Firefighters recreate Thriller video to promote safer Halloween for children.

This year, the firefighters in Cambridge Black Watch recreated Michael Jackson's Thriller video to promote safer Halloween costumes for children.

Dance teacher Megan Tupholme choreographed the video, which sees members of the watch, dressed as zombies asthey dance to Michael Jackson's Thriller song.

At the end of the video, firefighter Dave Wisbey once again dons his cap to deliver a safety message as Dick Van Dyke.





Safety advice include

* Only buy children's Halloween costumes from reputable outlets
* Look for the CE safety mark on outfits
* Never let children go anywhere near a naked flame
* In the event of a costume catching fire remember STOP, DROP and ROLL


 READ MORE AT: heart.co.uk/cambridgeshire/news

LASER SPECTACULAR'S - THE SPIRIT OF MICHAEL JACKSON

 The Spirit of Michael Jackson

An amazing multi-media experience that pays tribute to the life and legacy of Michael Jackson

The Palace Theatre
61 Atlantic St
Stamford, CT 06901
Box Office: (203) 325-4466

Date: Friday October 28, 2016 - 8:00 PM
Tickets: $25.00 - $35.00 
BUY: More info

Featuring live performances including a dance troupe that performs Jackson’s choreography to perfection, the show also includes state-of-the-art lasers, large screen video projections and concert sound. Spanning his forty-year career, this stunning show takes the audience on a visual journey that captures the essence of Michael Jackson’s worldwide concert appearances, his most recent achievements, and his early years as a child prodigy.

Many of Michael Jackson’s hits lend themselves to an artistic laser and light performance, much in the style of the Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. Through the use of animated laser graphics, laser beams and aerials, the lights and lasers re-create images of Michael with 3-D holographic effects. The lighting show is a concert-style configuration. Along with the laser beams and graphics, it’s certain to wow the audience with the same power and excitement of a live concert.

Unveiling of Michael Jackson HIStory Statue Madalay Bay, Vegas

The Estate of Michael Jackson, Cirque du Soleil’s MICHAEL JACKSON ONE and Mandalay Bay invite the public to join cast members of the popular and critically acclaimed show for the unveiling of Michael Jackson’s HIStory statue at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Mandalay Bay’s main lobby.

10 ft. Replica of Michael Jackson History Statue from Vegas MJ Fanfest 2011

The ceremony will include the unveiling of the statue, a performance by cast members of ONE and photographs with the artists post-performance. Also expected to attend: Jerry Nadal, senior vice president, Resident Shows Division at Cirque, and Darren Davis, Mandalay Bay vice president of Entertainment.

The performance will be to “Scream,” the first single from the “HIStory” album created for this event by cast members. In 1994, Jackson commissioned U.S. sculptor Diana Walczak to create the statue, which became the inspiration for the cover of his fifth solo album “HIStory: Past, Present and Future Book 1.” The album became the biggest-selling multiple-disc album worldwide. The 10-foot-tall statue was featured at stops on Jackson’s “HIStory Tour.”

On loan from the Estate of Michael Jackson, the statue is the third piece of memorabilia to be lent by the Estate for display at Mandalay Bay. The other two pieces, Jackson’s red-and-gold military-style jacket from the 1984 American Music Awards and a pair of black loafers and crystal-encrusted white socks, are on display adjacent to the MICHAEL JACKSON ONE boutique.

An additional historic Jackson item from the Estate will be revealed Aug. 27 to kick off a three-day birthday celebration planned for The King of Pop inside the ONE theater. This will be the fourth-annual celebration organized by the Estate and MICHAEL JACKSON ONE for Jackson’s birthday.



Source: Review Journal

The Music Industry's Top Lawyer 2016

Guiding the deal that will earn $750 million for ­Michael Jackson’s heirs, John Branca leads the roster of 41 of the top legal minds in the music business.

