HAPPY NEW YEAR: Family Friends and Followers

A New Year Blessing For You

Comfort on difficult days
smiles when sadness intrudes

laughter to kiss your lips

hugs when spirits sag

beauty for your eyes to see

friendships to brighten your being

faith so that you can believe

Love to complete your life

HAPPY NEW  YEAR  2014

New book - Michael Jackson * The Maestro – The Definitive A-Z

Finally Chris Cadman's New book, Michael Jackson -The Maestro is released. Chris is a well known respected author and historian on all things Michael in the MJ Community. He has written several very popular reference books on the life and works of Michael Jackson. Probably his most famous was  "For The Record" which was a number One best seller in 2009.  This time he has  written a definitive book about Michael called "The Maestro – The Definitive A-Z"  and the first volume has just been released . (Volume 1  A-J )  This is not tabloid, it is a very thoughtful, well researched, reference book about his life and his work as an artist.  I am certainly going to add this one to my collection.  ~ Qbee

MICHAEL JACKSON

THE MAESTRO

From the moment he first stepped on stage at the age of five to his final rehearsals at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Michael Jackson was a dynamic performer. During his 45 year career in entertainment, Jackson changed the face of popular music, amazed audiences worldwide and broke down barriers still felt today.

"Michael Jackson The Maestro – The Definitive A-Z ", the new book from the co-author of "Michael Jackson: For The Record", Chris Cadman takes the reader through the music that made the world dance and sing along, the TV performances that were household events, the tours that sold out venues across the world, and many moments that are remembered today. 

Included is information on Jackson's many recordings from the mid 1960s sessions at Steeltown Records to his last recordings, his performances, short films, film projects, and titbits on the producers, directors, songwriters, and many others who played a significant role in Jackson's career. 

Carefully researched over a span of 4 years, 'The Maestro' goes beyond the tabloid generated image and looks into the heart of one of the greatest artists of all time.

'The Maestro' brings you Michael Jackson's remarkable life through his music, his performances, his interviews, his achievements and his charity endeavours. Read about the significant people in his life and the many film offers that came his way that sadly never came to fruition. Plus discover his never ending devotion to children's charities and the less fortunate around the world.


This is Michael Jackson The Maestro - The Definitive A-Z: ( Volume 1 - A-J ) 

'The Maestro' (Volume 1) is a detailed 860 pages celebrating the life and times of Michael Jackson from recordings to tours to interviews. It's all here. Everything you want to know.


WHERE TO PURCHASE 

"Michael Jackson The Maestro" is currently available to purchase from
Amazon.com  And for pre-order from Amazon UK. In the next few weeks it
will become available at Barnes & Noble and Authorsonline 

LAWYERS WAIVE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN APPEAL BY DOCTOR MURRAY

Both sides have waived giving oral arguments. Now its just a waiting game for the court to make its decision.  I really don't think they will approve any appeal. Not in this court. Murray can then exhaust all effort by taking his appeal to the higher courts all the way up to United states Federal and supreme courts. The whole process can take years. ~ Qbee


LAWYERS WAIVE ORAL ARGUMENTS IN APPEAL BY DOCTOR 

Associated Press – Tue, Dec 17, 2013.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Attorneys handling an appeal by the former doctor convicted in the death of Michael Jackson have waived oral arguments in the case, court documents filed Tuesday show.

Defense lawyer Valerie Wass and Supervising Deputy Attorney General Victoria B. Wilson filed letters with the 2nd District Court of Appeal waiving the arguments in the case of Conrad Murray unless justices have specific questions.

The appeals court had set arguments for Jan. 9.

Wass said the decision was made because both sides felt they had filed extensive papers laying out their cases and the court doesn't want to hear repetitive arguments.

"The waiver is in large part due to the Court's generous permission allowing the parties to file briefs at double the word limit," Wilson wrote in a letter to the court.

Murray was convicted in 2011 of giving Jackson a fatal dose of the anesthetic propofol. He was released in October after serving two years in jail.

Jackson died in June 2009 while preparing for a series of comeback concerts titled "This Is It."

Murray argues in his appeal that the trial judge excluded jurors from hearing key evidence and should have sequestered jurors in the high-profile case.

The attorney general's office has said the issues cited by Murray's lawyers were not errors and are not a basis for a new trial.


AP/Yahoo News

Michael Jackson Backup singer Dorian Holley: Being Onstage with MJ Was a Ride in a Whirlwind

Dorian Holley one of Michael Jackson's backup singer explains what is was like to perform on stage with Michael. Dorian was blessed to go on many tours with MJ, including being chosen once again, for The "This Is It" Concerts that were cancelled due to Michael's passing. ~ Qbee

Dorian Holley, Michael Jackson, Sheryl Crow & Darryl Phinnessee

Recently a young man asked me what it was like to share the stage with MJ.

