Jackson Family Divides Over The Forever Michael Tribute Concert

While the press conference the Jackson's held promised a Tribute for Michael to end all Tributes it also creates a lot of contoversy, confusion and a family divided ~ Qbee

 Tribute Concert Big on Hoopla, Short on Details

 Several members of Michael Jackson's family held a press conference in Beverly Hills on Monday (July 25) morning to announce a tribute concert for their brother, who died two years ago. Aside from a location, a date and a name for the event, the famous family played coy with the details.

Set for Oct. 8, "Michael Forever: The Tribute Concert" will take over Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, where organizers Global Live Events hopes to attract 75,000 fans. Just what fans will be hearing will be announced online in small increments over the next two weeks. Tickets go on sale on Aug. 4.

The King of Pop's siblings Marlon, Jackie, Tito and La Toya, as well as family matriarch Katherine, attended the announcement. The 81-year-old Katherine said the concert would be a "world-class event" and a fitting tribute to her son, who died in 2009 at age 50.

Michael's brothers did not take questions at the announcement and would not confirm if they would be performing. According to Global Live Events, the concert be broadcast over the Web live in both 2D and 3D.

Tito Jackson said.: "I know my brother would be very, very proud to see all the artists that he admired and respected so much coming together for this event," .

La Toya Jackson promised that the "tribute will be something that's spectacular."

Father Joe and siblings Janet, Jermaine and Randy were not in attendance.

Before fans can get too excited about traveling to Wales, there may be a legal fight ahead. The executor's of Michael Jackson's estate have not been approached about the use of the singer's name, estate spokesman Jim Bates told CNN shortly after the press conference.

Source  billboard.com



Randy and Jermaine Jackson released the following statement of not supporting the tribute becuase it is slated during the trial of Dr Murray who is charched with Manslaughter in the death of thier brother Michael Jackson. ~ Qbee

Randy and Jermaine's press statement

Today’s press conference in Los Angeles announced a tribute concert to Michael to be attended and supported by the Jackson Family. However, we want to make clear that this does not reflect the position of the entire family.

While we wholeheartedly support the spirit of a tribute that honors our brother, we find it impossible to support an event that is due to take place during the criminal trial surrounding Michael’s death. As everyone knows, those proceedings commence September 20th, and this “Michael Forever” concert takes place in Cardiff, Wales, on October 8th. In light of this, we feel it is inappropriate to be involved with such an ill-timed event and its promoter, Global Live.

Furthermore, the decision to proceed with this concert disrespects opinions and wishes expressed in the strongest terms to Global Live during conversations in April when this event was presented to the majority of the family as an idea already in its advanced stages.

There will come a time and place for an amazing and deserving tribute to Michael. But we feel that the most important tribute we can give to our brother at this time is to seek justice in his name.

JERMAINE JACKSON & RANDY JACKSON

Katherine Jackson: Refutes Latoya Says Estate is not responsible for MJ death

A number of people, including LaToya Jackson, have suggested there was a conspiracy to kill Michael, and LaToya has said she believes Estate honchos were involved.

Katherine tells TMZ ...

"It is only natural for people who loved Michael, including family members, to be suspicious about the circumstances surrounding Michael’s untimely death. So far I have not seen one shred of evidence that anyone associated with Michael’s estate conspired to kill him.

She continues,

"If such evidence ever comes to my attention I will be the first to bring those facts to light. No one loved Michael more than I loved him, but no one should be falsely accused, as Michael was, of a crime they did not commit."

Source: TMZ

Amy Winehouse found dead at her flat in London

You may wonder why I inclued this article in my blog about Michael Jackson. It is becuase I consider Amy Winehouse part of our MJ family. She only had sweet thing to say about Michael and always defended him whenever asked abou him. Plus I am deeply efected by her death. My sincere condolances go out to her family, friends and all her fans  ~ Qbee.

Amy Winehouse, R.I.P.5:59 PM GMT 23/07/2011

Despite her battle with alcohol and drugs which has been so well publicised over the last six years, the confirmation of the death of Amy Winehouse this afternoon (July 23) was both shocking and pitiful.The 27 year-old singer was found dead at her flat in North London by parademics who attended the scene following a call to the singer's property at 3.54pm
.
The Metropolitan Police issued a statement that reads: "Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square, NW1, shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."

Winehouse's death comes after the singer's disastrous return to performing last month when she played a much-publicised show in Serbia which went horribly wrong. Her management confirmed that the show would be her last for the foreseeable future while she tried to conquer her addictions.

Amy's early career had shown none of the vulnerability that engulfed her and ultimately consumed her in later life. She began performing at an early age, receiving her first guitar at 13 and attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School and then the Brit School where she began to hone her craft.

Under the watchful eye of A&R man Darcus Beese she signed to Island Records and released her debut album, Frank, at the age of 20. Produced by Salaam Remi, the record framed her voice in a polite manner, and its musical direction saw her bracketed at the time with a small coterie of so-called nu-jazz stars including Jamie Cullum.

I met Winehouse after the release of the album and found her enthusiasm for her music to be infectious. Despite the fact that she had co-written much of the material on the album, Amy herself also expressed the fact that her debut had fallen short of her own expectations.