John Branca photographed on July 5, 2016 in Beverly Hills. CHRISTOPHER PATEY

LAWYER OF THE YEAR

JOHN BRANCA, 65
Partner, Ziffren Brittenham

A consultation with the music industry's top lawyer might run you only about $6 if you happen to be at the Beverly Glen Deli when John Branca gets there in the morning. Branca makes the seven-minute drive to the low-key eatery, just south of Mulholland Drive, from his home in Beverly Park, the gated Beverly Hills enclave where he has lived for the past 21 years, and where his neighbors include Sumner Redstone, Rod Stewart and Mark Wahlberg. "It's good to be the poorest guy in the neighborhood," he jokes.I

The poorest guy in that neighborhood still drives to breakfast in a $300,000 Rolls-Royce Wraith, though if you're ­picking up his breakfast tab it won't run you much: $2.95 for the Cheerios Branca favors, and an additional $2.95 for some fresh blueberries.

"It's like my office," says Branca of the Beverly Glen Deli, where on any given day he'll see Brian Wilson or veteran manager Howard Kaufman. "I'm shocked they don't charge me rent.
Of course, if they did, he can afford it. Branca, a divorced father of three, has long ­combined rock'n'roll swagger -- as a teenager, he played in a Sunset Strip garage band that opened for The Doors -- with a dangerously sharp business acumen.

The mid-March announcement that the Sony Corporation will acquire the Michael Jackson estate's 50 percent interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing for $750 million caps a stunning revival for the estate, for which Branca has served as co-executor, along with John McClain, since Jackson's death in 2009. At that point, the estate carried debts of more than $500 million.

When the Sony buyout gets expected final approval from European regulators later in 2016 or early in 2017, the estate will pay off some $250 million in debts and be left with more than $500 million cash on hand. That's a better than $1 billion turn around.


Read more at source: Billboard staff  BILLBOARD

The Truth About What Michael Jackson Had (And Didn’t Have) In His Bedroom

Please read and share Raven Woods rebuttal article featured on Huffington Post, defending Michael Jackson against the malicious lies and attacks being spread by Radar Online and other publications who copy and paste the trash for click bait.

 

Huffington Post has published my rebuttal to Radar Online!

Pls read and share !

https://t.co/zJAo7Roatt

Source: Raven Woods (@emailraven)

Michael Jackson,s Thriller songwriter, Rod Temperton signs to Warner/Chappell

According to Music Business Worlwide Rod Temperton, who wrote Michael Jackson’s smash hit Thriller, has signed to Warner/Chappell.

Sources close to the deal have told MBW that British musician Temperton has put pen to paper in the UK on a global agreement. He brings over his catalogue from a previous deal with Rondor Music Publishing, part of Universal Music Publishing Group.

Temperton’s first break came as co-founder and keyboardist of the pioneering funk/disco band Heatwave, for whom he wrote a string of platinum singles.

His work with Heatwave caught the attention of groundbreaking producer Quincy Jones, who recruited Temperton to write for Michael Jackson’s debut solo album.

Temperton went on to write Michael Jackson classics including “Off the Wall,” “Rock With You,” “Thriller,” “Baby Be Mine”, “Burn This Disco Out”, “The Lady in My Life,” and others.

His catalogue also includes songs performed by Anita Baker, Aretha Franklin, The Brothers Johnson, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, James Ingram, Michael McDonald, and Quincy Jones — whom he helped craft his breakthrough solo album, The Dude — as well as many others.

Temperton’s signature is a major deal for Warner Chappell in the UK, where respected exec Mike Smith takes over as MD in November.


Read more – Source: Tim Ingham  http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/

NAME THAT TUNE at Michael Jackson ONE

STG Presents - MOTOWN THE MUSICAL

Seattle Theater Group and Broadway at The Paramount present
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL at The Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA.
May 31 - June 12, 2016.

Tickets

It began as one man's story… became everyone's music… and is now Broadway's musical. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers oDiana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat. Now, experience it live on stage in the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL!

Special Discount For - Michael Jackson ONE

Just wanted to give you the heads up that there will be a special (limited time) discount for tickets to Michael Jackson ONE announced Monday on MichaelJackson.com. You must be subscribed to the newsletter in order to take advantage of the discount offer.

Source: MJ Online Team

New Official Michael Jackson 2016 Calendar!

