could engage in activities of fun. Michael wanted to ensure that children had some happiness, hope and inspiration. Michael also knew that positivity could bring some healing, both physically and emotionally.
Michael’s heart and soul simply understood the gift of love keeps on giving. If he could bring a smile to a child (or to anyone), he knew that power of unconditional love could brighten that child’s day, improve their world at least spiritually and have some kind of positive impact in some way. Michael did his best to fulfill wishes and dreams, gave money to find cures and much needed medical equipment anywhere he visited. Michael’s compassion for the children of the world healed many and made many children’s lives better, so they could live and love another day.
In April 9, 1984: David Smithee, a 14-year-old boy who suffers from cysticfibrosis is invited to Michael’s home. Read on:
MJ Charity: David Smithee, a 14-year-old Tulsan, poses for a picture with Michael Jackson in April 1984. Smithee died in May 1984
Karen Wilson was traveling back to Tulsa from a business trip when she heard the news that Michael Jackson had died Thursday.
“It brought back some wonderful memories of my son and how special Michael Jackson treated him,” Wilson said. “His loss was terrible, and his death brought up a heavy heart.”
It was in 1984 when her 14-year-old son, David Smithee, who was terminally ill with cystic fibrosis, met Jackson at his California home.
The visit was part of a weeklong California trip for David made possible by a nonprofit organization that fulfilled the dreams of terminally ill children.
During the afternoon visit at Jackson’s Encino, Calif., home, David watched a movie with Jackson in his home theater, played video games and learned how to moonwalk.
David Smithee, a 14-year-old Tulsan, poses for a picture with Michael Jackson in April 1984. Smithee, who had cystic fibrosis, got to meet Jackson through the Brass Ring Society, an organization that fulfilled the wishes of terminally ill children. Smithee died in May 1984.
Of the video games, David told a Tulsa Tribune reporter, “I played two games with him and beat him both times.”
The visit was topped off with Jackson giving David the red leather jacket he had worn in the “Beat It” video and a beaded glove he had worn to the American Music Awards, where he collected eight awards.
David wore the jacket and glove home on the plane to Tulsa, his mother recalled.
“He was just in heaven,” Wilson said.
David, an eighth-grader at Nimitz Junior High School, went straight to the hospital after arriving home, his mother said.
While in the hospital, David showed visitors the jacket, glove and pictures of himself and Jackson, Wilson said.
David died one month later.
“Michael Jackson gave us the happiest last month of our lives,” Wilson said. “(David) died very happy.”
The visit must have made an impact on Jackson, too; he later dedicated the Jackson 5′s “Victory” album to David.
Wilson continued to follow Jackson’s career after her son’s death. She remains an adamant defender of Jackson, who faced rumors and accusations of inappropriate behavior with children.
“Despite everything that was said of him later, we saw none of that,” Wilson said. “I never, never, never believed any of it. He was alone with my son a lot and never did anything ever happen.
“I never really believed any of that.”
Wilson still has all the pictures and memorabilia from their visit with Jackson.
And she still has the jacket and glove.
“They are under lock and key,” Wilson said. “But now they’ve become too fragile to take out and touch too much.”
Ironically, Wilson was dancing to a Jackson song Wednesday night while at a convention during her business trip. The song gave her the opportunity to tell others about her son’s meeting with Jackson. “I still, when a Michael Jackson song comes on, my heart still pounds,” Wilson said.
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This story has inspired me to share the importance of carrying on his legacy of giving and humanitarian work. We all can make a difference somehow in some way. I’d like to bring awareness to the cause of cystic fibrosis, for Michael and personal reasons. The first part, I will explain now. Michael was always inspired to help those in need and his heart and unconditional love for humanity and he knew some childhood diseases have no cure. He knew cystic fibrosis at that time was terminal. Cystic Fibrosis treatments have improved to increase the quality of life and the life span of those inflicted, but we are still a bit away from a cure.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic devastating and debilitating lung disease. Although more than 1400 mutations can cause cystic fibrosis, one gene in particular accounts for the majority. A deletion at delta F508 on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene results in absence of a protein building block called phenylalanine. The resulting regulator protein does not fold properly and is entirely nonfunctional. This causes 70% of all cases worldwide.
Cystic Fibrosis is a recessive gene that is passed on through both parents who are carriers of the gene; a child diagnosed with CF must have BOTH defective genes from both parents to be symptomatic of CF. If both parents have the gene that causes cystic fibrosis, they have about a 25% chance of having a child with the disease, 50% chance of a carrier, and 25% chance that the gene is not in the child’s make up- theoretically speaking. This does not mean that one out of every four children they have will have the disease. This means each pregnancy has a one in four chances of resulting in a CF baby when both parents are carriers.