Her second effort, Back To Black, was far more immersive, its rich soul texture being matched by intensely personal lyrics that chronicled her increasing excesses and her failing relationship, its release shrouded by the loss of her grandmother a few months earlier. MOJO received a number of tracks in unfinished form prior to the album's release and we were left in no doubt that the fresh-faced North London girl that we'd encountered a few years earlier had grown into an artist capable of writing about real life experiences in the most direct manner imaginable. Her voice too had clearly improved, giving her the ability to deliver the songs with striking emotion and passion.

Some seven months after Back To Black's release, Winehouse attended the MOJO Honours List in 2007 with her then husband, Blake Fielder-Civil. The pair had recently married and arrived two hours late blaming the traffic. Their tardiness meant that Amy initially missed receiving her award for Rehab, which scooped Song Of The Year at the ceremony. The very fact that she'd made the effort to get there made us decide to re-present the award to her at the tail end of the evening, with radio DJ Steve Lamacq and Specials singer Terry Hall returning to the stage to do so. It would be one of many awards that Amy would win on the back of the multi-million selling Back To Black, including a string of five Grammys in 2008.

Later that same year, MOJO attempted to interview Amy again for a cover story and dispatched journalist Paul Elliott, who had spoken to Winehouse on previous occasions, to one of her UK shows. The interview did not happen and the show itself saw Winehouse abuse the audience and stumble through her set. The magazine's cover line read: "Music is where I can be honest."

Amy's talent was such that, despite her self-destructive streak, she drew praise from her contemporaries and her elders, although their concern for her was also evident. A swathe of musicians have already paid tribute following this afternoon's shocking news. Among them David Arnold, who tweeted: "Amy W one of the funniest and loveliest people I'd met.she wasn't well.So sad for her and her family.a genuine raw talent and a sweetheart", and Jamie Cullum: "I shared some wonderful musical moments with Amy. I feel very lucky to have done so. She was a wonderful person with an extraordinary talent."

One of her last recorded appearances was on legendary crooner Tony Bennett's forthcoming album, Duets II, due out in September. Winehouse interprets the standard Body And Soul, previously sung by Billie Holiday. A tune dealing with heartbreak and devastation, it will now prove to be Amy's swansong and that in itself is almost too tragic for words...

Source : http://www.mojo4music.com/

Judge has refused to delay trial for Michael Jackson's doctor

Highlights

The judge refused the prosecution's request to delay the trial
The defense said it may want the jury sequestered, citing the Casey Anthony case

Dr. Conrad Murray's trial is set to start September 8
Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Jackson's death

Los Angeles (CNN) -- A Los Angeles County judge Wednesday refused to delay the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, who's charged with involuntary manslaughter in the pop star's death.

Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor rejected the prosecution's request to again put off the trial of Conrad Murray. It's already been delayed twice since Murray invoked his right to a speedy trial after his arraignment in January.

A Los Angeles coroner ruled Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, was from an overdose of the surgical anesthetic propofol, combined with other drugs.

Murray's defense team is considering asking that the jury be sequestered because of the expected intense publicity. Attorney Michael Flanagan cited the Casey Anthony trial, and complained that if jurors see certain TV personalities discussing the case, it would be like constant final arguments by the prosecution.

Meanwhile, the judge said he will personally review about 14 hours of rehearsal video for the concert Michael Jackson was planning at the time of his death, to decide which parts of the video may be admitted at the trial.

Authorities say Murray, who was hired as Jackson's personal physician as the singer prepared for comeback concerts in London, administered the fatal dose of medicine. Defense attorney Ed Chernoff contends Jackson was "a desperate man in many respects" and in trying to help himself sleep, the pop star gave himself the fatal dose of surgical anesthesia while the doctor was not watching.

Jury selection was under way in May when the defense requested a delay so its expert witnesses could have more time to prepare for new experts hired by the prosecution. Pastor then dismissed hundreds of prospective jurors and rescheduled the trial to start September 8.


SOURCE  Alan Duke, CNN


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Michael Jackson makes it into Guiness book of records again!!!

Longest span of US top 40 singles

Michael Jackson holds the Guinness World Record for the longest span of US Top 40 singles = 39 years and 2 months!

He first charted on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 6, 1971 with "Got To Be There" and last with "Hold My Hand" on January 1, 2011.

       Got To Be There                             Hold My Hand (Duet With Akon              

            

Michael Jackson holds numerous Guinness World Records including the most Grammy Awards won in a year, most hit singles in the UK charts in a year, best selling album of all time, longest span of No.1 hits by an R&B artist, best selling music video, highest annual earnings ever for a pop star, and most successful pop music family.

Guinness World Records Editor-in-Chief, Craig Glenday commented "I will always be immensely proud to know that Michael considered me a friend, and I know that everyone at Guinness World Records will be numb from hearing the news that this gentle, kind, shy man is no longer with us. On his last visit to the Guinness World Records office, he devoted a few valuable hours of his time being photographed with everyone, and we were all touched by his humility and willingness to please everyone present with autographs and photos. I'm honoured to have had the chance to spend some time with such a wonderfully talented artist - the man we called the Most Famous Living Man on Earth - and to present him with his favourite world record of all, the biggest selling album of all time, for Thriller, of course. He leaves behind an incredible musical legacy and a body of work unrivalled by any other performer."

SOURCE http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com