Being onstage with mj was a ride in a whirlwind. The entire band, singers and dancers accepted the challenge of bringin it in the same way Michael brought it. We weren’t stopping till the train pulled all the way into the station.

Michael hit it hard, so hard, too hard! Every single night out he would hammer down the show like he was trying to bust up a mountain. It was always: "This is my last show." Most of us say it, but that's the way he did it. He danced hard. He sang hard. He always struck me like an artist just getting in the business and trying to make a name for himself; like he had something to prove.

We tried to slay it as well. We rode Tyrannosaurus Rex into the mouth of a volcano. We surfed the lava, the board melting under our feet.

 Whatever MJ did we followed him. If he stopped, we hit the brakes. If he kept going, we fired it off. All the way up. All the way down. Talk about a high. Woooo.

 After each show it felt like I’d ridden a comet to the moon. Can't even describe it to you. My first world tour. MJ's first solo tour. We were out to conquer the universe.

Dorian Holly Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dorian.holley

MICHAEL * Chosen As Best POP Album Cover

According to COMPLEX Art + Design, the MICHAEL Album Cover is the Best POP cover in that last five years. It's So Nice seeing Michael # 1 on just about everything related to him even 5 years after his passing. I love to see positive articles like this. ~ Qbee


The Best POP Album Covers of the Last 5 Years

BY DALE EISINGER, SUSAN CHENG | NOV 8, 2013 | 12:33 PM

Pop, derived from the word "popular," is a genre that's continually hard to define. Pop music shifts constantly, but over time, it has been known to include catchy melodies and hooks, repeated choruses, and widespread appeal. Today, pop music borders on a lot of rap and dance music, but at its core, the aforementioned qualities define it.

Picking a list of The 50 Best Pop Album Covers of the Past Five Years is hardly an easy task, but it's one that reveals a lot about how these album covers work. Especially in the context of recent pop releases—Katy Perry's Prism, Lady Gaga's ARTPOP, Sky Ferreira's Night Time, My Time, and M.I.A.'s Matangi—one realizes the tendency for pop covers to be direct facial portraits, sometimes without much more styling or design.

When it comes to more indie releases, the imaging naturally gets more experimental. Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion is an abstract optical illusion, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs photographed a fist crushing an egg for It's Blitz, and three versions of Santigold pose in front of a painting of herself for Master of My Make Believe.

This list includes pop albums that came out between November 8, 2008 and today. Enjoy this visual tour of pop music, and its best covers, from the last five years.

Click here to start the count down



1. Michael Jackson, Michael

Release date: Dec. 10, 2010
Cover art: Kadir Nelson
Art direction: Christina Rodriguez, Sheri Lee
Labels: Epic, MJJ

The first release of new Michael Jackson music after his death in 2009, Michael features a brilliant, multifaceted painting by renowned author, illustrator, and painter Kadir Nelson. Nelson, who has painted the likes of Marvin Gaye and later the album cover for Drake's Nothing Was the Same,here created something that at first glance looks like a collage of highlights from Jackson's career. Upon closer inspection, it becomes clear this is an intricate painting meant to represent the ups, downs, and struggles of one of the greatest pop artists in history (of which there were many). We get Michael and all his most important moments: Michael preening for Off The Wall, the tabloid cover from a Weekly World issue, and the cherubs crowning him—one black, one white. Bubbles fills the bottom left of the picture, a reference to Jackson's pet chimp—the nods to MJ's life are numerous.

It's as much a puzzle for fans to unravel as it is a retrospective of one incredible man's incredible life. Nelson's ability to surmise and synergize Jackson's struggles is phenomenal. At one point this artwork was erected in Middlesex, England as a 29,000-square-foot mural, making it the largest poster in the history of the world. Jackson was always larger than life. —Dale Eisinger


Source COMPLEX Art + Design http://www.complex.com/art-design

In The Studio With MJ - Orlando Jan 25th With Special Guest Matt Forger

Four studio albums.  Countless sessions.  Video mixes.  Dance mixes.  Three world tours.  A ranch called “Neverland.”  This was Brad Sundberg’s life and career for nearly 18 years, working closely with the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson.  This is your chance to hear of the music, the stories behind the music, and what it was like to be a part of Michael’s team.  This is a one-of-a-kind music, photo and video-filled seminar.

Special Guest Matt Forger will be joining Brad for this amazing event.  Matt brings a wealth of knowledge as he was there for Thriller and he completely recorded and mixed Captain EO!  Brad and Matt have been friends for many years, and Matt has agreed share his stories and insights, particularly on the Captain EO project.