An estimated 1 in 29 Caucasian Americans have the CF gene. The disease is the most common, deadly, inherited disorder affecting Caucasians in the United States. It’s more common among those of Northern or Central European descent. Most children with CF are diagnosed by age 2. A small number, however, are not diagnosed until age 18 or older. These patients usually have a milder form of the disease. Lung disease eventually worsens to the point where the person is disabled.
CF is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. It is a life-threatening disorder. A documented case of cystic fibrosis did not exist until around the 1930′s, though history suggests that CF had been around since the 1700′s- often misdiagnosed as pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, or whooping cough. An old German saying indicates a small awareness of the disease in that “A child whose forehead tastes like salt when kissed will soon die.” One of the symptoms of CF is salty-tasting skin.
Cystic fibrosis causes the lungs to produce an abnormal amount of thick mucus. The sticky mucus builds up in the lungs and digestive tract, often impairing the pancreas from proper functioning and the intestinal tract from properly digesting food. The mucus is actually always present because it builds up daily and because it is so thick, it is not easy to expel. The issue with the mucus is that it is a foundation for the lungs to create more bacteria, to trap bacteria, and to be susceptible to several types of lung infections, which will cause more production of mucus due to infection. Individuals with CF are highly susceptible to a strain of treatment-resistant bacteria called P. aeruginosa. The P. aeruginosa bacteria (or pseudomonas bacteria) attack patients whose immune system is greatly weakened, such as patients with Aids or CF. One notorious trait of the P. aeruginosa is its ability to cling to the cell lining of the lungs and to create proteins that can lead to its damage, it does not require a lot of oxygen or food to reproduce and it has the capability to create a protective biofilm shell around it, making it especially resistant to antibiotic therapy. Mucus that remains in the lungs is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria to live, especially in CF patients because their body produces an abnormal amount of mucus daily. (http://www.aboutcysticfibrosis.com/cystic-fibrosis-pseudomonas.htm)
Today, the average life span for people with CF who live to adulthood is approximately 37 years, a dramatic increase over the last three decades.
Death is usually caused by lung complications. (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001167/)
Now a days, about 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis are diagnosed each year. More than 70% of patients are diagnosed by age two. More than 45% of the CF patient population is age 18 or older. The predicted median age of survival for a person with CF is in the late 30s. (http://www.cff.org/AboutCF/)
Previously, the life expectancy was considerably less- most children who were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis live from months to early teenage years. The dramatic increase for life expectancy in the last couple decades was due to the isolation of the gene back in 1989. Medical testing and research can be very slow, however, much improvements in the treatment of CF occurred during the 1990′s. Life expectancy increased from just a few years (teens) to what is now the mid 30′s. Early diagnosis is best.
In the 1990′s, they began experimenting with gene replacement as therapy, and by 2000, double lung transplants were on their way. More experimentation and research is needed before a cure is actually in sight. They have come a long way in the treatment of CF to at least increase life expectancy is 37.5 years and there are better treatments today than even in 1980. Perhaps in our lifetime, we will actually see a cure for cystic fibrosis.
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one close to my heart personally. I have had two family members who unfortunately were diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. They are my cousins.
My cousin was born in 1982 was diagnosed with PERMANENT lung damage from CF at six weeks old…..that is how debilitating the disease can be. Doctors told us she would not live past the age of 14. I was twelve years old when she was born. I remember how she was always sick and because her condition was severe, if we had a common cold, we were not allowed to visit her. Understand that for us, a common cold lasted no more than a few days of illness, but to her, a common cold was life threatening, produced more damage in her lungs, and was a few weeks of a hospital stay of endless treatments.
I have such lovely memories of her. We had so much fun together. Never a fight or argument, and always together laughing and joking around. Our families made sure we had plenty to play with together and the love we shared created so many precious memories. Oh my, we sure knew where the fun was. At times, I don’t know who had more fun, us or the adults watching over us. We used to make up our own rules to games and everything. There were many times when my cousin would have her treatments and then be ready to play moments later. She had such a strong spirit in her, we could barely keep up with HER at times! When she was feeling bad, we let her curl up with us with a blanket, and still, her light shined brightly in her eyes.