The new calendar is your first look at what’s to come from the Michael Jackson Official Store, which is coming under new management. Look out for other new products, and a new look to the store, coming soon

It’s time for a new official Michael Jackson 2016 Calendar! Featuring 14 images from Michael’s legendary career and Michael’s image from Invincible, available in 5 colors, this calendar is now available for preorder.

* Calendars will begin shipping in early December, 2015.

http://www.shopmichaeljackson.com/collections/misc

New Michael Jackson Pics, Reviews and Events for June 25th Anniversary.

Photo credit:

Francis Apesteguy / Getty Images website.

Michael Jackson’s death anniversary will soon be remembered by fans June 25, and this time of year often brings out new Michael Jackson-related memorabilia with it.

As the inquisitor reports, A year after Michael Jackson’s death in 2009, fans gathered together in major cities throughout the world to remember the King of Pop — and took the time to share memorabilia. Each year, this trend of gathering on Michael Jackson’s death anniversary and Birthday to share memories and memorabilia has continued.

In 2010, Cleveland Magazine reported that Michael Jackson fans who could not visit his grave in Los Angeles gathered at the Apollo Theater in New York City — where Michael Jackson’s career was launched.

Those fans who gathered at the Apollo Theater also shared memorabilia of Michael Jackson exclusively from the theater’s collection that included, "Jackson’s black hat and sequin glove."

At a similar celebration in Tokyo, Japan, treated Michael Jackson fans to memorabilia that included "a collection of his possessions, including costumes from his tours and even a 1967 Rolls-Royce Phantom that he used to drive around Los AngFor 2015, a celebration of Michael Jackson’s life will happen at his Los Angeles gravesite thanks to the annual One Rose for Michael Jackson group. Anyone looking for new Michael Jackson memorabilia to share will be happy to know that new pictures from his epic 1988 Bad World Tour have emerged.

Although they are from 1988, they were not posted until June 3, 2015. Within the newly published photo set, Michael Jackson can be found in three photos by Francis Apesteguy at the Getty Images website. Taken on June 27, 1988, the three photos show Michael Jackson performing in Paris, France, for his Bad World Tour. The official Michael Jackson website shows he also played Paris on June 28.

Memories about the Bad World Tour are always fun for fans because it was one of Michael Jackson’s longest (at 17 months) — and some say most thrilling.

As Michael Jackson traveled through Europe during June 1988 (21 years before his death), he left behind a long trail of reviews that capture him at the height of his personal best.

For instance, Michael Jackson’s 1988 show in Basel, Switzerland, on June 16 was covered by the local Swiss English-speaking newspaper, Stripes. They stated that St. Jakob Stadium was filled with 55,000 fans and that Michael Jackson was paid about $1 million for the show.

What is different about listening to Michael Jackson live versus recorded? Anita Gosch writes the following in her review of Michael Jackson’s Basel show.

About Michael Jackson’s Bad World Tour date in England, the famous and unforgettable music reviewer John Peel wrote the following about the July 17, 1988 performance for the Observer. It was reprinted in 2009 for the Guardian.

In addition to a long list of 2015 Michael Jackson celebrations throughout tThe he world held during the week of June 25, fans can also purchase a rose for his gravesite until June 16 from the One Rose for Michael Jackson group

Michael Jackson's son, Prince, graduates high school with honors.

Congratulations!! Prince

Michael Jackson's eldest son, Prince (Michael Joseph Jackson Jr.) has just graduated with honors from Buckley High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif. on Saturday, May 30th.

 

His proud Proud, grandmother, Katherine Jackson, his sister, Paris And brother Blanket, his aunts Latoya, Reebie and his Co-guardian/cousin TJ and several other family members attended the ceremony, to cheer Prince on when he received his diploma.

 

A friend in attendance stated that Prince, well-liked at Buckley, was greeted with applaus and whistles by his piers.

Paris was all smiles. She sweetly helped her brother straighten his collar and gave him a huge hug, putting to rest, recent tabloids rumors that Prince was a bad influence and they were not getting along.

On top of graduating with honors, Prince will also be attending ... College to further his education. He wants to major in film making, which he was intoduced to by his father. I'm sure Michael would be so very proud of his son.

 

Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch placed on the market for 100 million.