Brad had the opportunity to work closely in the studio and at Neverland Valley Ranch with Michael Jackson.  He was Michael’s technical director and one of the engineers on four studio albums including “Bad”, “Dangerous”, “HIStory”, and “Blood On The Dancefloor.”  (Michael even gave Brad the nickname “Really, Really Brad”.)  These mammoth projects (including production, tour-prep and countless remixes) took upwards of 16 months each. 

You will see and hear what it was like to be in the studio with Michael and the team of engineers and producers who created these songs, through a carefully crafted timeline of music, video and behind-the-scenes info.  From “Captain Eo” to “Man In The Mirror” to “Smile”, Brad was there, and you will hear about the production process.

If you are a fan of Michael’s music, or are curious about how those albums were recorded and the staggering amount of tapes, tracks and time invested, you will want to attend “In The Studio With MJ.”


Brad and Matt, together in a seminar for the first time ever.  No script, no second-hand stories – these guys were there, and they are very excited to share their stories, music and home-videos.  You do not want to miss this!

There are a limited number of tickets available, and the seminar will include a catered dinner with Brad and Matt.  This will include one of Michael’s favorite “Family Friday Dinners”, and give you extra time to ask questions and hear a bit more about their time working together. 


Details:  The event will be offered on January 25, 2014, at 12:00 PM. There are a limited number of tickets available, and the seminar will include a catered dinner with Brad and Matt.  This will include one of Michael's favorite "Family Friday Dinners", and give you extra time to ask questions and hear a bit more about their time working together. 


Check out In The Studio With MJ Facebook page: 
www.facebook.com/inthestudiowithmj


More information and Tickets
https://inthestudiowithmichaeljackson.ticketbud.com/in-the-studio-with-mj---orlando

California Court schedules oral arguments for Conrad Murray to Appeal his conviction.

This should be good. Cant wait to see him turned down. No court is going to overturn or allow a retrial of that conviction. ~ Qbee


LOS ANGELES — A California court has scheduled arguments next month for Michael Jackson's doctor to appeal his involuntary manslaughter conviction.


The 2nd District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles set arguments in the case for Jan. 9.

An appeals court in Los Angeles announced Monday, Dec. 9, 2013, that it has scheduled oral arguments on Murray's appeal of his involuntary manslaughter conviction for the morning of Jan. 9, 2014.

Former cardiologist Conrad Murray is appealing his 2011 conviction on various grounds. He says a judge excluded jurors from hearing key evidence and should have sequestered jurors on the high-profile case.

The attorney general's office has said the issues cited by Murray's lawyers were not errors and are not a basis to give him a new trial.

Murray was convicted of causing Jackson's death by giving the singer an overdose of the anesthetic propofol on June 25, 2009.


Murray was released in October after serving nearly two years in jail.

Source: http://www.therepublic.com

Michael Jackson’s “A Place With No Name” – The Story Behind The Song

This is a wonderful article  By Damien Shields  about the origin and evolution of the recently leaked Michael Jackson song " A Place With No Name"  I'm so in love with this song and it's nice to hear how it all came about.  I cant wait for it's proper release ~ Qbee 

Michael Jackson’s “A Place With No Name” – 

The Story Behind The Song
by DAMIEN SHIELDS posted on DECEMBER 6, 2013




On July 16, 2009, just three weeks after his tragic passing, a portion of an unreleased Michael Jackson song leaked online. Celebrity gossip website TMZ posted a twenty-four second snippet of the track, called “A Place With No Name”. For the past four-and-a-half years the twenty-four second snippet is all that Michael Jackson fans have had access to. That is, until now.

A few days ago, on December 3, 2013, the full-length version of the song, which is essentially a lyrically re-written cover of the 1972 hit “A Horse With No Name” by the band America, appeared online to the delight of Jackson enthusiasts around the world. With the leak of the track came questions about its origins – some of which could be answered by reading previously published interviews with those who worked on the track, and others which remained unanswered. This article aims to put all the pieces of the puzzle in one place to tell the complete story behind the song.

“A Place With No Name” was first conceived in 1998 by Elliot Straite, a talented singer, songwriter, and music producer who goes by the name “Dr. Freeze”. Record executive John McClain, who was managing Michael Jackson at the time (and is now coincidentally a co-executor of The Michael Jackson Estate) gave Freeze the opportunity of a lifetime – to collaborate with the King of Pop.

“I knew his manager, John McClain, and I was working on an album with my partners, Spydermann,” recalls Freeze. “After completing the album, it did not go as planned and we had to cancel the project. I was very upset. And then John McClain said, ‘Do not worry Freeze. I have another project for you. You’ll be in business with Michael.’ I said, ‘Michael who?’ And he said, ‘Michael Jackson!’”