My beloved cousin was a beautiful person. She was full of pure love and had a never-ending supply of hugs. She knew there was no cure for CF, but humbly and with all the strength and love in her spirit, she tried to live and love the best she could – and she sure did. She was not always optimistic and had difficult times, but all her family members were there to give her strength and love to endure another day. We never let go of her hand. Many times, she spent weeks the the hospital on end, even check ups, because at times, she would have additional therapy during her visits. She endured antibiotic therapy, endless breathing treatments, medicines and enzyme therapy. She endured pneumonia several times and lost several friends (who had CF) every year and still, she kept her head up the best she could.
At the age of 14 (1996), her condition was considerably worse and was given six months to live. New treatments only benefited her so much though. However, my cousin defied doctors and lived beyond the six months.
Sometime in the 1990′s there had been some tremendous advancement in treatment and lung transplants. In a CF patient, they learned it was better to transplant both lungs or otherwise, the disease would transfer to the new lung. She was considered a candidate for a double lung transplant only after all methods of treatment were not as effective anymore. She was conflicted, but after talking with family and then thinking it over, she agreed to have the transplant. We were all asked to consider giving her a lobe, pending tissue and blood match. No one in my immediate family matched, but her mother and uncle did.
She underwent surgery in April 1999 and had both lungs replaced with a lobe from each of her mother and uncle. We eagerly awaited…and prayed….life expectancy for her if this was successful would give her another an estimated 1-5 years (if lucky, 10 years). We all wanted her to have a chance to live her dreams.
My cousin made it through the surgery and lived another year. It was amazing to see her planning her future and living life, and breathing like she never could before. She looked really good, happy and healthy after her surgery. It was beyond wonderful to see her embracing her new life, the future, and lungs- especially to see that light in her eyes shined brighter then. She told me she felt like a normal person and that she REALLY “liked that breath of fresh air”. I got a chance to see her LIVE like she wanted and dreamed…and it was the most beautiful blessing and gift ever.
Every time she wrote me, she would tell me what she was up to and always apologized she didn’t have the time to talk like she used to – but I cared more that she was enjoying her life and doing all she wanted to do. I told her every time she apologized: “no apologies, go, live, be happy and keep in touch” when she thought to. I kept every email she wrote me. She did very well for a while.
I don’t remember how long she was doing well precisely, for it took about 2-3 months after she had surgery where she had to stay in Boston for testing etc. She was doing well when they released her home (back to NY) that summer. She had times of checkups afterwards, and some illness I believe sometime in the winter months, but she always managed to bounce back. February came and I believe it was then, she had some issues with pneumonia but this time, she couldn’t shake it.
My beloved cousin passed away a few weeks before her high school graduation and the day she received her college acceptance letter. I was really excited for her when she told me she applied to college….something she thought she would never get to do…..I wanted to see her go and achieve all she dreamed. I wanted her to be really happy and healthy.
…….She just turned 18 that February in 2000. We were all devastated.
It took me a bit of time, but I was thankful to the heavens for giving her that year to enjoy life and a new breath of air that she so desperately craved. Her story was in the media several times….her funeral was humbling, and very loving.
My aunt and uncle gave her the acceptance letter for college to take with her. She had a procession fit for a princess and there were roses everywhere. (She loved roses). Her high school color guard team stood at the entrance of the church as to welcome everyone and her high school band marched for her in front of the car…to the drum of a single beat each of the other band members were holding a single rose instead of instruments. They later played “The River Is Wide” at the cemetery. As she wanted, a cute guy with his bagpipe played Amazing Grace (she LOVED cute guys and bagpipes). It was amazing to see so many come to pay their respects to her and her family. The lines of people to come see her and express condolences to our family extended three blocks, police had to close off streets and oh my….it was overwhelming.
The second person in our family to have CF is her brother. He was born in 1993 and diagnosed before he was born. He has a life expectancy of about 30 years old or so and he is doing well, though he has hard times. He remembers his sister and misses her every day. He too is such a spitfire…as she was too. He’s very creative in art and has a very deep soul.
I pray every day that they find a cure for CF and perhaps, in her brother’s lifetime, they will find one. I think about all the families affected and all the issues….and my heavens, if researchers can find a cure, I think of all the blessings that come from it. I am forever blessed by my cousin and my family. For that, I am forever grateful.