Neverland, the famous ranch once the home of the "King of Pop" Michael Jackson was just listed on the market for $100 million

The late legendary pop star built up the 2,700 acre ranch in Los Olivos, just outside Santa Barbara and named it Neverland Ranch. The zoo animals and amusement rides were removed prior to his death in 2009. But the train station with the famous flower clock that spells out Neverland still graces the property as well as his personal dance studio and the giving tree where Michael stated he often climbed to write many of his hit songs and prose. One llama still remains on the property.

The property has been renamed Sycamore Valley Ranch, (it's original moniker before Mr. Jackson purchased it in 1987. It has 22 structures, which include a 12000 sq ft., bedroom French Normandy style house with attached staff quarters, a 2 bedroom and 4 bedroom guest house, a 50 seat movie theater and stage, a tennis court, train station and tracks, swimming pool , 2 lakes, bridges, streams and fountains and even it’s own fire house. Plus many more enmities.

Michael Jackson, considered by many to be the greatest entertaining artist of all time, wrote some of his top recording hits on the ranch and generously opened it to his friends, business associates and under privileged children to enjoy all on his dime. It was once called the happiest place on earth.

Jackson moved from the premises after Neverland was completely ransacked and raided by 75 officers from the Santa Barbara sherifs dept. ordered by D.A Tom Sneddon who accused him of child molestation. In 2005 after Michael was completely acquitted and found NOT Guilty of All charges, he moved from the premises and CA. With his children, vowing never to return, feeling they had tainted and destroyed it’s innocence. Michael wanted to keep the property for possible future ventures but refused to live there again

In 2008 Thomas Barrack Jr.´s Colony Capital investment firm paid off a 23 million defaulted mortgage for Michael when he fell into financial difficulty and paid Mr Jackson to partner with them and maintain an interest in the property now listed for cool 100 million. It has been beautifully renovated and maintained by the investment firm.

The 2700 acre property is strictly zoned a residential, agricultural area and therefore cannot be used by Colonial or Michael's Estate as a tourist attraction or museum such as Graceland is for Elvis. Therefore the house has remained dormant but for occasionally entertaining of guests and by staff and maintenance, who keep the property in pristine condition until it can be sold. Preferably to someone who can respect the historical significance and enjoy the beautiful home and surrounding area.

The properties is listed by Suzanne Perkins and Harry Kolb of Sotheby’s International Realty, and Jeffrey Hyland of Hilton & Hyland. The listing agents stated they will be doing "extensive prequalification" of potential buyers before showing the property. "Our seller is not encouraging a lot of showings," "We’re not going to be giving tours."


To read more about the listing and see more pictures visit http://www.wsj.com/articles/michael-jacksons-onetime-neverland-lists-for-100-million-1432838117

Michael Jackson Victory: Court Dismisses Wade Robson Lawsuite against MJ Estate.

After waiting over two years, Michael Jackson fans and supporters can rest easy. A Los Angeles judge dismissed dancer Wade Robson’s sexual molestation accusations yesterday, tossing out the creditor’s claim against the King of Pop.

My News LA reports that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff, who heard Robson’s motion last month, decided to dismiss the claim after the dancer waited close to four years after Jackson’s death to file his case. Robson filed a claim against the Michael Jackson estate in May, 2013, whereas Jackson passed away in 2009. Per California Code of Civil Procedure Section 336.3, a creditor’s claim must be filed one year of the debtor’s date of death.

According to court documents, Robson claims that Jackson repeatedly molested him for several years, starting in 1990 and lasting until 1997. One of Robson’s attorneys, Maryann Marzano, indicated in court last month that although the case was filed past California’s statute of limitations for a creditor’s claim, her client experienced brainwashing, which ultimately held him back from filing in time.

The attorney also said the case "cries out" for equity to ensure that Robson has a full court hearing and can heard out.

One of the attorneys for the Jackson estate, Jonathan Steinsapir, however, stated that regardless of why Robson took so long to file the claim, the fact still remains that he waited to file well past the statute of limitations in California. Statute of limitations are set into place to ensure that people cannot file lawsuits years after the alleged incidents occurred.

