Government forces African leader's Son to Relinquishh $30 Million Mansion, Michael Jackson Memorabilia.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

PRESS RELEASE
Office of Public Affairs
Friday, October 10, 2014

The Department of Justice has reached a settlement of its civil forfeiture cases against assets in the United States owned by the Second Vice President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue that he purchased with the proceeds of corruption.  

Second Vice President of Equatorial Guinea Agrees to Relinquish More Than $30 Million of Assets Purchased with Corruption Proceeds

According to court documents, Nguema Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, received an official government salary of less than $100,000 but used his position and influence as a government minister to amass more than $300 million worth of assets through corruption and money laundering, in violation of both Equatoguinean and U.S. law.  Through intermediaries and corporate entities, Nguema Obiang acquired numerous assets in the United States that he is agreeing to relinquish in a combination of forfeiture and divestment to a charity for the benefit of the people of Equatorial Guinea.

The  Justice Department’s Criminal Division made the announcement after the settlement was signed and lodged with the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

“Through relentless embezzlement and extortion, Vice President Nguema Obiang shamelessly looted his government and shook down businesses in his country to support his lavish lifestyle, while many of his fellow citizens lived in extreme poverty,” said Assistant Attorney General Caldwell.  “After raking in millions in bribes and kickbacks, Nguema Obiang embarked on a corruption-fueled spending spree in the United States.  This settlement forces Nguema Obiang to relinquish assets worth an estimated $30 million, and prevents Nguema Obiang from hiding other stolen money in the United States, fulfilling the goals of our Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative: to deny safe haven to the proceeds of large-scale foreign official corruption and recover those funds for the people harmed by the abuse of office.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Nguema Obiang must sell a $30 million mansion located in Malibu, California, a Ferrari automobile and various items of Michael Jackson memorabilia including life size statues from Neverland, purchased with the proceeds of corruption.  Of those proceeds, $20 million will be given to a charitable organization to be used for the benefit of the people of Equatorial Guinea.  Another $10.3 million will be forfeited to the United States and will be used for the benefit of the people of Equatorial Guinea to the extent permitted by law.

Nguema Obiang must also make a $1 million payment to the United States, for disbursement to the charitable organization,  representing the value of Michael Jackson memorabilia  which includes a Thriller Jacket and white rhinestone-encrusted glove from Bad Tour that was already removed from the United States

Michael Jackson's glove from the 'Bad' tour (Equatorial Guinea's Press and Information Office)

The red "Thriller" jacket and the rhinestone-encrusted glove from the Bad tour, went on display last year in the Equatorial Guinean capital as part of an exhibit.


Press Release http://www.justice.gov/  Edited by Love Survives

This Week @ 'Vintage Vinyl' The Best of Michael Jackson

Best of Michael Jackson @ 'Vintage Vinyl'

Jeffrey Lee Puckett and Tom Heiser share their favorite songs by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson -- and even show off a couple of dance moves.

The best of Jackson's music does seem touched by a higher power, and there was a long stretch where his considerable gifts were nearly unmatched. As a child, his singing was already at a profound level, so direct and pure that every word seemed vitally important. As an adult , his songwriting and production were, for a while, game changers.

His legacy is such that choosing 10 favorite songs is tough work. This week, C-J music writer Jeffrey Lee Puckett and C-J web producer Tom Heiser do just that by dedicating "Vintage Vinyl" to their favorite MJ songs @ www.courier-journal.com/music

Vintage Vinyl produced by Mary Ann Gerth and Scott Utterback 

Mayra Alvarez Gains a Spot on 'The Voice' Season 7, singing Iconic Michael Jackson Song.

Mayra Alvarez successfully navigated the selective final round of blind auditions on Monday's (Oct. 6) "The Voice," and grabbed a spot on Gwen Stefani's team.

The Texan backup singer and vocal teacher wowed both Stefani and fellow coach Blake Shelton with her smooth rendition of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature." And despite Shelton's attempts to woo Alvarez with his southern connections and charm, she ends up going with Stefani who shrieks with delight when her name is picked.

Alvarez will compete against a number of other talented female artists from Team Gwen in the Knockout Rounds, hopefully she will be unique enough to stay in the running.