If you can, please donate to this cause. Not because I have appealed to you with all I’ve shared, but because it is such a harsh childhood disease that seems well on its way to better treatment- each step they take in improvements in treatments is another step closer to finding a possible cure. They now have a drug called Pulmozyne, a FDA approved drug that helps patients with cystic fibrosis through its ability to reduce lung infections by breaking down the excessive mucus caused by CF production. This ability allows the patient to expel mucus preventing it from building up. It is the first pulmonary medication specifically for CF patients. Fewer lung infections means less opportunity for scarring and damage. Future research focuses on transferring altered genes into the system successfully, the use of altered viruses, synthetic vectors, fat capsules, and manipulation of proteins produced by cystic fibrosis genes to better pulmonary functioning.
I cannot tell you how important research is for disease control and cure. The life expectancy as of 2005 has increased exponentially from the 1970′s- from a few years to 37.5 years. I would like to see that increase to older age. Unless you have seen someone with CF go through the extremes that my cousin did, you really don’t know the extent to how debilitating CF really is.
There is not a day that goes by that we do not think of her. There is not a day that goes by that I do not remember the love she shared with everyone. She was our blessing. And still is.
This post is my dedication to her and Michael for the love they shared. She would have been 30 years old this Feb. 18th. Forever in my heart…
1998 -Interview of Michael Jackson by Adrian Grant
ADRIAN~ You have travelled to many countries all over the world. Can you tell me about your admiration for Brazil, and the experience that you had while filming the video They Don’t Really Care About Us? MICHAEL ~ I love the Brazilian people, I feel for them in the same way that I feel for the Indians and Africans. There’s a lot of poverty in Brazil, and I remember going there for the first time kind of left my heart…(you know there’s bits of my heart in different countries around the world in which I travel)…and I have a lot of heart for those people. Have you ever been to Brazil?
ADRIAN ~ No, I haven’t, but I hope to one day, especially for the carnival! MICHAEL ~ It’s amazing. The people are so sweet, and they were so happy to see me. You know they were so overwhelmed with excitement, and I was happy to be there for them. I wish I could do more – I just feel so bad that I don’t do enough, I really do.
ADRIAN ~ Why did you choose Spike Lee to direct that video? MICHAEL ~ They Don’t Really Care About Us has an edge, and Spike Lee had approached me. It’s a public awareness song, and that’s what he is all about. It’s a protest kind of song – it’s not a racist song, it’s an anti-racist song and I thought he was perfect for it.
ADRIAN ~ You wrote a song called Money. Having been a millionaire since you were a boy, how important is money for you? MICHAEL ~ I guess it gets things done…to fulfil some dreams you need to have financial backing. However I think everything starts with a thought, like if you plant a seed which then cultivates itself, everything comes out of that. I never really thought about it when I was little. I always felt that I was compelled to do the things I did, I really did.
ADRIAN ~ Do you find it difficult to relate to the needs and the pain of the suffering when you seemingly have everything you could desire? MICHAEL ~ No, No, not at all. Being a world traveller I’m touched and moved by everything that happens, especially to children. It gets me emotionally sick, and I go through a lot of pain when I see that type of thing. I can’t pretend as if I don’t see it. It affects me very much. For some reason there’s a certain part of my concert where I break down in every show and in that spot I get a certain thought – I think of the plight of the children and it gets me everytime. I don’t know why in that place, it’s during I’ll Be There, the thoughts just come to me and I try hard to contain myself.
ADRIAN ~ What is your favorite song on the HIStory album and why? MICHAEL ~ My favorite songs are Earth Song, Childhood and You Are Not Alone because I like songs with emotions and a message, and a sense of immortality. I like there to be some depth in the lyrics as well as a melodic simpleness that the whole world can sing them. That was my goal to capture that on those songs and I think I came pretty close. Whenever we went on a tour, people just loved them, I was pleased to have done that.
ADRIAN ~ Would you say there is a concurrent theme running throughout the HIStory album? MICHAEL ~ It’s about people looking at their lives and taking any seconds of their well being and making something of yourself – creating a legacy so you can look back and look at what you have done. I always wanted that, that’s why I like working very hard.
ADRIAN ~ How did your collaboration with R. Kelly on You Are Not Alone arise? MICHAEL ~ R. Kelly sent me this tape of the song and I liked what I heard. It had no harmonies and it had no modulations so I told him he wrote a great song is it OK if I just go in and do what I think this song should have. He said ‘sure’, so I went in and produced it. I put a choir in the end and did a great modulation so the song had a sense of climax and structure.
ADRIAN ~ Why did you include your cover of the Beatles song Come Together on the HIStory album? MICHAEL ~ I was coming home from church and my engineer was fooling around with that song, which I hadn’t asked him to do, but when I heard it I said ‘WOW! This is my favorite Beatles song.’ So I just went in and in one take started singing it. We kept it kinda raw and funky. It was just spontaneous, but I knew I wanted to do something with it.