Judge Beckloff agreed with Steinsapir. In a 19-page ruling, the judge tossed out the case, rendering it impossible for Robson to move forward to a full court hearing.

lawyer representing the Jackson estate, Howard Weitzman, released a statement shortly after the judge’s decision, bringing up Robson’s 2005 court testimony in which the choreographer was one of the key witnesses for the Michael Jackson’s defense.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/2124227/michael-jackson-victory-court-dismisses-wade-robson-lawsuit/#IJ9oukqhRdko62yr.9

Brothers Johnson founder, Michael Jackson bassist dead at 60

LOUIS JOHNSON, the founding member of funk group the BROTHERS JOHNSON, who went on to become MICHAEL JACKSON's bass player, has died, aged 60.

Johnson, who appeared on the King of Pop's hits Billie Jean and Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough, passed away on Thursday (21May15). He formed the Brothers Johnson with his sibling George in the early 1970s and the act became producer/hitmaker Quincy Jones' backing band before releasing their debut album Look Out for #1 in 1976.

The Brothers Johnson enjoyed chart hits with tracks like I'll Be Good to You and Stomp!, while their acclaimed 1980 album Light Up the Night famously featured Michael Jackson on backing vocals.

Paying tribute to Johnson, Quincy Jones told Rolling Stone, "Louis 'Thunder Thumbs' Johnson was one of the greatest bass players to ever pick up the instrument. "As a member of the Brothers Johnson, we shared decades of magical times working together in the studio and touring the world. From my albums Body Heat and Mellow Madness, to their platinum albums Look Out for #1, Right On Time, Blam and Light Up the Night, which I produced, to Michael's solo debut Off the Wall, I considered Louis a core member of my production team. He was a dear and beloved friend and brother, and I will miss his presence and joy of life every day."

Other tributes have come from Bootsy Collins, The Roots' Questlove and Lenny Kravitz, who tweets: "Thank you for blessing me and the world with your original #funk. RIP."


Read more http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/entertainment/celebrities_gossip/20150522_WENN_Brothers_Johnson_founder_dead_at_60.html#goV0WrXOBGqoHEjs.99

Top Earning Deceased Celebrities 2014: Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Einstein ...

While living, celebrities can be temperamental and demanding. In death, they become brands that need to be managed. Their images can be attached to everything from T-shirts and posters to fragrances and lingerie, and they can even return from the dead in the form of life-like holograms. Here’s featuring a few of these men and women who have proven the point that there is (financial) life after death.

Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Charles Schulz, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Marley, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Albert Einstein and more ...

Michael Jackson

The King of Pop tops the list with $140 million in earnings. In 2014, he had his second posthumous album release with Xscape, which debuted at No. 2 on the charts. He also appeared (in hologram form) on stage at the Billboard Music Awards. Expect to see more of the same from other deceased celebrity brands as the technology advances to the point where we won’t be able to tell the difference.

• Elvis Presley

ranking second behind Jackson is Elvis Presley with an estimated $55 million in earnings over the 12-month period in 2014. Authentic Brands Group (ABG) bought the rights to Presley in 2013 for a reported $125 million. Presley’s estate still rakes in millions thanks to the throngs of tourists who visit Graceland each year and Presley’s extensive music library. But ABG plans to boost earnings with (you guessed it) a hologram Presley.

• Charles Schulz

Cartoonist Charles Schulz ranks third with $40 million. Schulz’s Peanuts characters have never really gone away thanks to online versions of the comic strip and successful merchandising. But now the Peanuts are being introduced to a whole new generation with an upcoming 3D movie from Fox Studios. The movie is slated to be in theatres in November 2015.

• Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor ranks fourth with $25 million in earnings. Thanks to her best-selling perfume and her old movies, Taylor still rakes it in. But as the last embodiment of old Hollywood glamour, everyone believes there’s a lot more that can be done with her brand. Expect more Elizabeth Taylor merchandise to roll out in the coming years.

• Bob Marley

The reggae legend’s postmortem earnings are up $2 million in 2014 thanks to a diversified range of ventures: Marley Beverage Company (including Marley Coffee and a ‘relaxation drink’ known as Marley’s Mellow Mood) and House of Marley (producer of eco-friendly audio and lifestyle products). Marley’s estate this year also launched Marley Apparel, a lifestyle clothing line designed by Marley’s eldest daughter, Cedella Marley. His earnings in 2014 totalled $20 million.