Source: http://www.zap2it.com

Roy Horn of Siegfried & Roy Celebrates 70th Birthday at "Michael Jackson One"

By NORM CLARKE - LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

The 70th birthday celebration of Roy Horn, on the 11th anniversary of the near-fatal tiger attack, included an emotional twist involving Michael Jackson and several surprises.

Siegfried and Roy (Birthday celebration)  at Michael Jackson ONE Oct 3 2014

Gordan Vukovic / Cashman Photography

The first surprise came when longtime Jackson choreographer Kenny Ortega and “X-Men” producer Bryan Singer showed up to join Friday’s birthday party.

The twist came when Horn’s party of seven attended the 7 p.m. show of Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson One” at Mandalay Bay.

Five of the six had not seen the Jackson show because they weren’t ready to, according to local Realtor Zar Zanganeh, one of the five.

The group included Siegfried Fischbacher, RoyHorn, Kenny Ortega, Lynette Chappell,( the “Evil Queen” in the long-running Siegfried and Roy show) Siegfried and Roy protégé Darren Romeo, Brian Singer and Zanganeh.

Siegfried and Roy (Birthday celebration)  at Michael Jackson ONE Oct 3 2014

Gordan Vukovic / Cashman Photography

everyone came out of the show blown away. “What they do is just incredible,” said Siegfried, Ortega added, “Jamie King (the show’s director) has done a fantastic job, and the cast is amazing.” _ “It was really emotional, but happy and positive,” said Zanganeh, whose friendship with Jackson began a decade ago as the pop star’s real estate broker.

After the Jackson show, the group went to RM Seafood for the birthday dinner. When the birthday cake arrived with 70 lit candles, Siegfried began a tribute speech to Horn. Ever the prankster, Horn started blowing out the candles when the speech ran a little long.

As far as Horn knew, that was the end of the party.

But Chappell had a surprise. As they left the seafood restaurant, a big screen in front of Holly Madison’s club, 1923 Bourbon &Burlesque, flashed birthday greetings to Horn. Horn and his group were invited inside, where 60 close friends and birthday balloons greeted them. The party ran until 2 a.m.


 Source: Reviewjournal.com

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Michael Jackson * Mind Is The Magic!  Siegfried & Roy

This song was written by Michael Jackson with Bryan Loren in 1989 for Siegfried & Roy's 'Beyond Belief Show' in Las Vegas. Jackson gave his permission for Siegfried & Roy to release this song in their German album Dreams & Illusions in 1995. It was released again on their "Magicians Of The Century" Album in 2009. Michael used the  introduction from this song to form part of "The Drill" segment planned for his "This Is It" concerts. 

Mind Is The Magic - Magicians Of The Century (2009) includes Pop tracks by Siegfried & Roy and an exclusive Michael Jackson track for the magicians' Las Vegas show!!! Includes: Mind is the magic, The secret gallery, Magic, Saltimbanco, Magicians of the century, and many more. You can order the CD  or just the mp3 song for your collection.

 

Russell Wilson Inspired by Michael Jackson Song.

Story by By Bob Condotta Seattle Times staff reporter

Russell Wilson launches "Pass The Peace" campaign to support victims of domestic violence

‘I think I have the power to help others and encourage others.’

RENTON – Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson broke from tradition when he held his regular weekly meeting with the media Friday.

Instead of his usual red Seahawks practice jersey, he wore a purple Pass the Peace sweatshirt. And instead of ending the news conference with his trademark “Go Hawks,’’ he added “Pass the Peace.

Post by Russell Wilson.

It was all a continuation of efforts Wilson began the day before to much acclaim when it was revealed he would be a senior editor for a new website run by Derek Jeter. Wilson announced on the site, The Players’ Tribune, that he was launching a foundation called Why Not You with an initial goal of helping combat domestic violence. Wilson is asking people to Pass the Peace to support victims of domestic violence. The first two people he challenged were Jeter and singer/actor Justin Timberlake.

Wilson said he was inspired to begin the foundation and campaign while listening to the Michael Jackson song “Man in the Mirror’’ while flying to California during the team’s bye last week.

“I had been thinking about it for a while, the whole domestic violence situation going on, and I knew that I could hopefully make a difference being the quarterback of the Seattle Seahawks,’’ Wilson said.