ADRIAN ~ You broke many records during your successful ‘HIStory Tour’, is it hard to get motivated for each show, after more than 30 years of performing? MICHAEL ~ I usually come to the show not feeling like I really want to do it because of being over-worked, but once I get there I feel the spirit of the entire audience before I even get on stage. And then the magic takes place – no matter how you feel, even dead sick and weary – suddenly you just go out and do it. The energy comes out of nowhere, it’s like the Gods are blessing you.
ADRIAN ~ What personal satisfaction did you gain from the tour? MICHAEL ~ Seeing all the races together, which I love so much. All the colors in the audience loving one another, getting on with each other and enjoying the music – a unified field !
ADRIAN ~ Would you say that your music is now written from a more personal viewpoint, compared to the pure disco of your earlier material? MICHAEL ~ I never categorise the music ’cause I never sit down and say I’m gonna write a disco song, or pop or rock or…. I just kind of write according to the emotion, according to what I’m going through in the moment, I get caught up in the moment wherever the moment is, wherever the emotion is. I create out of that and I almost feel guilty of putting my name on the songs that I write because they are from another source. I’m just a funnel through which they come, I really do believe that. They are from above. They choose me I don’t choose them.
ADRIAN ~ Blood On The Dance Floor is a very striking title. Is the song about Aids? MICHAEL ~ No it isn’t, not at all. Actually I didn’t create the title, my engineer (Teddy Riley) thought of the title, which I thought was cool, so I wrote the song around the title. And then I made a mistake, and I apologised, but they didn’t show it on TV. When I was in England – I hid in England at some time (1993), and Elton John let me use his house. He was so sweet and kind, and I thought I never thanked him. So I decided to dedicate a song to him, and that song was Blood On The Dance Floor. But after it came out I said ‘why did I dedicate that one of all the songs, it could have been You AreNot Alone, etc…’ So I always thought that I wanted to apologise to him for that – it was just out of him being kind. He’s a wonderful person.
ADRIAN ~ Do you feel a connection with the late Princess Diana, given that many of your songs on the HIStory album talk about your personal torment and persecution from others? MICHAEL ~ Yes I do, very much. I think I understood her. In the moments that we had, that were very intimate and personal, we talked on such subjects. I think it’s a tragic, tragic loss. I feel that people like myself and other artists should carry the torch of what her mission was and I think I have that understanding – It’s what I do, and am willing to do. I thought she was brilliant.
ADRIAN ~ Do you feel that the song Tabloid Junkie highlights at all the tragic circumstances in which Princess Diana died? MICHAEL ~ Yes the tabloids are a bunch of trash. I think there should be a way to destroy them. We should create a big burning, like in stadiums around the world – pile them all together ! You remember how they used to do disco records, and just create a burning, to make people aware. It’s such an intrusion. It’s a horrible thing. They hurt you, it’s terrible. It creates such ugliness, they never think about how the person feels about what they write.
ADRIAN ~ When and how did the idea for the short film, Ghosts, arise? MICHAEL ~ It started with the Addam’s Family, they wanted a theme song (Is It Scary) for their films and I didn’t want to do it. So eventually we got out of it. So I ended up making a short film. I love films, I love movies, and that’s why my next mission is to make films. That’s what I want the next chapter in my life to be – movies and records. There’s no other place to go. I’ll do films, do records and direct. I’ll also do complete directing myself, ’cause I love it very much.
ADRIAN ~ What type of films would you see yourself in ? MICHAEL ~ Everything, not just musical stuff but drama, pathos – I love it.
ADRIAN ~ Which people and events in world history have played a significant part in your own life and why? MICHAEL ~ I would say John F. Kennedy, because that smacks of my generation when I was little. I think he was America’s greatest President. I saw some of the civil rights movement on television but I never experienced it personally, but that affected everybody.
ADRIAN ~ Throughout your career you have constantly taken your art form to another level. How do you see you live performances taking place in the future? MICHAEL ~ I don’t wanna do any more live shows (World Tours), I don’t think I will ! I wanna spend the rest of my life doing records and films. I’ll do some special shows here and there. You know I’ve been doing it since I was five, I don’t know if I wanna do it anymore – but I do love it very much. I wanna create for the next 100 years, and that’s film work.