• Marilyn Monroe

Authentic Brand Group, which bought the rights to Monroe in 2011, has been working to strengthen her brand. There is now a line of Monroe lingerie to go with her successful clothing line at Macy’s. Her earnings totalled $17 million in 2014.

• John Lennon

More than 33 years after the songwriter and crooner was killed in New York City, his estate continues to earn through iTunes sales, a Beatles Cirque du Soleil show and from licensing deals with the likes of Cisco and Mont Blanc. Though the band’s records have yet to be made available on streaming service Spotify, Lennon’s eight-album solo discography was added in October last year. His killer was recently denied parole for the eighth time. His earnings in 2014 totalled $12 million.

• Albert Einstein

Einstein continues to corner the market on ‘smart’. In addition to things like posters and T-shirts, the scientist now has his own line of tablets. Specially designed for student scientists, they come with built-in sensors to measure things like heart rate, humidity and temperature. His earnings reached $11 million in 2014.

• Theodor Geisel

With classic books like The Cat In The Hat and The Lorax, Dr Seuss is still a best-selling author bringing in millions for his estate every year. His earnings totalled $9 million in 2014.

• Bruce Lee

Fans of the martial arts expert can now pretend to be Lee in EA Sports’ newest version of its UFC game. Lee also appeared in an ad for Mazda last year. Lee’s earnings equalled Geisel’s earnings of $9 million in 2014.



http://www.financialexpress.com/article/lifestyle/top-earning-dead-celebrities-albert-einstein-michael-jackson-marilyn-monroe-more/75356/

2 CELLOS Arrangement and Video: Michael Jackson's "They Don't Care About Us"

2 CELLOS Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser playing their arrangement of Michael's ''They Don't Care About Us'. To accompany the recording 2 Cellos have created a powerful video depicting the truth about war.

It was another Michael Jackson interpretation that brought 2CELLOS to prominence in 2011. Their version of Smooth Criminal went viral and landed them a recording deal with Sony Masterworks.

Since then, they’ve enjoyed incredible success with their live performances, touring with famous names like Elton John, and playing alongside Chinese superstar pianist Lang Lang. Other famous names with whom they have collaborated include the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age.

Their third and latest album is called CELLOVERSE and was released in January.


Source:  as shared on UK loves MJ Facebook 

    CELLOVERSE  album or single available  on iTunes and Amazon

Michael Jackson 2015 UNCF Scholarship

The Michael Jackson scholarship provides financial assistance to communication arts and social science students attending a UNCF college/university during the upcoming academic year. High School seniors must be planning to matriculate at a UNCF member school in the fall. Proof of acceptance will be required.

Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. The scholarship will provide an award up to $5,000 depending on the financial need of the student as verified by the attending University or College.

For more details and/or to apply, visit 

https://scholarships.uncf.org/Program/Details/d82cd347-2b75-42ef-9be5-e2f51864a38f

The Mystery Man Who Rapped on MJ's ‘Black or White’

.

Meet The Mystery Man Who Rapped ‘Black or White’

A couple of years ago, I heard the song ‘Black or White’ by Michael Jackson on the radio in my car. When it got to the rap (” See, it’s not about races, just places, faces, where your blood comes from is where your space is, etc…”) I realized that I had no idea who had done the rapping on the song. After googling, I saw that it was credited to someone called L.T.B. who, according to what I could see online, had done nothing before or since dropping that verse.

A friend of mine who I mentioned this to emailed the producer of the song, Bill Bottrell, who is also credited with writing the lyrics to the rap, and asked him for more info on L.T.B.

Bottrell responded the same day and provided a Gmail address that he said belonged to L.T.B. I sent a message to the address asking for an interview, but never received a response.

The mystery of L.T.B. sat in the back of my brain for the next couple of years, rearing its head whenever I heard the song. Each time it crossed my path, I would take to the internet again to try and figure out who the mystery rapper was, but was never able to find anything. Despite the fact that he had rapped on a song that was number one in over 20 countries, with a music video that broke records by being watched by 500 million people on its initial broadcast in 1991, L.T.B.’s internet presence is limited to personnel lists for ‘Black or White’ and unresolved Yahoo Answers threads asking who he is.