He had met with Jeter when the Yankees were in town for a series in June. That’s when initial plans were hatched for the foundation.

What got the most attention Thursday, though, was Wilson’s admission that, until age 14, he considered himself a bully.

“It was difficult to write,’’ Wilson said. “To tell you guys I was a bad kid growing up, to kind of go in-depth about that. You know, I used to have anger issues. I’d get mad all the time.’’

But Wilson said he thought it important to reveal that side of his past to illustrate that people can change behaviors with the help of others.

“For me, I’ve been graced with great family, with great people who have encouraged me, instead of discouraged me,’’ he said. “And that’s what I want to do with the Why Not You Foundation and the Pass the Peace initiative. And the whole idea of The Players’ Tribune, to write that first article, it was kind of, ‘OK, I’m going to step forward and do something.’ ’’

Wilson said the root of his anger was being “just so competitive. I thought I owned the playground. I thought I owned the classroom. I thought I was bigger than who I was. I thought I would never get in trouble for anything. I thought that was the way to go. I thought that was being a man, as a young kid, for whatever reason.’’

Asked to detail the worst of his bullying acts, Wilson responded: “Oh, man. Knock people’s teeth out on a regular basis, probably. Used to bang their heads up against the wall. Used to throw them against the wall. I used to cuss all the time. I used to be a bad kid, man. But I grew from that. Back then it was one of those things that I was kind of immature. Now I transitioned into this maturation — big time.”

Wilson said a change in his faith at the age of 14 led to a change in his attitudes and actions.

“Once I kind of got that in my life, I knew what to focus my life on,’’ he said.

Wilson stepping out publicly might be viewed as a sign of growth for a player whose devotion to football has been well-documented.

Wilson says that as a Super Bowl-champion quarterback, he has a rare platform. And this week he made his boldest move yet to take advantage of it.

“I’m a very reserved person for the most part,’’ said Wilson, who turns 26 on Nov. 29. “I want to be able to do different things. I’m not just about football. I think I have the power to help others and encourage others.’’


Source:  Bob Condotta: seattletimes.com. / Edited by Love Survives






Man In the Mirror
The Essential Michael Jackson

INVINCIBLE: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson * Nov 22

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Bringing back the spirit and essence of seeing Michael Jackson live again on stage!

From the early moments with his brothers in the Jackson 5 to his stratospheric rise as a solo artist to become one of the greatest entertainers of all time, this is the only show that brings back the spirit and the essence of seeing Michael Jackson Live again onstage!

Masterfully performing the unique dancing that Michael was so famous for, two talented performers portray Michael at different stages of his dynamic career in this multi-media spectacular featuring his greatest hits including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Thriller,” “Smooth Criminal,” and more!

This acclaimed production includes a world-class dance company, Grammy Award-winning vocalists, and master musicians and percussionists. You don’t want to miss this thrilling theatrical experience!

A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson
Strand Theatre
Sat, November 22, 2014
7:30pm

TICKETS: $25, $40, $45

NOW ON SALE TO MEMBERS!
On sale to the general public Wednesday, October 15 at 10am.

Produced and Directed by Bessie Award winner Darrin Ross of RossLive Entertainment

www.rossliveent.com

www.facebook.com/InvincibleAGloriousTributeToMichaelJackson

Group Tickets
Groups of 10 or more get 10% off! Call the Box Office at 717-846-1111 to place group orders.


LEARN MORE: mystrandcapitol.org

Listen to the Jackson 5’s Long-Lost FIRST Recording ‘Big Boy’

Recorded in 1967 for One-derful! Records, the song has never been released and was almost completely forgotten.

The "Big Boy" reel from One-derful Records

Jackson 5 Photo from Jake Austin's Collection; Tape by Jim Newberry

Since 1968, the earliest commercially available Jackson 5 recording has been the "Big Boy" 45 that the band cut for Steel Town Records and released in January that year. The previous July, however, they had cut the same track for Chicago's One-derful! Records, playing all of their own instruments at the label's Tone Studios. Michael, then just eight years old, sang lead.