ADRIAN ~ How would you like history to portray Michael Jackson? MICHAEL ~ I think as someone who has been given the ability and talent to do what I do, to heighten the awareness of peace and love, and the plight of children worldwide on to a universal level. It’s been created through song, dance and film – I guess that’s my mission, and I’m happy to have been chosen.
We respect the fact that people having differing opinions and we have no problem with them using Michael Jackson’s own words to support their theories, but we do take issue with misusing Michael’s words to support a faulty agenda.
This quote is attributed to Michael in an Alleged Interview with MJ with Chuck Dakota. - “What I want people and my fans to know is when you buy that junk you’re putting money in their pockets and it hurts me.” In this alleged interview, Michael was referring to tabloid magazines. We are not sure that this interview took place but it was used in the twitlonger below and we are simply demonstrating where it was found.
When he made this statement – “I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money”, he was referring to people like the Chandlers who extorted money in 1993 and the Arvizo’s who were using the Chandler playbook and attempted to screw Michael over again with false allegations. Please read Michael’s complete statement made in 2004.
Now let’s check the spin on this twitlonger dated March 6th:
These quotes were grossly taken out of context and put here to stir emotions and get supporters for a cause that will hurt Michael’s legacy in the long run. Let’s dissect this.
Would Michael call his own music“that junk”?
Would Michael say he was “vulnerable” and say Sony wanted “money”?
No.
Neither one of these quotes fit with the issue, but they are included. WHY?
It is the misuse of Michael’s words that weaken the argument of the people who wish the fanbase to boycott Sony -which in fact, is boycotting Michael, since he owns 50% of the Sony/ATV publishing catalog.
In 2002, Michael held up signs that said “Sony Sucks” we don’t deny it. Sony, under Mottola’s reign, was not promoting his music, ergo, if fans are not promoting his music, They Suck. It’s as simple as that.
Some have tweeted proudly that they’ve been boycotting Sony for 10 years so they are stating that they had NOT listened to Michael when he said PROMOTE INVINCIBLE NOW.
These people who continue to ignore the reason behind the boycott and putting quotes in Michael’s mouth that do not truly reflect the correct context to what he was talking about, do him a great injustice.
Let’s examine this particular sign. Notice it clearly says “PROMOTE INVINCIBLE NOW” along the bottom. It has pictures of George Michael, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson .. all have big red X’s over their mouths .. Why? What do the X’s represent?
Being silenced.
1)George Michael -
George Michael sued Sony in 1994, and lost a case whereby he claimed that Sony restricted his artistic license and “he also testified that Sony had sought to punish him by not promoting “Listen Without Prejudice” as aggressively as it should have, particularly in the United States. The album sold five million copies, a relative disappointment after his 1988 album “Faith” sold 14 million copies worldwide.”
2)Mariah Carey -
Mariah Carey’s album Rainbow which was released on November 2, 1999 received the highest first week sales of her career at the time, however debuting at number two on the Billboard 200. Sony felt Rainbow didn’t have any strong single to be released, whereas Carey wanted a ballad regarding personal and inner strength released. The difference in opinion led to a very public feud, and fearing to lose their label’s highest seller, Sony chose to release the song. Carey, soon found out that the song had only been given a very limited and low-promotion release, which made charting extremely difficult and unlikely. Carey left Sony in 2000.
3) Michael Jackson -
Early 2002, under Mottola’s direction, Sony Music suddenly cancelled its promotion of Invincible. The third single, “Butterflies” was due for release in early February, but Sony pulled the single’s commercial release for unknown reasons. Michael protested this lack of promotion and demanded the ouster of Tommy Mottola.
January 9, 2003 Tommy Mottola was forced to resign from Sony.
For George Michael, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson, it was an issue of Non-promotion of their music by Sony.
What happened with these three artists after their individual difficulties with this particular record company- Sony, were resolved?
George Michael – He settled up his differences with Sony and is currently advertising his music deal with them, on his website.
Mariah Carey - According to some reports, she is considering returning to Sony as soon as she fulfills her contract with Universal Music Group.
Michael Jackson - Between November 2003 and August 2008, Michael released at least six compilation albums under Sony’s label, Epic or a division of Sony, some of which he was executive producers listed, including Thriller 25 in Feb of 2008. Michael actively promoted Thriller 25, leaving a personal message on video expressing his excitement to his fans. Please read more information regarding the 2002 demonstrations in Promote Michael’s Music Part 1.
Why do we support Michael’s music ? - He told us he wanted it to live on.
“I always want to do music that influence and inspire people, each generation. I mean, let’s face it, no one wants mortality, everyone wants immortality. You want what you create to live, be it sculpture, painting or music or a composition. Like Michelangelo said, you know, “ I know the creator will go but this work survives. That is why to escape death I attempt to bind my soul to my work.” That’s how I feel, I put my all in my work ‘cause I want it to just live, and give all that I have, you know. Yea, it has to be that way.” Michael Jackson
Alleged Interview between Chuck Dakota and Michael Jackson
There is No Audio available to confirm whether or not this interview ever took place.
CD: You are without doubt the greatest entertainer that ever lived. Looking back did you ever think you would be the king of pop?
MJ: (laughter).. Wow.. Thank you so much… That’s wonderful of you to say. I don’t think I ever really had a grip on what we did until Thriller. When I was a child I didn’t understand it all. Joseph would give us checks each week from Barry and I was ten, eleven years old and had hundreds of thousands of dollars handed to me each week and all I wanted was a friend to play ball with and a pack of bubblegum. I can really tell you with all honesty that when I was younger I wanted to stop and just be a child with the astonishment of the world.
CD: You say that it came to life for you with Thriller. What do you mean by that?
MJ: A lot of people don’t know this but thriller was mine. I had it in my head from the days of being with my brothers playing clubs at two or three in the morning. Because I could never play with children or join a baseball team I would stay up late into the night and write poems and stories. I remember I would fantasize about what I wrote and I guess a lot of what came out was my dreams of what I really wanted. I kept everything I ever wrote and when I was making Thriller I took some of what I composed and adapted it into the album of which I’m very proud of. Because Thriller was my own creativity, it made me really fall in love with the music because for the first time I was able to express myself and release all these emotions and if you listen to the album and I mean really listen you can hear that I wrote most of those songs from the soul.
CD: Michael you were the king of the stage since day one. You didn’t have to work at it, you had it and gave it to the world. Do you have any regrets?
MJ: Again thank you for such kinds words. That’s wonderful. I was talking with one of my dear friends the other day and we were I guess reflecting on the past and I think if I could have changed anything it would have been the chance to be a child for just a little while. I remember going to and from the studios and seeing children play and how all I wanted was to be one of them. I would have traded anything in the world to change places with them just for the day
CD: Michael you’ve lived your whole life in the press. Everything from the elephant man bones to having alien babies. How do you cope with it all?
MJ: (laughter).. The elephant bones was one of the top ten. I’ve always said the bigger the star the bigger the target and by no means am I saying that I’m better than anyone else but because of the way I live and choose to live and what I’ve accomplished the press for the most part feel they can make anything up and as long as it has my name on it, it will sell. All I can say is don’t by that trash. That’s all it is, trash and what I want people and my fans to know is when you buy that junk you’re putting money in their pockets and it hurts me. I’m a human being, not a freak show or Wacko Jacko, just a man trying to raise his children and live in peace.
CD: Michael how has your children changed you?
MJ: (deep sigh).. Oh wow.. Everything.. Everything has changed. I’ve always wanted children and I’m so blessed by the Lord to have that kind of love in my life and I will do anything and everything I can to make my children lovers of the world and not spoiled brats with the silver spoon. I want them to see the world with wonderment and not be afraid and to have goals and to live life at its fullest and with each step they take I see that in them and I wake up for them and go on for them. For the first time in my life, all of this has a purpose and it’s my children. The hell, the pain, the loneliness was leading to them all along.
CD: Let’s talk about the 90′s run. You had huge success in that decade but the press down played it. You sold millions of albums, had huge hits and I’m wondering if that’s why you slowed down with putting out more music?
MJ: Without question. I was so irritated the media said those albums were utter failures. They sold millions of copies like you said and had massive air play and it still wasn’t good enough. They wanted to focus on other things and I think we know what those are without having to indulge but the point being it goes back to making news out of nothing when I gave them so much to make news from that was true and honest like selling 7 or 8 million copies, debuting at number 1, I could go on and on but it’s the same Ol’ story.. If Michael does it, let’s burn it into something else.
CD: Do you have plans for new music or maybe a tour?
MJ: Well I’m going to tell you something you may not believe..(laughter).. I have several hundred songs already laid down that I go back to when I want to release a new compilation. When I’m in the studio I sing until I can’t sing anymore because I write all the time. I get beats and rhythms and work on new dance steps all the time but people don’t see that side of me. I do want to do a new album but it has to be right. I want it to be bigger than Thriller and I know I can do it. We’re talking about some concerts but right now that’s still private information but we’re talking and it’s coming.
CD: That my friend will be the biggest show in the world.. I can’t wait.. I remember I was just a young DJ when you played Arrowhead back on 84 or 85. How much work goes into a new album or concert tour?
MJ: (laughter).. Kansas City right….
CD: Yea.. Where the Chiefs play…
MJ: (With excitement) Yea.. Yea.. I remember that.. I had Kansas City ribs for the first time and made Joseph buy me four or five racks to eat on the plane. (laughter) It’s really a lot of work. I’m not one to say let’s do a tour and hire someone to put it all together regardless if it’s just on MTV, with my brothers or a world tour. I develop every detail and it takes years. That’s why I don’t do it all the time (laughter)
CD: Speaking of MTV.. How does it make you feel knowing you are the one.. The only one.. Who broke down the barriers and made it into what it is today?
MJ: They say imitation is one of the biggest form of flattery and some of them just can’t do it.. (laughter) Chuck don’t you air that.. People will get mad at me.. (laughter) I was just kidding…. I do consider that one of the biggest achievements I’ve done and I’m so proud of those artist that come in my footsteps and take it into a new direction. I often wonder what music would be if it wasn’t for Thriller. I know what it did to the world and to music and sometimes i just wonder how different it would have been without it.
CD: Michael, in all the interviews I’ve ever heard or read you always go back to thriller.. In my opinion you’ve had so many great works of art.. Not music but art.. So why do you use thriller as the example?
MJ: That’s a great question chuck.. Wow.. Well I guess because it was mine. It was the first time I had complete control from start to end and it allowed me to bring everything that was buzzing in my head to life.. (laughter) now people will think I hear voices (laughter) be quite, I’m talking (laughter).. Sorry I get carried away sometimes.. It’s my Genesis. It’s the start of what I consider the career of Michael Jackson. The others before it, I’m very proud of but it had other hand prints on it when Thriller was mine and it paved the way for what my music would be. It’s like a road map and I’ve followed it every beat from then until now.
CD:That is so cool… I’ve read what your favorite song is and what you like to listen to but what is your favorite Michael Jackson song?
MJ: Good grief.. This is like final jeopardy..Do the questions get harder as we go (laughter)… I have many that are special to me. Each song represents something so special in my life from charity work I do to love to relationships to peace in the world so I can’t pin down one because each one has come from my soul.. Not just pen and paper with a lyric that rhymes…
CD: Let’s talk a minute about charity. You have a Guinness World Record for supporting the most charities from the entertainment world.
MJ: Yea.. It’s pretty neat.. My children told me that we’re going to get one for eating the most fried chicken (laughter).. My dear mother instilled in me very young to give back and as I grew in God I knew what I had to do as a believer in Christ. I hate to see suffering, I hate to see people in need and I feel God gave me a gift and I have to use it responsibly by giving back and I’ll do it until I have pennies left or the good Lord calls me home.
CD: You’re not only like that with charity but also with your fans?
MJ: I love my fans.. I mean I really love them and if I could meet every one of them I would. I watch television and see shows that follow other celebrities and how they get so mad about fans wanting to say hi or get an autograph.. They made me.. So if I can give them two minutes of my time and a friendly hello it’s well worth it. I’ve lived my life by the fans and I’ll die by the fans.
CD: Michael give me a typical day in your life?
MJ: Well.. It’s very boring.. (laughter).. After I visit with the aliens (laughter) don’t air that..I can see them writing that story now…. (laughter) …I start the day around 6:30 or 7.. Take a shower, get my children up and we have breakfast… I fix them what they want and then I’ll have a meeting or read while the children play and then it’s about lunch time and we eat and spend the afternoon maybe playing a game or watching TV or a video and I get them ready for dinner and at night we might stay up late to go shopping or something fun for the children. I tuck them in, read them a story, and then I spend the rest of the night catching up on mail and stuff like that. Just a typical dad.
CD: Finally Michael.. What is one thing you want the world to know about you?
MJ: Well..For one don’t read everything you believe (laughter) .. I just want my fans to know that I’m not done.. I haven’t thrown in the towel and I’m coming back bigger than ever before… I owe it to them, I owe it to myself and I owe it to my children. I want them to see what their daddy can do, not read about what he was and had to put up with 20 years from now.
At times, I don’t know who had more fun, us or the adults watching over us. We used to make up our own rules to games and everything. There were many times when my cousin would have her treatments and then be ready to play moments later. She had such a strong spirit in her, we could barely keep up with HER at times! When she was feeling bad, we let her curl up with us with a blanket, and still, her light shined brightly in her eyes.