“I did not believe it at first and I thought it was crazy. And then one day I was on the phone with my father and someone called me on the other line… It was Michael! That’s how it all began… That’s how we met.”


READ MORE > http://www.damienshields.com/michael-jacksons-a-place-with-no-name-the-story-behind-the-song/

The World's ACTUAL Highest-Paid Musician 2013 Is Michael Jackson

Looks like everyone else can Beat it ~ Qbee

The World's Actual Highest-Paid Musician Is... Deceased Michael Jackson





Remember this as you sort through Forbes' ever-fascinating list of Musicians Who Still Make Lots of Money: It's limited to living artists only. Quite sensibly, sure, but the scrilla scared up by your Madges and Gagas and Bruce's and Jovis, Bon does still pale -- well, not quite pale, but doesn't nearly match up with that earned by the True King of Pop, His Immortal Greatness, Michael Jackson.


Madonna topped out at $125 million.
Next on the list, Gaga raked in $80 mill.
Diddy (No. 12) scraped together $50 million shilling shitty clear liquor.


But MJ? Whoo-boy...


$160 million is the late pop star's estate's gross income for 2013, as reported by Forbes.

And on a list that reads like a battle of old names against newer ones -- Bieber vs. Bruce, Taylor vs. Toby Keith, Coldplay and Queen Bey -- consider it the ultimate triumph of the past and the King of Pop, that a dead Michael Jackson still beats a living everyone else... by exactly $35 million.

Story By Ian S. Port Mon., Dec. 2 2013 - Categories: The Music (Sigh) Industry
Source: http://blogs.sfweekly.com

THE IMMORTAL World Tour, Ninth Top Grossing Music Tour Of All Time, Returns To North America In 2014

Exclusive Presale Window Starts December 9

General On Sale Begins December 13

The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil announced today that Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, which currently ranks as the 9th top grossing tour of all time according to Billboard, will return to North America in 2014.

The 2014 North American tour will kick off in February.

Starting December 9, subscribers to the MichaelJackson.com newsletter will have exclusive access to purchase presale tickets through MichaelJackson.com 

Starting December 13 at 10am, tickets will go on sale to the public for the cities and dates listed below. Additional cities and dates will be announced in the coming weeks so check back for cities and dates in your neighborhood:


2014 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR SCHEDULE
For further details and ticket information, please visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/michaeljackson.

February 28 – March 1 Worcester, MA – DCU Center*
March 5 – 6     Amherst, MA – Mullins Center*
March 10 – 11 Rochester, NY – Blue Cross Arena
March 18 – 19 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Arena
March 21 – 22 Fairfax, VA – Patriot Center
March 25 – 26 Philadelphia, PA – Wells Fargo Arena
March 28 – 29 Trenton, NJ – Sun National Bank Center

*Tickets for Worcester and Amherst will be available for pre sale on December 16 and on-sale to the general public on December 20.

Since its world premiere in Montreal in October 2011, this electrifying production has thrilled audiences across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, performing over 400 shows in 26 countries. Over 3 million people have experienced the show, setting records at a number of venues where it has played. THE IMMORTAL World Tour was awarded Billboard’s prestigious Creative Content Award in 2012 and was named a finalist for Billboard’s Top Tour Award in 2013.

Created by Cirque du Soleil and directed by Jamie King, THE IMMORTAL World Tour features 49 international dancers, musicians, and acrobats, presented in a rock concert format that combines the excitement and innovation of Michael Jackson’s music and choreography with Cirque du Soleil’s unparalleled creativity.


http://www.michaeljackson.com

Social Media
Twitter: @MichaelJackson – Hashtag: #mjIMMORTAL
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/michaeljackson

The Michael Jackson Estate Mourns Nelson Mandela

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God - Matthew 5:9 

My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to Mr Mandela's family and all those around the world who were deeply inspired and moved by his courage and generosity. The world has lost another great man of love and peace. I'm deeply saddened - RIP Nelson Mandela

~ Qbee

Statement From The Estate Of Michael Jackson About The Passing Of Nelson Mandela

Michael Jackson was proud to call Nelson Mandela his friend. Like millions of admirers around the world Michael drew inspiration from President Mandela’s courage, his fight for human dignity and his commitment to peace. During his visits to South Africa Michael met often with President Mandela, who described Michael as “a close member of our family.” Our hearts go out to President Mandela’s family and to his beloved South Africans as they mourn their incalculable loss.


- John Branca and John McClain, Co-Executors The Estate of Michael Jackson



Source: MJOnline
The Official Online Team of The Michael Jackson Estate™