Then, last week, after hearing the song again, I thought **** **, and decided to try hitting up Bottrell again to ask if he’d talk to me about the rap. “I can do that,” he emailed back. “It’s not a long story.”

Bill Bottrell

When I spoke to Bottrell on the phone the next day, he admitted that he was the one who had actually performed the rap, using the name L.T.B. as a pseudonym. He explained that, when my friend had emailed him, he had given us another email address of his with the intention of pretending to be another person named L.T.B. to **** with us. “I was gonna do a ruse,” he explained, but had backed out when he realized it would most likely fail. “I think there are a lot of people who already know and the joke wouldn’t have worked so well,” he said.

The video for “Black or White.” The rap, as lip-synced by Macaulay Culkin, comes in around 4:35.

The story of how Bottrell became, in a way, one of the most popular rappers of the 90s started because ‘Black or White,’ a song he had co-written and was producing with Jackson, had a big hole in the middle. “After the first few days of working on it, we really had the core of the song, the verses, the chorus, and Michael sang it really early on,” he told me. “All we had was this big gaping middle section, that sort of just sat that was and on our minds for many months.”

The idea for the rap popped into Bottrell’s head one morning while he was at home, with lyrics inspired by the themes Jackson had covered in his parts of the song. Bottrell recorded a version of the rap which he intended to serve as a temporary filler and played it to Jackson. “He just loved it,” Botrell told me.

Bottrell’s initial plan with the rap was to get an actual rapper to record over his part, and suggested to Jackson that they use LL Cool J or Heavy D, who were both in the studio working on other tracks for the album.

Jackson, however, insisted that they use Bottrell’s recording, something the producer told me he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. “I’m, you know, a songwriter and record producer,” he said. “I’m not a rapper, and I did not intend to be a white guy who’s rapping on there.”

But Jackson insisted—possibly, Bottrell thinks, because he’s white and not a rapper. “The fact that I’m white and I did that rap kind of speaks to the content of the song. So in his mind, it all came together.”

So Bottrell agreed, but, still not entirely comfortable with it, decided he wanted to use a pseudonym. He went with L.T.B. as a reference to the show Leave It to Beaver. “It’s a white suburban kid, I’m making fun of myself,” he said.

Jackson’s faith in his rapping turned out to be well-placed. After the song sold millions of copies and spent seven weeks at the top of the US charts, Bottrell says his manager started getting calls asking L.T.B. to do a full album.

Though I’ve been confounded by the mystery of the rapping on “Black or White” for years, Bottrell told me that he has, in fact, publicly revealed that he is L.T.B. before. That was in a 2001 interview with Sound on Sound, a publication that describes itself as the “world’s premier music recording technology magazine.” But, Bottrell said, the revelation flew under the radar due to the technical nature of the publication. (Sample quote: “I just hooked up a Kramer American guitar to a Mesa Boogie amp, miked it with a Beyer M160, and got that gritty sound as I played to his singing.”)

I’m no music expert, but I can’t think of an earlier example of a huge pop star having a rapper come into their song for a guest verse about two-thirds of the way through the track (something that has become pretty ubiquitous today, on everything from Rihanna’s “Umbrella” to Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and a Beat”). I asked Bottrell if he had been the first person to do this, and he said, though he had never really thought about it before, he couldn’t think of a song where someone had done this before him.

He also explained that, when the song had first been released, he had to make an edited version with the rap cut out because mainstream radio stations had no-rap policies and wouldn’t play the song otherwise. “I believe this record might have opened some doors,” he explained. “It’s always a process, right? I think it changed over the next two years, very quickly.”

When I suggested that this might mean that Bottrell might be, without realizing it, one of the most influential rappers of all time, he cut me off with a laugh. “Stop.” he said. “No. Don’t even go there.”

by Jamie Lee Curtis Taete

Source: The Vice Channels

The Estate Of Michael Jackson And ABG Partner To Expand The Michael Jackson™ Brand Worldwide

Michael Jackson 

NEW YORK, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Authentic Brands Group, LLC (ABG), owner of a global portfolio of iconic fashion, sports, celebrity, media and entertainment brands, and the Estate of Michael Jackson today announced a strategic partnership to further grow the Michael Jackson™ brand in the areas of endorsements and consumer products. ABG will provide global representation for Michael Jackson™, pursuing new licensing and retail partnerships working with the Estate to broaden the brand's reach across key markets around the world.

"We are truly honored to welcome the King of Pop to Authentic Brands Group," said Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO, ABG. "Michael Jackson™ joins ABG's star-studded roster that includes Muhammad Ali™, Elvis Presley™, and Marilyn Monroe™. We are excited to tap into the essence of this innovator and amplify the DNA of this legendary entertainer."  

ABG enhances its celebrity, media, and entertainment portfolio through strategic alliances with leading global brands. ABG will take a similar approach working with the Estate on the Michael Jackson™ brand, focusing on endorsement partnerships and developing key categories to deliver products that are unexpected, bold, and innovative.

"We are thrilled to be working with ABG on the continued development of the Michael Jackson™ brand," said John Branca and John McClain, Co-Executors of the Estate of Michael Jackson™. "With a proven track record in transforming icons into global entities, we are confident that ABG will help us take the Michael Jackson™ brand to the next level."

Michael Jackson was a musical and creative genius.  He personified innovation and he has revolutionized so many aspects of his art, from electrifying live performances to groundbreaking use of video. Michael Jacksonlaunched a new era of creativity in live stage performances that continues to influence today's top artists in hip hop, contemporary R&B, pop, and rock and roll.  

"As a visionary solo artist, Michael Jackson redefined the art of entertainment," said Nick Woodhouse, President and CMO, ABG. "We have great things in-store for the brand and will take a page out of ABG's Celebrity, Media, and Entertainment playbook to build global strategic partnerships that will extend Michael Jackson's tremendous legacy."

About Authentic Brands Group, LLC 
Authentic Brands Group owns a global portfolio of iconic fashion, sports, celebrity, media and entertainment brands. In conjunction with Leonard Green & Partners, ABG's mandate is to acquire, develop, and elevate long-term value in consumer, celebrity, and media brands. Headquartered in New York City, ABG's mission is to further enhance brand equity through partnering with best-in-class licensees and retailers. ABG's global portfolio of world-renowned brands includes Marilyn Monroe®, Mini Marilyn®, Muhammad Ali®, Michael Jackson® (managed brand), Elvis Presley®, Jones New York®, Juicy Couture®, Judith Leiber®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Taryn Rose®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Palm Beach®, Misook®, Prince®, Spyder®, Airwalk®, Above The Rim®, Vision Street Wear®, Hind®, Ektelon®, Viking®, Bobby Jones®, TapouT®, Sportcraft®. 
www.abg-nyc.com.

About The Estate of Michael Jackson 
Following in Michael's footsteps, the Estate of Michael Jackson, co-owner of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has produced a growing list of artistically exceptional and enormously successful ventures, the first of which, "Michael Jackson's This is It" became the highest grossing music documentary of all time. A history making touring show produced with Cirque du Soleil, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, played 4 continents, 157 cities, was seen by 3.7 million fans and became the #8 top grossing tour of all time.  The second venture between the Estate and Cirque du Soleil, the critically acclaimed Michael Jackson ONE, a permanent show at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, gave Cirque its biggest opening ever in Las Vegas and continues to be one of the hottest tickets in the city.  Last year, The Estate astounded the world with the technical wizardry of a 'virtual Michael Jackson' performance during the Billboard Music Awards, which gave the show its biggest ratings in years and was the most talked about topic on the planet for weeks to come and released Xscape, the second posthumous release of previously unreleased music by Michael Jackson, which become one the top ten albums of 2014 and is nominated for top R&B album at the upcoming Billboard Music Awards. 
www.michaeljackson.com.

Haley Steinberg
Authentic Brands Group
646.612.7439
hsteinberg@abg-nyc.com

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150429/212452

 

SOURCE Authentic Brands Group

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