This session had been all but forgotten until 2009, when guitarist Larry Blasingaine brought it to the attention of Jake Austen, a Chicago Reader writer who was researching a story about the Steeltown release.  Austen then contacted Eric D. Leaner, one of the four siblings who inherited the One-derful! masters from their dad Ernie, and Leaner began to search for the lost tape.

"Until Jake Austen called me to explain that there was potentially a missing Jackson 5 demo tape, and if we had it it would be the holy grail of Jackson recordings, we had no idea we had it in our possession," says Leaner. "I asked my brother-in-law Herb Newkirk to see if he could find it with little hope since we had already been through the tapes.

 A couple of days later, he called me and said, 'Brother-in-law, I found it!'"

Now, a 45 of the original "Big Boy" is available for the first 500 people who order the One-derful! Collection subscription, a compendium (seven CDs or 12 discs of vinyl) of soul, funk and gospel that the label released between its founding in 1962 and 1971. The entire set contains 147 tracks – 57 of which have never been issued. It will be released on October 28th via Secret Stash Recordings and can be pre-ordered here.


Read  Jake Austins Detailed History of the Track Here

For the first time  "Big Boy," as recorded by the Jackson 5 for One-derful! Records, can be streamed below.

Source: By Nick Murray | .rollingstone.com  Edits by Love Survives

The Key to Pharrell’s Success? The same formula Michael Jackson made good use of.

Want your song to top the charts? Just add backup singers.

A new study published in Musicae Scientiae, the Journal of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music, suggests that using backup vocals may give an edge to artists and producers trying to craft the next big hit.

Professors from the University of Southern California’s business and music schools – along with a marketing professor at Italy’s Bocconi University – analyzed the acoustic components of the most popular songs over the past 55 years, to determine which recipes worked best. They looked both at the 1,029 songs that reached No. 1, plus the songs that made Billboard’s Hot 100 chart but never climbed higher than No. 90, and they classified the instrument and vocal combinations audible in each.

The majority of No. 1 songs featured backup vocals, while background singers were absent from the bulk of the songs that got stuck at No. 90 or below.

Pharrell’s “Happy,” for example, which topped the chart for 10 weeks — longer than any other song this year—featured six backup singers cooing under Pharrell’s falsetto chorus; Van Morrison’s song “Moondance” and Reba McEntire’s 2005 song “My Sister” were among the songs lacking backup vocals that never cracked 90th place.

Chart toppers also tended to include both synthesizers and guitar along with backup vocals.

Michael Jackson made good use of this formula, employing it to top charts throughout the 80s and 90s with songs such as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Bad,” “Black or White” and “You are Not Alone.” Instrumental combinations common among the bottom-ranking tunes were clean, undistorted guitar plus acoustic piano, or bass guitar plus synthesizers without electric piano.

Of course, there’s no hard-and-fast rule – 50 Cent’s 2003 hit “In Da Club,” for example, still managed to top charts despite sharing the core characteristics most common to the lowest-ranking songs.

Joseph Nunes, the marketing professor from USC’s Marshall School of Business, said he thought that backup vocals were key because they gave the illusion of human “interplay” that most listeners enjoy at a basic level.

“A single vocal line can often sound lonely, while in contrast the dynamic interaction between a lead singer and one or more background singers may sound fuller, providing the appearance of the presence of an ensemble,” he and his colleagues wrote in the study. “Of course, this reasoning is purely speculative on our part.”

The researchers also note that they did not control for a key variable that can influence chart position: the amount of money spent on radio promotion for each song.

For their next act, Mr. Nunes’ team wants to replicate its findings in a well-controlled lab experiment, adding and removing instruments and vocals from a given song and testing the results of each change on listeners. One company in Thailand is already running such experiments on its commercial music streaming service, monitoring plays and listener feedback on different versions of the same song, the study notes: “This is something we are eager to do.”

It’s not the first time academics have dissected pop hits in an attempt to discern a recipe for success. A 2011 study by researchers at Bristol University in the U.K. created a “hit potential equation” based on factors such as tempo, harmonic complexity and variations in rhythm for decades’ worth of Top 40 songs. A resulting website and app, “ScoreAHit” purports to tell users whether current releases—and even their own songs—are potential chart toppers, or headed for the dustbin.


Source: blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy