By CARYN ROUSSEAU
The Associated Press
GARY, Ind. | Before there was the Neverland ranch, before he became a superstar with the best-selling album of all time, “Thriller,” a tiny house in the industrial city of Gary was home for Michael Jackson.
Since Jackson’s death, two Chicago women have started “The King of Pop Hometown Tour,” taking busloads of tourists on a four-hour trek through Jackson family landmarks in northwest Indiana. The highlight is 2300 Jackson St., a small white-sided house as big as a two-and-a-half-car garage where the Jackson family lived — with nine children — almost four decades ago.
“This is a tour of motivation and inspiration,” guide Denise Jordan Walker tells riders, as her partner, Tecora Rogers, readies the bus to leave. “We are not taking you to a gated community. We are not taking you to Neverland. We are taking you to Gary, Indiana.”
On cue, a music video of the Jackson 5 plays on overhead screens as the bus pulls off from Chicago and travels south down the highway. A young Michael Jackson sings, “I’m going back to Indiana. Indiana here I come. I’m going back to Indiana. That is where my baby’s from.”
The women said they always wanted to host a Jackson-themed tour of Gary but had put the idea aside to focus on a Chicago jazz music tour instead. After Jackson’s death in June, requests started pouring in, Walker said.
“It hasn’t changed that much since the Jacksons lived here,” Walker said. “It’s pretty much like time stood still. We want to paint a picture and let people really feel what the Jacksons went through on a day-to-day basis.”
Off the highway in Indiana, the bus drives through a heavily industrial area along Lake Michigan before stopping in front of the steel mill where father Joe Jackson worked. The tour goes on to the hospital where the Jackson children were born and the elementary school they attended. It also highlights the beginnings of the Jackson 5, with stops at Mr. Lucky’s Lounge, where the group first performed, and the house where the Jacksons recorded for Steeltown Records in 1967.
While stuffed animals, cards and signs still decorate the outside of the Jackson home, the inside remains closed. The tour, however, has partnered with the owners of a mirror-image house across the street, allowing for a walk-through to get a feel for the Jackson home.
Later on, some tourists point at the marquee next to Roosevelt High School in Gary, which reads, “We celebrate the life of Michael Jackson.”
The ride is broken up with video interviews with Gary residents who knew the Jacksons and videos of Michael Jackson songs, such as “Remember the Time” and “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.”
There’s even Jackson trivia. Tour guides call out questions: “Who was Michael Jackson’s first wife?” or “What song was about his favorite pet?” Riders yell back the answers, “Lisa Marie Presley” and “Ben.”
The trip is taken on a smaller charter tour bus that seats about two dozen people to allow for Gary’s narrow side streets and to fit under low-hanging electrical wires.
One rider, Mallorie Garner, 58, of Olympia Fields, Ill., said the tour offered her perspective on the beginnings of such a famous family.
“It helps you appreciate where they started and how far they came,” Garner said.
Another rider, Danielle Smith, 21, a student from Park Forest, Ill., said she attended memorials after Michael Jackson’s death. Seeing his childhood home put the singer’s career into perspective for her.
“To truly understand Michael, you have to go where it all started, his beginning, their experiences in Indiana,” Smith said. “It was really calming, because I knew that’s where he grew up, but there’s a feeling of loss.”
Sunday, August 30, 2009
MJ kids ‘to join Beckham boys at school'
All of Jackson’s three children were home-tutored when he was alive.
However, their grandmother and legal guardian Katherine Jackson’s wants them to join other kids of their age and believes this will help 12-year-old Prince Michael, one year junior Paris and Prince Michael II aged seven.
The Daily Express quoted a family friend as saying: “It’s going to be a culture shock for all three kids at first. But all of Michael’s brothers and sisters agree with Katherine that it’s time they stepped out into the real world.”
The King of Pop had once made plans of opening up his own school for his children, as he feared they would be “treated like freaks” in other schools but the plan could never materialize.
MJ’s children will attend the same 30,000dollar-a-year private school attended by the Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham. The Beckham’s third son, the fopur-year-old Cruz, is expected to join the school’s nursery soon.
The Jackson family friend said: “It is one of the most secure and security-conscious schools in America,” and rubbished all talks of the terrifying prospects of the school to Jackson’s protected children by calling them “totally unfounded” (ANI)
However, their grandmother and legal guardian Katherine Jackson’s wants them to join other kids of their age and believes this will help 12-year-old Prince Michael, one year junior Paris and Prince Michael II aged seven.
The Daily Express quoted a family friend as saying: “It’s going to be a culture shock for all three kids at first. But all of Michael’s brothers and sisters agree with Katherine that it’s time they stepped out into the real world.”
The King of Pop had once made plans of opening up his own school for his children, as he feared they would be “treated like freaks” in other schools but the plan could never materialize.
MJ’s children will attend the same 30,000dollar-a-year private school attended by the Brooklyn and Romeo Beckham. The Beckham’s third son, the fopur-year-old Cruz, is expected to join the school’s nursery soon.
The Jackson family friend said: “It is one of the most secure and security-conscious schools in America,” and rubbished all talks of the terrifying prospects of the school to Jackson’s protected children by calling them “totally unfounded” (ANI)
Jackson's kids say goodbye
Michael Jackson's children have written emotional goodbye letters which will be placed in his coffin.
Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11 and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - also known as 'Blanket' - scrawled messages including "Daddy we love you" and "Daddy we miss you" on notes that will be buried with the 'King of Pop' on Thursday.
The singer's brother Marlon has spoken about the letters and other details of Michael's funeral, which will be held in the family's compound at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
He claims Michael will also be buried with his trademark white glove, and has been fitted with a new shoulder-length wig. The star's face has also been painted with full stage makeup.
Marlon told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "This will be a private ceremony. His hairstylist has made his hair special and a make-up artist has gone in and fixed him up so he's ready for the big day.
"This will be Michael's final curtain call - the last show. His shell will be gone but his spirit lives on."
After the ceremony - which will be attended by just a handful of family members and friends including Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross - Michael's coffin will be encased in thick concrete to protect it from grave robbers.
CCTV cameras and alarms will also protect the body.
Michael died of a cardiac arrest in June. His body has been stored in a refrigerated morgue at the cemetery ever since.
The LA County coroner officially ruled his death homicide on Friday.
Marlon claims he and the rest of the Jackson family blame Michael's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray - who is believed to have administered the powerful anaesthetic that killed the singer - for his death.
Marlon said: "Michael died and someone is to blame - and it's the doctor who was with him. Conrad Murray was the last person to be with Michael and he knows exactly what went on and he's not saying.
"I don't think anyone tried to kill Michael on purpose but something went wrong, something happened and, yes, some of my family do think it's murder.
"He had too many 'yes' men around him. I'm talking about the doctors who were around him, the people he had working for him. It's sad to say but these doctors would do anything for the money."
Prince Michael I, 12, Paris, 11 and seven-year-old Prince Michael II - also known as 'Blanket' - scrawled messages including "Daddy we love you" and "Daddy we miss you" on notes that will be buried with the 'King of Pop' on Thursday.
The singer's brother Marlon has spoken about the letters and other details of Michael's funeral, which will be held in the family's compound at Los Angeles' Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
He claims Michael will also be buried with his trademark white glove, and has been fitted with a new shoulder-length wig. The star's face has also been painted with full stage makeup.
Marlon told Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper: "This will be a private ceremony. His hairstylist has made his hair special and a make-up artist has gone in and fixed him up so he's ready for the big day.
"This will be Michael's final curtain call - the last show. His shell will be gone but his spirit lives on."
After the ceremony - which will be attended by just a handful of family members and friends including Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross - Michael's coffin will be encased in thick concrete to protect it from grave robbers.
CCTV cameras and alarms will also protect the body.
Michael died of a cardiac arrest in June. His body has been stored in a refrigerated morgue at the cemetery ever since.
The LA County coroner officially ruled his death homicide on Friday.
Marlon claims he and the rest of the Jackson family blame Michael's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray - who is believed to have administered the powerful anaesthetic that killed the singer - for his death.
Marlon said: "Michael died and someone is to blame - and it's the doctor who was with him. Conrad Murray was the last person to be with Michael and he knows exactly what went on and he's not saying.
"I don't think anyone tried to kill Michael on purpose but something went wrong, something happened and, yes, some of my family do think it's murder.
"He had too many 'yes' men around him. I'm talking about the doctors who were around him, the people he had working for him. It's sad to say but these doctors would do anything for the money."
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Michael Jackson -- Very Cash Poor
Michael Jackson -- Very Cash Poor
Posted Aug 25th 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has reviewed financial documents that show MIchael Jackson's cash flow was in the red zone. Jackson's liquid cash totaled .05% of his net worth.
According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Jackson's net worth was estimated at $1,360,839,979 on July 31, 2007. It's a fortune, to be sure ... but of that $1,150,000,000 is the Sony-ATV Publishing Trust (Beatles Catalog).
As for cold, hard "Cash in Bank" -- $668,215. Jackson could blow through that amount in a trip or two to the antique store.
The other assets:
-- Real property $73,475,000 (Neverland valued at $66,875,000, Encino Home valued at $6,600,000)
-- Restricted cash $10,696,764 (this is a cash reserve to pay interest on loans)
-- Media Archival materials $20,000,000
-- MJ Publishing Trust $85,000,000
-- Professional equipment $1,000,000
-- Automobiles, antiques, collectibles & other personal property $20,000,000
Combined assets total $1,360,839,979.
As for liabilities, the big ticket item is Neverland -- $323,000,000. The description "Notes payable to Fortress are collateralized by Mr. Jackson's interest in the Sony-ATV Publishing Trust and a partial security interest in the Los Olivos, California (Neverland) property. Additionally, as of March 31, 2007, the bank holds restricted cash in the approximate amount of $7,803,621. With other liabilities, the sum comes to $331,000,000."
Jackson's bottom line net worth was listed at $1,360,839,979. But the cash flow is pretty stunning.
Posted Aug 25th 2009 2:00AM by TMZ Staff
TMZ has reviewed financial documents that show MIchael Jackson's cash flow was in the red zone. Jackson's liquid cash totaled .05% of his net worth.
According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Jackson's net worth was estimated at $1,360,839,979 on July 31, 2007. It's a fortune, to be sure ... but of that $1,150,000,000 is the Sony-ATV Publishing Trust (Beatles Catalog).
As for cold, hard "Cash in Bank" -- $668,215. Jackson could blow through that amount in a trip or two to the antique store.
The other assets:
-- Real property $73,475,000 (Neverland valued at $66,875,000, Encino Home valued at $6,600,000)
-- Restricted cash $10,696,764 (this is a cash reserve to pay interest on loans)
-- Media Archival materials $20,000,000
-- MJ Publishing Trust $85,000,000
-- Professional equipment $1,000,000
-- Automobiles, antiques, collectibles & other personal property $20,000,000
Combined assets total $1,360,839,979.
As for liabilities, the big ticket item is Neverland -- $323,000,000. The description "Notes payable to Fortress are collateralized by Mr. Jackson's interest in the Sony-ATV Publishing Trust and a partial security interest in the Los Olivos, California (Neverland) property. Additionally, as of March 31, 2007, the bank holds restricted cash in the approximate amount of $7,803,621. With other liabilities, the sum comes to $331,000,000."
Jackson's bottom line net worth was listed at $1,360,839,979. But the cash flow is pretty stunning.
Michael Jackson Still Alive At Coroner's Office?
Michael Jackson Still Alive At Coroner's Office?
Video purports to show Jackson exit coroner vehicle
A video floating around the Internet claiming to show Michael Jackson 'still alive' is creating a bit of a stir. A description posted by user 'LosAngelesCot24' on Liveleak.com reads 'this video shows that Michael was still alive after his dead body was transported to the Los Angeles Dept. of Coroner. I checked the license plate number and it looks like the King of Pop is jumping out of the same van, his dead body has been in.'
The user claims to have obtained the video from a 'trustworthy source' but there's nothing to suggest the person exiting the coroner's vehicle is Michael Jackson and there is no time stamp on the video. Though 'LosAngelesCot24' offers the assurance 'it´s real and Michael is alive' it's almost certainly unrelated to the Jackson case. Still, videos like this are sure to fuel the conspiracy theorists who suggest the King of Pop is still alive.
Video purports to show Jackson exit coroner vehicle
A video floating around the Internet claiming to show Michael Jackson 'still alive' is creating a bit of a stir. A description posted by user 'LosAngelesCot24' on Liveleak.com reads 'this video shows that Michael was still alive after his dead body was transported to the Los Angeles Dept. of Coroner. I checked the license plate number and it looks like the King of Pop is jumping out of the same van, his dead body has been in.'
The user claims to have obtained the video from a 'trustworthy source' but there's nothing to suggest the person exiting the coroner's vehicle is Michael Jackson and there is no time stamp on the video. Though 'LosAngelesCot24' offers the assurance 'it´s real and Michael is alive' it's almost certainly unrelated to the Jackson case. Still, videos like this are sure to fuel the conspiracy theorists who suggest the King of Pop is still alive.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Michael Jackson 'self-harmed to get drugs'
Michael Jackson 'self-harmed' in the weeks before his death to convince his doctor to give him prescription drugs, it has been reported.
By Ben Leach
Published: 8:05AM BST 19 Aug 2009
Detectives believe Jackson deliberately injured himself to obtain painkillers, including Demerol, a strong painkiller that is believed to have been given to him shortly before he died.
Side-effects suffered by Jackson due to the cocktail of drugs he was taking included shaking fits, violent outbursts, hallucinations and "bouts of wailing during the night", it has been claimed.
Dr Murray is now the focus of a manslaughter probe. An unnamed source "close to the police investigation" told the Daily Mirror: “LAPD detectives have interviewed some 30-35 witnesses so far, and it has come to light that Michael was prone to self-harming.
“He’d bang his head against the wall, hit his fists and arms against furniture, anything to cause a cut or bruise. He wanted to convince his doctors that he’d had an accident and was in a lot of pain – a legitimate reason to ask for painkillers.
“This came up as part of the investigation into Michael’s drug-taking. So far there’s no evidence to prove or disprove the claims.”
Jackson was reportedly spending a reported £30,000 a month on prescription drugs. As well as narcotic pain reliever Vicodin, it’s claimed he took muscle relaxant Soma, sedative Xanax, antidepressant Zoloft, and heartburn pill Priolosec.
An unnamed "family source" told the Daily Mirror: “He made a huge deal about his injuries after rehearsals. He complained of back pain, pain in his joints, aching legs.
“Staff had their suspicions that he sometimes invented pain or hurt himself to get attention. Michael self-harmed mainly as an attention-seeking mechanism or to gain sympathy. He enjoyed being cared for. It was a huge cry for help.”
The family source said that the late singer’s self-harming goes back 16 years. In 1993, when 13-year-old Jordan Chandler’s father made allegations of child sex abuse against the star, his use of prescription drugs skyrocketed. The same thing happened in 2005 when Jackson faced abuse allegations from 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo.
A spokesman for the LAPD refused to comment on details of the investigation. Jackson will be buried on the Holly Terrace at the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
By Ben Leach
Published: 8:05AM BST 19 Aug 2009
Detectives believe Jackson deliberately injured himself to obtain painkillers, including Demerol, a strong painkiller that is believed to have been given to him shortly before he died.
Side-effects suffered by Jackson due to the cocktail of drugs he was taking included shaking fits, violent outbursts, hallucinations and "bouts of wailing during the night", it has been claimed.
Dr Murray is now the focus of a manslaughter probe. An unnamed source "close to the police investigation" told the Daily Mirror: “LAPD detectives have interviewed some 30-35 witnesses so far, and it has come to light that Michael was prone to self-harming.
“He’d bang his head against the wall, hit his fists and arms against furniture, anything to cause a cut or bruise. He wanted to convince his doctors that he’d had an accident and was in a lot of pain – a legitimate reason to ask for painkillers.
“This came up as part of the investigation into Michael’s drug-taking. So far there’s no evidence to prove or disprove the claims.”
Jackson was reportedly spending a reported £30,000 a month on prescription drugs. As well as narcotic pain reliever Vicodin, it’s claimed he took muscle relaxant Soma, sedative Xanax, antidepressant Zoloft, and heartburn pill Priolosec.
An unnamed "family source" told the Daily Mirror: “He made a huge deal about his injuries after rehearsals. He complained of back pain, pain in his joints, aching legs.
“Staff had their suspicions that he sometimes invented pain or hurt himself to get attention. Michael self-harmed mainly as an attention-seeking mechanism or to gain sympathy. He enjoyed being cared for. It was a huge cry for help.”
The family source said that the late singer’s self-harming goes back 16 years. In 1993, when 13-year-old Jordan Chandler’s father made allegations of child sex abuse against the star, his use of prescription drugs skyrocketed. The same thing happened in 2005 when Jackson faced abuse allegations from 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo.
A spokesman for the LAPD refused to comment on details of the investigation. Jackson will be buried on the Holly Terrace at the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Michael Jackson's personal artist shared pop king's vision
By Edna Gundersen, USA TODAY
SANTA FE — Artist David Nordahl was at home painting in February 1988 when the phone rang at midnight. A voice said, "This is Michael Jackson."
Yeah, riiiight, he thought. But he quickly realized the call was no prank.
While visiting Steven Spielberg's office, Jackson had admired one of Nordahl's paintings of Army troops invading an Apache camp as a young corporal shielded two Indian children. Now the singer was reaching out to the painter. For art lessons.
PICTURES: Images of the Jackson paintings
"He asked if I taught drawing and painting," says Nordahl, whose realist oils of 19th-century Apaches are highly prized. "I told him I didn't, but that I'd think about it. I was really busy."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Sony | Michael Jackson | Steven Spielberg | Michelangelo | 19th century | Lisa Marie Presley | Field of Dreams | Ryan White | The Day After | The Lone Ranger
Their hour-long conversation sparked a close friendship and working partnership that led Nordahl to abandon renown in the art world for a cloistered vocation as Jackson's portraitist. From 1988 to 2005, Nordahl completed thousands of drawings and roughly a dozen epic commissions, seven of which were among 2,000 Jackson items in Julien's authorized auction, which the singer sued to stop last spring.
Many canvases encapsulate Jackson's grandiose fantasies and fairy-tale worldview. In a massive triptych, he is crowned and knighted in royal robes. Along the sunlit path in Field of Dreams, he leads children of all nationalities (plus sister Janet, AIDS activist Ryan White and actor Macaulay Culkin). His firstborn son snoozes on an oversized golden throne in Prince, The Boy King.
Nordahl, 68, became not only Jackson's favorite living artist (Michelangelo led the historic ranking) but a trusted adviser and confidant who designed Neverland carnival rides and joined family outings.
He ducked the media for years, "because they wanted to talk about negative stuff, and I don't know anything bad about Michael," the soft-spoken Nordahl says, sitting with artist/wife Lori Peterson and frisky cat Scooter in a living room crowded with paintings by the couple. He's speaking now in hopes of brightening a picture darkened since Jackson's death June 25.
"I always thought of him as normal," he says. "He's the most thoughtful, respectful person I've ever met. In 20 years, I never heard him raise his voice."
Early days: Brainstorming
Nordahl's Jackson period began after the singer invited him to the Denver stop of the Bad tour in March 1988.
"I didn't know what to expect," Nordahl says. "He was sweet. We went to galleries, bookstores and a private showing of the King Tut exhibit. We sat around and laughed and talked and drew."
Jackson demonstrated talent but was stretched too thin to pursue visual arts. Instead, the two began hatching ideas for Nordahl to paint. The artist conceived the inaugural work, Playmates for a Lonely Child, a 41-inch-square oil of Jackson in a sylvan storybook scene. Next Nordahl embarked on a far bolder statement, Field of Dreams, a 36-by-104-inch oil study for an unfinished work that would have measured 12 by 38 feet.
He labored non-stop: large portraits, mythical tableaux, 10-foot charcoal drawings, a plaque on the Neverland gate. Nordahl billed Jackson in line with his earlier gallery rates, up to $150,000 for large pieces, and says he was always paid.
His duties expanded to amusement park design after Jackson began developing the ranch north of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Nordahl juggled several projects while adapting to Jackson's enchanted lifestyle. At Neverland, the two tested rides and tended the exotic menagerie.
They took trips to Disneyland and spent time at billionaire Ron Burkle's La Jolla, Calif., estate, where Jackson's insomnia often meant Nordahl was enlisted for wee-hour practical jokes and beachside chats. (He also was a victim of Jackson's notorious tricks, once finding his briefcase stuffed with bubblegum.)
He discovered the unglamorous Jackson, who in the late '80s often drove by himself in a Chevy Blazer (and relieved himself in a bucket because he couldn't risk being mobbed at gas stations) and lived in a two-bedroom Los Angeles condo.
"I expected a penthouse with maids," Nordahl says. "There was a grand piano pushed into the kitchen, a popcorn machine and a good sound system. The other furniture, you couldn't have gotten 50 bucks for it at a garage sale. Before the kids, Michael lived real simply."
What fueled this bromance?
"I grew up in a difficult home, and he did too," says Nordahl, whom Jackson thanks in liner notes for 1991's Dangerous and 1995's HIStory. "We had no playtime growing up. We're both fanatical about work.
"There was a bond."
Nordahl's youth troubled, too
Born in Albert Lea, Minn., Nordahl left home at 12 and supported himself through high school by working on farms, pinstriping cars and selling his art.
"I can't remember not drawing," he says. "I had an abusive, alcoholic father, and drawing is something that takes you out of the real world. I was always interested in cowboys and Indians. I sold drawings of the Lone Ranger to my classmates."
He began specializing in Apaches after moving to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 1977, and his detailed, meticulously researched depictions soon lured collectors.
"His work had a lot of integrity, and he was one of those rare artists who was humble but extremely talented," says prominent Santa Fe art dealer Ray Dewey, who held lotteries to determine buyers of Nordahl's work because of high demand.
"His technique took a long time, so he was not prolific. When he talked to me about leaving to paint for Michael Jackson, I had over 200 people on a waiting list for his work. It was an interesting decision on his part.
"I think what Jackson saw in David was a complete artist," Dewey says. "He was a perfectionist. He choreographed everything. Jackson also may have seen his commitment to family. David primarily painted the Apache people's culture and lifeways, but he painted a lot of children, not just warriors. And he painted animals beautifully, especially horses."
What Nordahl saw in Jackson was a wounded and misunderstood genius who felt spiritually obligated to help children.
Though Jackson was acquitted in his 2005 child sexual abuse trial, it "broke his spirit," Nordahl says. "Michael would never molest a child. He always felt so bad for kids who were mistreated or sick. He spent so much time with critically ill kids. If a mother called about a dying child somewhere, he'd jump on a plane.
"People talked about Neverland being his private amusement park. It was always meant for kids. The last time I was at the ranch, they put up a big Sony JumboTron across from a condo building for sick children, so if kids woke up at night, cartoons would be on."
'Michael was a real dad'
Nordahl was bewildered that Jackson seemed to elicit more mockery than sympathy.
"People accused him of trying to be white, which is ridiculous," he says. "When I first met him, his vitiligo (a skin disorder that causes pigmentation loss) had gone to the right side of his face and down his neck. Most of his right hand was white. Stark white patches. He used makeup because he had to. Without it, he was speckled all over."
Nordahl never witnessed drug use by Jackson but was keenly aware of pain problems that lingered after the star's hair caught fire on a Pepsi ad soundstage.
"When they were trying to repair that burned spot, he had a balloon under his scalp that was inflated," Nordahl says. "He let me feel it. It was a huge mound. As the skin got stretched, they cut it out and stitched the scalp. He was in excruciating pain."
Jackson seemed an unlikely addict, Nordahl says, noting his avoidance of cigarettes, alcohol, soft drinks and sugar.
"He was mostly a vegetarian," he says. "When he was on tour, the cooks would make him eat fish and sometimes chicken. He loved little chicken wings. He always drank water. I shared wine with him only twice, once with (ex-wife) Lisa Marie (Presley) and once at Ron Burkle's house. Michael had one glass."
The clearest evidence of Jackson's responsible nature emerged in his parenting of Prince, Paris and Blanket.
"Michael was a real dad, not a Hollywood dad," he says. "He'd get up at night to feed them bottles. He'd change them, bathe them, everything a mother does.
"All the time I spent with those kids, I never heard them beg for anything or throw a fit. I never heard them cry. They were so well-adjusted."
Jackson took pains not to spoil his children, says Nordahl, recalling a modest eighth birthday party in L.A. for Prince. (Jackson's mother, Katherine, and sister Rebbie came over but skipped the festivities because of their Jehovah's Witness beliefs, he says.)
"I was curious to see what Prince was going to get," Nordahl says. "I figured it would be pretty extravagant, but he didn't get one thing that cost over $2. He got Play-Doh, little action figures, things we'd call stocking stuffers.
"The kids were not allowed to watch TV or DVDs or play video games" except through points earned by their schoolwork. "Nothing was given to them. Michael said, 'I want them to grow up as close to normal as possible.' Those kids were so respectful and courteous, just sweet."
Surprise visit to Santa Fe
Nordahl grew close to all three. Typically, the artist spent time with the Jackson brood on the West Coast. But over Memorial Day weekend in 2004, the star and his tykes surprised Nordahl by visiting Santa Fe via Jackson's plush private bus (with a 60-inch plasma TV). Jackson suggested a movie outing.
"I thought we were going to a screening room," Nordahl says. "His driver pulled into DeVargas Mall. He was friends with (Roland Emmerich), the director of The Day After Tomorrow, and it was opening weekend. The mall was jammed, and there was no place to park. I took the kids, got the tickets and popcorn, and we went in. Michael came in after the lights went down.
"The lights came up, and nobody noticed him. He had on a baseball cap and these Chinese silk pajamas. The kids had no masks on. Any of those rags would have paid $100,000 for that picture."
Paintings' future unclear
He last saw Jackson in 2005, when the singer moved to Bahrain and vowed never again to live on U.S. soil. Accustomed to lulls when Jackson was overseas or overextended, Nordahl resumed painting Apaches and presumed he'd be summoned once Jackson found a new home and showcase for his treasures.
The fate of Nordahl's Jackson paintings is in limbo, though they may be part of a touring exhibition of the singer's memorabilia proposed by the estate administrators. "I would like to see them in a Michael Jackson museum," Nordahl says. "That was always Michael's goal. He was very self-effacing, but he understood he was a music icon."
Nordahl, represented by Settlers West Galleries in Tucson and Sherwoods Spirit of America in Santa Fe, has returned to painting Apaches and other subjects.
Whether his extended hiatus from the public eye damaged his authority or reputation "is difficult to gauge," Dewey says. "I don't know if it furthered his career. An artist who does commissions for one patron often is just isolated unless the patron publishes or exhibits the work. David's always been independent, and he's never sought publicity."
And how many patrons are the King of Pop?
"We got to be such good friends that I forgot who I was hanging out with," Nordahl says. "Then he'd break into these dance moves, quick as lightning, and it would dawn on me: He's the best entertainer in the world."
SANTA FE — Artist David Nordahl was at home painting in February 1988 when the phone rang at midnight. A voice said, "This is Michael Jackson."
Yeah, riiiight, he thought. But he quickly realized the call was no prank.
While visiting Steven Spielberg's office, Jackson had admired one of Nordahl's paintings of Army troops invading an Apache camp as a young corporal shielded two Indian children. Now the singer was reaching out to the painter. For art lessons.
PICTURES: Images of the Jackson paintings
"He asked if I taught drawing and painting," says Nordahl, whose realist oils of 19th-century Apaches are highly prized. "I told him I didn't, but that I'd think about it. I was really busy."
FIND MORE STORIES IN: Sony | Michael Jackson | Steven Spielberg | Michelangelo | 19th century | Lisa Marie Presley | Field of Dreams | Ryan White | The Day After | The Lone Ranger
Their hour-long conversation sparked a close friendship and working partnership that led Nordahl to abandon renown in the art world for a cloistered vocation as Jackson's portraitist. From 1988 to 2005, Nordahl completed thousands of drawings and roughly a dozen epic commissions, seven of which were among 2,000 Jackson items in Julien's authorized auction, which the singer sued to stop last spring.
Many canvases encapsulate Jackson's grandiose fantasies and fairy-tale worldview. In a massive triptych, he is crowned and knighted in royal robes. Along the sunlit path in Field of Dreams, he leads children of all nationalities (plus sister Janet, AIDS activist Ryan White and actor Macaulay Culkin). His firstborn son snoozes on an oversized golden throne in Prince, The Boy King.
Nordahl, 68, became not only Jackson's favorite living artist (Michelangelo led the historic ranking) but a trusted adviser and confidant who designed Neverland carnival rides and joined family outings.
He ducked the media for years, "because they wanted to talk about negative stuff, and I don't know anything bad about Michael," the soft-spoken Nordahl says, sitting with artist/wife Lori Peterson and frisky cat Scooter in a living room crowded with paintings by the couple. He's speaking now in hopes of brightening a picture darkened since Jackson's death June 25.
"I always thought of him as normal," he says. "He's the most thoughtful, respectful person I've ever met. In 20 years, I never heard him raise his voice."
Early days: Brainstorming
Nordahl's Jackson period began after the singer invited him to the Denver stop of the Bad tour in March 1988.
"I didn't know what to expect," Nordahl says. "He was sweet. We went to galleries, bookstores and a private showing of the King Tut exhibit. We sat around and laughed and talked and drew."
Jackson demonstrated talent but was stretched too thin to pursue visual arts. Instead, the two began hatching ideas for Nordahl to paint. The artist conceived the inaugural work, Playmates for a Lonely Child, a 41-inch-square oil of Jackson in a sylvan storybook scene. Next Nordahl embarked on a far bolder statement, Field of Dreams, a 36-by-104-inch oil study for an unfinished work that would have measured 12 by 38 feet.
He labored non-stop: large portraits, mythical tableaux, 10-foot charcoal drawings, a plaque on the Neverland gate. Nordahl billed Jackson in line with his earlier gallery rates, up to $150,000 for large pieces, and says he was always paid.
His duties expanded to amusement park design after Jackson began developing the ranch north of Santa Barbara, Calif., and Nordahl juggled several projects while adapting to Jackson's enchanted lifestyle. At Neverland, the two tested rides and tended the exotic menagerie.
They took trips to Disneyland and spent time at billionaire Ron Burkle's La Jolla, Calif., estate, where Jackson's insomnia often meant Nordahl was enlisted for wee-hour practical jokes and beachside chats. (He also was a victim of Jackson's notorious tricks, once finding his briefcase stuffed with bubblegum.)
He discovered the unglamorous Jackson, who in the late '80s often drove by himself in a Chevy Blazer (and relieved himself in a bucket because he couldn't risk being mobbed at gas stations) and lived in a two-bedroom Los Angeles condo.
"I expected a penthouse with maids," Nordahl says. "There was a grand piano pushed into the kitchen, a popcorn machine and a good sound system. The other furniture, you couldn't have gotten 50 bucks for it at a garage sale. Before the kids, Michael lived real simply."
What fueled this bromance?
"I grew up in a difficult home, and he did too," says Nordahl, whom Jackson thanks in liner notes for 1991's Dangerous and 1995's HIStory. "We had no playtime growing up. We're both fanatical about work.
"There was a bond."
Nordahl's youth troubled, too
Born in Albert Lea, Minn., Nordahl left home at 12 and supported himself through high school by working on farms, pinstriping cars and selling his art.
"I can't remember not drawing," he says. "I had an abusive, alcoholic father, and drawing is something that takes you out of the real world. I was always interested in cowboys and Indians. I sold drawings of the Lone Ranger to my classmates."
He began specializing in Apaches after moving to Steamboat Springs, Colo., in 1977, and his detailed, meticulously researched depictions soon lured collectors.
"His work had a lot of integrity, and he was one of those rare artists who was humble but extremely talented," says prominent Santa Fe art dealer Ray Dewey, who held lotteries to determine buyers of Nordahl's work because of high demand.
"His technique took a long time, so he was not prolific. When he talked to me about leaving to paint for Michael Jackson, I had over 200 people on a waiting list for his work. It was an interesting decision on his part.
"I think what Jackson saw in David was a complete artist," Dewey says. "He was a perfectionist. He choreographed everything. Jackson also may have seen his commitment to family. David primarily painted the Apache people's culture and lifeways, but he painted a lot of children, not just warriors. And he painted animals beautifully, especially horses."
What Nordahl saw in Jackson was a wounded and misunderstood genius who felt spiritually obligated to help children.
Though Jackson was acquitted in his 2005 child sexual abuse trial, it "broke his spirit," Nordahl says. "Michael would never molest a child. He always felt so bad for kids who were mistreated or sick. He spent so much time with critically ill kids. If a mother called about a dying child somewhere, he'd jump on a plane.
"People talked about Neverland being his private amusement park. It was always meant for kids. The last time I was at the ranch, they put up a big Sony JumboTron across from a condo building for sick children, so if kids woke up at night, cartoons would be on."
'Michael was a real dad'
Nordahl was bewildered that Jackson seemed to elicit more mockery than sympathy.
"People accused him of trying to be white, which is ridiculous," he says. "When I first met him, his vitiligo (a skin disorder that causes pigmentation loss) had gone to the right side of his face and down his neck. Most of his right hand was white. Stark white patches. He used makeup because he had to. Without it, he was speckled all over."
Nordahl never witnessed drug use by Jackson but was keenly aware of pain problems that lingered after the star's hair caught fire on a Pepsi ad soundstage.
"When they were trying to repair that burned spot, he had a balloon under his scalp that was inflated," Nordahl says. "He let me feel it. It was a huge mound. As the skin got stretched, they cut it out and stitched the scalp. He was in excruciating pain."
Jackson seemed an unlikely addict, Nordahl says, noting his avoidance of cigarettes, alcohol, soft drinks and sugar.
"He was mostly a vegetarian," he says. "When he was on tour, the cooks would make him eat fish and sometimes chicken. He loved little chicken wings. He always drank water. I shared wine with him only twice, once with (ex-wife) Lisa Marie (Presley) and once at Ron Burkle's house. Michael had one glass."
The clearest evidence of Jackson's responsible nature emerged in his parenting of Prince, Paris and Blanket.
"Michael was a real dad, not a Hollywood dad," he says. "He'd get up at night to feed them bottles. He'd change them, bathe them, everything a mother does.
"All the time I spent with those kids, I never heard them beg for anything or throw a fit. I never heard them cry. They were so well-adjusted."
Jackson took pains not to spoil his children, says Nordahl, recalling a modest eighth birthday party in L.A. for Prince. (Jackson's mother, Katherine, and sister Rebbie came over but skipped the festivities because of their Jehovah's Witness beliefs, he says.)
"I was curious to see what Prince was going to get," Nordahl says. "I figured it would be pretty extravagant, but he didn't get one thing that cost over $2. He got Play-Doh, little action figures, things we'd call stocking stuffers.
"The kids were not allowed to watch TV or DVDs or play video games" except through points earned by their schoolwork. "Nothing was given to them. Michael said, 'I want them to grow up as close to normal as possible.' Those kids were so respectful and courteous, just sweet."
Surprise visit to Santa Fe
Nordahl grew close to all three. Typically, the artist spent time with the Jackson brood on the West Coast. But over Memorial Day weekend in 2004, the star and his tykes surprised Nordahl by visiting Santa Fe via Jackson's plush private bus (with a 60-inch plasma TV). Jackson suggested a movie outing.
"I thought we were going to a screening room," Nordahl says. "His driver pulled into DeVargas Mall. He was friends with (Roland Emmerich), the director of The Day After Tomorrow, and it was opening weekend. The mall was jammed, and there was no place to park. I took the kids, got the tickets and popcorn, and we went in. Michael came in after the lights went down.
"The lights came up, and nobody noticed him. He had on a baseball cap and these Chinese silk pajamas. The kids had no masks on. Any of those rags would have paid $100,000 for that picture."
Paintings' future unclear
He last saw Jackson in 2005, when the singer moved to Bahrain and vowed never again to live on U.S. soil. Accustomed to lulls when Jackson was overseas or overextended, Nordahl resumed painting Apaches and presumed he'd be summoned once Jackson found a new home and showcase for his treasures.
The fate of Nordahl's Jackson paintings is in limbo, though they may be part of a touring exhibition of the singer's memorabilia proposed by the estate administrators. "I would like to see them in a Michael Jackson museum," Nordahl says. "That was always Michael's goal. He was very self-effacing, but he understood he was a music icon."
Nordahl, represented by Settlers West Galleries in Tucson and Sherwoods Spirit of America in Santa Fe, has returned to painting Apaches and other subjects.
Whether his extended hiatus from the public eye damaged his authority or reputation "is difficult to gauge," Dewey says. "I don't know if it furthered his career. An artist who does commissions for one patron often is just isolated unless the patron publishes or exhibits the work. David's always been independent, and he's never sought publicity."
And how many patrons are the King of Pop?
"We got to be such good friends that I forgot who I was hanging out with," Nordahl says. "Then he'd break into these dance moves, quick as lightning, and it would dawn on me: He's the best entertainer in the world."
Michael Jackson's burial postponed
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Michael Jackson's father, Joe, says the U.S. pop star's burial in California has been postponed two days.
Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50. The cause of his death is still under investigation.
A public memorial was held for the singer July 7, but his body has not been interred yet.
His family announced recently that he would be interred in the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, Calif., on Aug. 29, what would have been his 51st birthday.
However, Joe Jackson told TMZ Thursday the burial has been rescheduled for Aug. 31 because there are still matters the family needs to get in order.
Jackson died June 25 at the age of 50. The cause of his death is still under investigation.
A public memorial was held for the singer July 7, but his body has not been interred yet.
His family announced recently that he would be interred in the Great Mausoleum in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, Calif., on Aug. 29, what would have been his 51st birthday.
However, Joe Jackson told TMZ Thursday the burial has been rescheduled for Aug. 31 because there are still matters the family needs to get in order.
Tickets to Michael Jackson movie go on sale September 27
By Alan Duke
CNN
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The film about Michael Jackson's final three months, which uses video of rehearsals for his concert comeback, will run in theaters worldwide for two weeks only beginning October 28, according to Sony Pictures.
Footage from Michael Jackson's rehearsals for 50 London shows will be used in "This Is It."
Tickets for "Michael Jackson: This Is it" go on sale Sunday, September 27, Sony said in a news release Thursday.
"Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show," Sony said.
Kenny Ortega, who was working with Jackson to create the "This Is It" concert, is also directing the documentary.
"As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture, we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius' world."
Ortega said "This Is It" "may go down as the greatest concert that no one got a chance to see," since the pop singer died three weeks before it was to debut in the O2 Arena in London, England. "But with this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work."
Sony began editing the film last week after concert promoter AEG Live handed over about 100 hours of video it shot during April, May and June 2009.
The initial release date was set for October 30, but Sony said it decided the "special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide" would be moved up two days.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the deal last week to allow the special administrators of Jackson's estate to sign a contract with Sony and AEG Live to allow the production.
The judge has yet to decide on a deal that would allow AEG Live to conduct a three-city tour of a Michael Jackson memorabilia exhibition to coincide with the film's release.
CNN
LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The film about Michael Jackson's final three months, which uses video of rehearsals for his concert comeback, will run in theaters worldwide for two weeks only beginning October 28, according to Sony Pictures.
Footage from Michael Jackson's rehearsals for 50 London shows will be used in "This Is It."
Tickets for "Michael Jackson: This Is it" go on sale Sunday, September 27, Sony said in a news release Thursday.
"Audiences will be given a privileged and private look at the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, and genius as he creates and perfects his final show," Sony said.
Kenny Ortega, who was working with Jackson to create the "This Is It" concert, is also directing the documentary.
"As we began assembling the footage for the motion picture, we realized we captured something extraordinary, unique and very special," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius' world."
Ortega said "This Is It" "may go down as the greatest concert that no one got a chance to see," since the pop singer died three weeks before it was to debut in the O2 Arena in London, England. "But with this film, we get a rare portrait of Michael as he prepares for his final curtain call and what I believe was going to be his master work."
Sony began editing the film last week after concert promoter AEG Live handed over about 100 hours of video it shot during April, May and June 2009.
The initial release date was set for October 30, but Sony said it decided the "special, limited, two-week engagement worldwide" would be moved up two days.
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge approved the deal last week to allow the special administrators of Jackson's estate to sign a contract with Sony and AEG Live to allow the production.
The judge has yet to decide on a deal that would allow AEG Live to conduct a three-city tour of a Michael Jackson memorabilia exhibition to coincide with the film's release.
Warhol painting of Michael Jackson sold at auction
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A portrait of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson, painted pop art icon Andy Warhol has been sold at auction in New York for an undisclosed amount.
Janet Lehr, owner of the Vered Gallery on New York's Long Island, said the painting was sold Tuesday night, and while one report said the price was in excess of $1 million, Lehr declined to give a figure.
The average auction price for a Warhol in recent years has hovered around $17 million, and the top price paid for one of his works at auction was $71 million for a piece called "Car Crash." The high for one of the artist's portraits was $28 million for a Marilyn Monroe picture titled "Lemon Marilyn."
Warhol's Jackson portrait was painted in 1984 and commissioned to celebrate record-breaking sales of the singer's album "Thriller."
Jackson died on June 25 of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles at age 50, only days before he was to have begun a series of comeback concerts at London's O2 arena.
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis)
Janet Lehr, owner of the Vered Gallery on New York's Long Island, said the painting was sold Tuesday night, and while one report said the price was in excess of $1 million, Lehr declined to give a figure.
The average auction price for a Warhol in recent years has hovered around $17 million, and the top price paid for one of his works at auction was $71 million for a piece called "Car Crash." The high for one of the artist's portraits was $28 million for a Marilyn Monroe picture titled "Lemon Marilyn."
Warhol's Jackson portrait was painted in 1984 and commissioned to celebrate record-breaking sales of the singer's album "Thriller."
Jackson died on June 25 of cardiac arrest in Los Angeles at age 50, only days before he was to have begun a series of comeback concerts at London's O2 arena.
(Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis)
Jackson `This Is It' film gets 2-week limited run
LOS ANGELES – A Michael Jackson film built around rehearsal footage left behind after his death will be released in a limited two-week theatrical engagement worldwide.
Distributor Sony announced Thursday that the release date for "Michael Jackson: This Is It" has been moved up to Oct. 28, two days earlier than previously announced. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27.
The studio also announced longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega is directing "This Is It," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jackson preparing for a series of London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25.
Ortega had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concert tour, which had been planned as a colossal 50-show engagement at London's O2 Arena. His other credits include the "High School Musical" movies and an upcoming remake of "Footloose."
"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It' collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project."
Sony paid $60 million for rights to the film, which will be drawn from more than 100 hours of footage shot in Los Angeles between April and June as Jackson prepared for the concerts that were to begin in July.
The filmmakers initially intended to include some 3-D footage but have dropped that plan. The film will show Jackson working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts, Ortega said.
Distributor Sony announced Thursday that the release date for "Michael Jackson: This Is It" has been moved up to Oct. 28, two days earlier than previously announced. Tickets go on sale Sept. 27.
The studio also announced longtime Jackson collaborator Kenny Ortega is directing "This Is It," which offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Jackson preparing for a series of London shows he was rehearsing when he died June 25.
Ortega had been working with Jackson on the "This Is It" concert tour, which had been planned as a colossal 50-show engagement at London's O2 Arena. His other credits include the "High School Musical" movies and an upcoming remake of "Footloose."
"This film is Michael's gift to his fans," Ortega said. "It's a very private, exclusive look into a creative genius's world. For the first time ever, fans will see Michael as they have never seen him before — this great artist at work. It is raw, emotional, moving and powerful footage that captures his interactions with the `This Is It' collaborators that he had personally assembled for this once in a lifetime project."
Sony paid $60 million for rights to the film, which will be drawn from more than 100 hours of footage shot in Los Angeles between April and June as Jackson prepared for the concerts that were to begin in July.
The filmmakers initially intended to include some 3-D footage but have dropped that plan. The film will show Jackson working with singers, dancers, musicians, choreographers and special-effects experts, Ortega said.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
MICHAEL JACKSON - JACKSON'S BODY MOVED AND FROZEN
MICHAEL JACKSON's body has been moved in secret to a new crypt, where it's been frozen.
The superstar's remains were originally entombed in a crypt owned by Motown boss Berry Gordy's family at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Cemetery - but a U.S. newspaper claims his mother Katherine has moved him in secret to another building in the complex, where his body is being kept below freezing.
The New York Post suggests Katherine feared grave robbers would attempt to steal the body or desecrate his grave - so she arranged for the switch and has been visiting him two or three times a week.
Sources tell the newspaper the 79-year-old matriarch is delaying his permanent interment as she struggles to come to terms with his death, and has already pulled the plug on plans to bury him in a plot on the Gordy compound.
The superstar's remains were originally entombed in a crypt owned by Motown boss Berry Gordy's family at Hollywood's Forest Lawn Cemetery - but a U.S. newspaper claims his mother Katherine has moved him in secret to another building in the complex, where his body is being kept below freezing.
The New York Post suggests Katherine feared grave robbers would attempt to steal the body or desecrate his grave - so she arranged for the switch and has been visiting him two or three times a week.
Sources tell the newspaper the 79-year-old matriarch is delaying his permanent interment as she struggles to come to terms with his death, and has already pulled the plug on plans to bury him in a plot on the Gordy compound.
Blanket's mother revealed - report
The surrogate mother of Michael Jackson's youngest son is a Mexican nurse.
The woman, known only as Helena, was reportedly paid $20,000 by the late pop legend to become a surrogate for Prince Michael II, known as 'Blanket', when a mystery woman's egg was fertilised with the Thriller singer's sperm and implanted into her.
Despite persistent rumours about who fathered 'Blanket', the birth certificate reveals Michael is the biological dad but the name of the mother has been left blank.
A friend of Michael - who already had two children, Prince Michael I and Paris, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe when 'Blanket' was born - said: "Michael wanted a designer baby. He had two wonderful children but wanted one more and was quite specific on the gene pool he wanted to tap into to."
A string of women were introduced to Michael and he decided on Helena as he thought she was perfect.
The friend added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He chose Helena because she had a latino background but she was also a US citizen and had quite fair skin. He liked her because she was very attractive and seemed stable and intelligent. She was a nurse or medical assistant, which he also liked."
However, as an unnamed egg donor was used, 'Blanket' - who was born on February 21 2002 at a San Diego hospital - wouldn't have inherited any of her physical attributes.
As soon as he entered the world, 'Blanket' was whisked to Michael's Neverland ranch after the egg donor signed over all of her legal rights to the child.
Meanwhile, police investigating the death of Michael have raided a Las Vegas pharmacy to try and find evidence linked to the singer's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray.
Agents searched the property, which is located between Murray's home and office, for about 90 minutes as they continue their investigation into the doctor, who is being probed for manslaughter.
Authorities previously searched Murray's Las Vegas home and offices in Las Vegas and Houston, looking in particular for evidence he had acquired the powerful anaesthetic Propofol, which Michael is believed to have been given by Murray on the day of his death.
Michael passed away on June 25 from a suspected cardiac arrest and earlier this week his body was finally laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery.
The woman, known only as Helena, was reportedly paid $20,000 by the late pop legend to become a surrogate for Prince Michael II, known as 'Blanket', when a mystery woman's egg was fertilised with the Thriller singer's sperm and implanted into her.
Despite persistent rumours about who fathered 'Blanket', the birth certificate reveals Michael is the biological dad but the name of the mother has been left blank.
A friend of Michael - who already had two children, Prince Michael I and Paris, with ex-wife Debbie Rowe when 'Blanket' was born - said: "Michael wanted a designer baby. He had two wonderful children but wanted one more and was quite specific on the gene pool he wanted to tap into to."
A string of women were introduced to Michael and he decided on Helena as he thought she was perfect.
The friend added to Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper: "He chose Helena because she had a latino background but she was also a US citizen and had quite fair skin. He liked her because she was very attractive and seemed stable and intelligent. She was a nurse or medical assistant, which he also liked."
However, as an unnamed egg donor was used, 'Blanket' - who was born on February 21 2002 at a San Diego hospital - wouldn't have inherited any of her physical attributes.
As soon as he entered the world, 'Blanket' was whisked to Michael's Neverland ranch after the egg donor signed over all of her legal rights to the child.
Meanwhile, police investigating the death of Michael have raided a Las Vegas pharmacy to try and find evidence linked to the singer's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray.
Agents searched the property, which is located between Murray's home and office, for about 90 minutes as they continue their investigation into the doctor, who is being probed for manslaughter.
Authorities previously searched Murray's Las Vegas home and offices in Las Vegas and Houston, looking in particular for evidence he had acquired the powerful anaesthetic Propofol, which Michael is believed to have been given by Murray on the day of his death.
Michael passed away on June 25 from a suspected cardiac arrest and earlier this week his body was finally laid to rest at a Los Angeles cemetery.
Michael Jackson's estate 'flooded' with cash
Michael Jackson has earned £60 million (NZ$145 million) since his death.
Executors of the singer's estate claim money from a film deal and merchandising contracts has "flooded" into Michael's bank accounts since he died in June.
They predict the pop superstar will make another £60 million by the end of the year, and expect him to overtake Nirvana rocker Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley - who have made £450 million and £362 million respectively from beyond the grave - as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the next 12 months.
Lawyer John Branca, who is co-executor of Michael's estate, said: "Clearly this will be a new record for estates that likely will not be broken. Elvis' estate makes £33 million a year. This will be a bigger estate."
Branca and fellow co-executor, music executive John McClain, have put together a series of deals for commemorative coins, school supplies, a coffee-table book and a film.
They have also been retrieving funds held for Michael by anonymous creditors, thought to amount to "several million pounds", and tallying the value of the singer's property, memorabilia and art collections.
While Michael's earnings steadily increase, his older sister La Toya has spoken about her grief at her sibling's passing.
She said: "It's a very difficult moment for all of us. It's almost - you don't believe it - so you try to do the best you can by feeling his love, by helping and doing something he would want you to do."
Meanwhile, law enforcement sources claim Michael's doctor Conrad Murray had Propofol hidden in the singer's house.
Police officers found three large bottles and five smaller vials of the anaesthetic stashed in a closet in Murray's bedroom at the star's Los Angeles home.
They also believe Murray received regular shipments of the powerful drug - reportedly used to help Michael sleep, and believed to have played a part in his death - through courier service FedEx, which he then hid in other locations.
The search warrant used to raid the Las Vegas pharmacy frequented by Murray showed investigators were looking for FedEx records relating to "the purchase, transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of Propofol to Dr Conrad Murray".
Police were also looking for credit card receipts relating to a purchase of Propofol the doctor made in May.
Executors of the singer's estate claim money from a film deal and merchandising contracts has "flooded" into Michael's bank accounts since he died in June.
They predict the pop superstar will make another £60 million by the end of the year, and expect him to overtake Nirvana rocker Kurt Cobain and Elvis Presley - who have made £450 million and £362 million respectively from beyond the grave - as the highest-earning dead celebrity in the next 12 months.
Lawyer John Branca, who is co-executor of Michael's estate, said: "Clearly this will be a new record for estates that likely will not be broken. Elvis' estate makes £33 million a year. This will be a bigger estate."
Branca and fellow co-executor, music executive John McClain, have put together a series of deals for commemorative coins, school supplies, a coffee-table book and a film.
They have also been retrieving funds held for Michael by anonymous creditors, thought to amount to "several million pounds", and tallying the value of the singer's property, memorabilia and art collections.
While Michael's earnings steadily increase, his older sister La Toya has spoken about her grief at her sibling's passing.
She said: "It's a very difficult moment for all of us. It's almost - you don't believe it - so you try to do the best you can by feeling his love, by helping and doing something he would want you to do."
Meanwhile, law enforcement sources claim Michael's doctor Conrad Murray had Propofol hidden in the singer's house.
Police officers found three large bottles and five smaller vials of the anaesthetic stashed in a closet in Murray's bedroom at the star's Los Angeles home.
They also believe Murray received regular shipments of the powerful drug - reportedly used to help Michael sleep, and believed to have played a part in his death - through courier service FedEx, which he then hid in other locations.
The search warrant used to raid the Las Vegas pharmacy frequented by Murray showed investigators were looking for FedEx records relating to "the purchase, transfer, receiving, ordering, delivery and storage of Propofol to Dr Conrad Murray".
Police were also looking for credit card receipts relating to a purchase of Propofol the doctor made in May.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Michael Jackson's mom played role in business, too
Michael Jackson's mom played role in business, too
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY and LINDA DEUTSCH (AP) – 1 hour ago
NEW YORK — Entering into a business relationship with Michael Jackson rarely meant a long-lasting partnership. Over time, especially in the waning years of his life, Jackson hired — then fired — a litany of associates, from managers to attorneys to publicists.
Most were dispatched after the relationship soured, and the trust had evaporated.
Perhaps the one exception in his financial life was Jackson's mother, Katherine.
Jackson relied on his 79-year-old mother for more than emotional support: Documents show he put her in the position of trustee on contracts, including his lucrative Sony-ATV catalog, and associates say he also sought her input on other financial matters as he became more wary of those in his business circle.
"Any deal Michael did, he always called his mother up," said Steve Manning, a close friend of the Jackson family. "She was the backbone of his spirit."
"What he trusted was that she would make sure that his wishes were carried out," said Mrs. Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, who is representing her interests as the singer's estate is sorted out. "He understood that she was the most loyal person in his life. Her loyalty did not stop for Michael with merely personal matters."
But Jackson's last known will, drafted in 2002, left his mother, along with his three children, out of any decision-making role in his estate, leaving her only as a beneficiary.
Attorney John Branca and Jackson's former manager and close friend, John McClain, were named (along with a third party who has since removed himself) as the only people with the authority to guide his business matters after his death.
Mrs. Jackson is trying to change that, seeking to gain some kind of control over her late son's estate. The Jackson matriarch is adamant that she — or even another family member — have a role over Michael Jackson's business legacy, which may be worth more in death than when he was alive. Some estimates have valued his estate at $500 million.
Mrs. Jackson has filed a motion to determine whether contesting the two executors would lead to disinheritance — Jackson's will had a no-contest clause.
"She is concerned about how the trust is going to be managed. She wants to make sure that she has a seat at the table and the family has a seat at the table," said Dean Hansell, an attorney who spoke for Mrs. Jackson in court Monday. "She wants that and she has been coming up against resistance."
But in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Branca said he is amenable to having Mrs. Jackson, or someone in the family, in a trustee role.
"We are going to have a meaningful conversation with her about having one of her family members become a co-trustee," Branca said. "Our number one priority is to make sure this estate is run effectively."
Throughout the years, Jackson's devotion to his mother has been well-documented, and it was proven again after his death, as he named her in his will as his first choice to raise his three children, and also named her and his kids as the only individuals to inherit his fortune (he also left a portion of his wealth to charity).
Katherine Jackson has not previously been known for her business acumen. It was Joe Jackson who was the manager of his sons as the Jackson 5, and acted as the manager for all of his nine children into their adult years.
But Manning claims it was Katherine, not Joe, who gave Michael Jackson his business sense, which he described as shrewd and fair.
He recalled when Jackson purchased the Beatles catalog, which also included Little Richard's music, he called his mother to ask her opinion on how he should handle Little Richard's situation: the rock legend had for years complained about being unfairly compensated for his publishing rights. His mother advised him to treat Little Richard with respect, and because of that, "(Michael) made sure that Little Richard was compensated fairly."
He also said that when Michael Jackson's MJJ Productions fell on hard times, "Michael made sure with his mother that every employee was paid."
"She is a woman of great faith, and believes if you treat people right, (good) things will come back to you."
Jackson named his mother on at least two trusts — besides the Sony-ATV music catalog, she's a part of his Mijac publishing company — and McMillan said she was active in Jackson's business affairs, even attending depositions in legal cases.
However, a source who asked for anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the situation said those trustee positions did not have decision-making authority.
Whether Mrs. Jackson has the business capacity to deal with Jackson's estate, which is complicated and tangled, is likely to be a key question. She and Joe filed for bankruptcy 10 years ago, listing nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. Court records show the only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000.
On Monday, the South Korean newspaper Segye Times filed for payment from Michael Jackson's estate of a nearly $7.9 million judgment entered against Katherine and Joe Jackson and their son Jermaine in 1994. The paper sued in 1990 over a series of concerts involving the Jacksons in Seoul that never happened.
McMillan said the role of a trustee does not require a person to be a business whiz.
"A trustee is one of trust as opposed to extraordinary skill," he said. "Trustees hire experts to administer business that requires experts."
Manning said Mrs. Jackson is confident that her legal team would do an excellent job with her guidance. He also raised the possibility that one of Jackson's five brothers could have a role in the estate: "That would be the right thing to do, the right thing to happen."
Legally, Mrs. Jackson may not be able to have an official role. Both Branca and Hansell said the addition of Katherine as an executor of the will or a trustee of the trust might raise tax questions because she is a beneficiary.
Branca was Jackson's attorney for many years, working with him during the height of his fame and helping negotiate his deal to buy the Beatles catalog. But they split in 2005 until Branca was brought back shortly before Jackson's death as he prepared for his comeback concerts with the promoter AEG.
McClain has been very close with the family for decades, and was instrumental in building Janet Jackson's career. He also had played key roles in Michael Jackson's career in its later years.
Manning spoke highly of McClain, saying he has been "like a son" to the Jackson parents.
"He's like a confidant," he said. "He was very, very close to the family."
Branca and McClain have control of Jackson's estate until at least Oct. 3. They have already made several deals on behalf of Jackson's estate, including a reissue of his memoir "Moonwalk" and a full-length motion picture filled with footage of his last rehearsals, which requires a judge's approval. In a sign that Katherine Jackson's input is already being considered critical, the judge has scheduled a hearing Monday to see, among other things, whether she has any objections.
But McMillan claims Jackson would have wanted his mother to be part of any dealmaking as well, quoting Jackson's sentiments about his mother from a deposition: "For the past several years I have started using my mother because she is the most trusted person in my life. I trust my mother more than anyone."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY and LINDA DEUTSCH (AP) – 1 hour ago
NEW YORK — Entering into a business relationship with Michael Jackson rarely meant a long-lasting partnership. Over time, especially in the waning years of his life, Jackson hired — then fired — a litany of associates, from managers to attorneys to publicists.
Most were dispatched after the relationship soured, and the trust had evaporated.
Perhaps the one exception in his financial life was Jackson's mother, Katherine.
Jackson relied on his 79-year-old mother for more than emotional support: Documents show he put her in the position of trustee on contracts, including his lucrative Sony-ATV catalog, and associates say he also sought her input on other financial matters as he became more wary of those in his business circle.
"Any deal Michael did, he always called his mother up," said Steve Manning, a close friend of the Jackson family. "She was the backbone of his spirit."
"What he trusted was that she would make sure that his wishes were carried out," said Mrs. Jackson's attorney, L. Londell McMillan, who is representing her interests as the singer's estate is sorted out. "He understood that she was the most loyal person in his life. Her loyalty did not stop for Michael with merely personal matters."
But Jackson's last known will, drafted in 2002, left his mother, along with his three children, out of any decision-making role in his estate, leaving her only as a beneficiary.
Attorney John Branca and Jackson's former manager and close friend, John McClain, were named (along with a third party who has since removed himself) as the only people with the authority to guide his business matters after his death.
Mrs. Jackson is trying to change that, seeking to gain some kind of control over her late son's estate. The Jackson matriarch is adamant that she — or even another family member — have a role over Michael Jackson's business legacy, which may be worth more in death than when he was alive. Some estimates have valued his estate at $500 million.
Mrs. Jackson has filed a motion to determine whether contesting the two executors would lead to disinheritance — Jackson's will had a no-contest clause.
"She is concerned about how the trust is going to be managed. She wants to make sure that she has a seat at the table and the family has a seat at the table," said Dean Hansell, an attorney who spoke for Mrs. Jackson in court Monday. "She wants that and she has been coming up against resistance."
But in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Branca said he is amenable to having Mrs. Jackson, or someone in the family, in a trustee role.
"We are going to have a meaningful conversation with her about having one of her family members become a co-trustee," Branca said. "Our number one priority is to make sure this estate is run effectively."
Throughout the years, Jackson's devotion to his mother has been well-documented, and it was proven again after his death, as he named her in his will as his first choice to raise his three children, and also named her and his kids as the only individuals to inherit his fortune (he also left a portion of his wealth to charity).
Katherine Jackson has not previously been known for her business acumen. It was Joe Jackson who was the manager of his sons as the Jackson 5, and acted as the manager for all of his nine children into their adult years.
But Manning claims it was Katherine, not Joe, who gave Michael Jackson his business sense, which he described as shrewd and fair.
He recalled when Jackson purchased the Beatles catalog, which also included Little Richard's music, he called his mother to ask her opinion on how he should handle Little Richard's situation: the rock legend had for years complained about being unfairly compensated for his publishing rights. His mother advised him to treat Little Richard with respect, and because of that, "(Michael) made sure that Little Richard was compensated fairly."
He also said that when Michael Jackson's MJJ Productions fell on hard times, "Michael made sure with his mother that every employee was paid."
"She is a woman of great faith, and believes if you treat people right, (good) things will come back to you."
Jackson named his mother on at least two trusts — besides the Sony-ATV music catalog, she's a part of his Mijac publishing company — and McMillan said she was active in Jackson's business affairs, even attending depositions in legal cases.
However, a source who asked for anonymity because of the ongoing nature of the situation said those trustee positions did not have decision-making authority.
Whether Mrs. Jackson has the business capacity to deal with Jackson's estate, which is complicated and tangled, is likely to be a key question. She and Joe filed for bankruptcy 10 years ago, listing nearly $24 million in debts that included court judgments, auto loans and credit cards. Court records show the only valuable asset listed was a house in Las Vegas then valued at $290,000.
On Monday, the South Korean newspaper Segye Times filed for payment from Michael Jackson's estate of a nearly $7.9 million judgment entered against Katherine and Joe Jackson and their son Jermaine in 1994. The paper sued in 1990 over a series of concerts involving the Jacksons in Seoul that never happened.
McMillan said the role of a trustee does not require a person to be a business whiz.
"A trustee is one of trust as opposed to extraordinary skill," he said. "Trustees hire experts to administer business that requires experts."
Manning said Mrs. Jackson is confident that her legal team would do an excellent job with her guidance. He also raised the possibility that one of Jackson's five brothers could have a role in the estate: "That would be the right thing to do, the right thing to happen."
Legally, Mrs. Jackson may not be able to have an official role. Both Branca and Hansell said the addition of Katherine as an executor of the will or a trustee of the trust might raise tax questions because she is a beneficiary.
Branca was Jackson's attorney for many years, working with him during the height of his fame and helping negotiate his deal to buy the Beatles catalog. But they split in 2005 until Branca was brought back shortly before Jackson's death as he prepared for his comeback concerts with the promoter AEG.
McClain has been very close with the family for decades, and was instrumental in building Janet Jackson's career. He also had played key roles in Michael Jackson's career in its later years.
Manning spoke highly of McClain, saying he has been "like a son" to the Jackson parents.
"He's like a confidant," he said. "He was very, very close to the family."
Branca and McClain have control of Jackson's estate until at least Oct. 3. They have already made several deals on behalf of Jackson's estate, including a reissue of his memoir "Moonwalk" and a full-length motion picture filled with footage of his last rehearsals, which requires a judge's approval. In a sign that Katherine Jackson's input is already being considered critical, the judge has scheduled a hearing Monday to see, among other things, whether she has any objections.
But McMillan claims Jackson would have wanted his mother to be part of any dealmaking as well, quoting Jackson's sentiments about his mother from a deposition: "For the past several years I have started using my mother because she is the most trusted person in my life. I trust my mother more than anyone."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Busted: Statue's a Dead Ringer for Jacko
Busted: Statue's a Dead Ringer for Jacko
Jackson-like bust gets attention at Field Museum
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Bust-Check-Out-MJs-Bust-52512812.html?yhp=1
The Pharaoh of Pop doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as King of Pop, but visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum could swear that’s Jacko’s face on a 3,000-year-old Egyptian bust.
The spitting image limestone sculpture has been on display at the museum since 1988, but recently started drawing attention because of its likeness to Jacko --- complete with disfigured nose.
Unfortunately the bust, which was carved sometime between 1550 B.C. and 1050 B.C., is of a woman and MJ likely never had the chance to see the statuette.
“I have no idea whether Jackson ever visited the museum,” a Field spokesperson said to the Sun-Times' Michael Sneed. “But the similarity between the limestone statue of a woman – which is about 3,000 years old --- and Jackson is astounding.”
Interestingly, Jackson cast himself as an interloper in ancient Egypt in his video for “Remember the Time,” so maybe he sensed some Egyptian roots.
Jackson-like bust gets attention at Field Museum
http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local-beat/Bust-Check-Out-MJs-Bust-52512812.html?yhp=1
The Pharaoh of Pop doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as King of Pop, but visitors to Chicago’s Field Museum could swear that’s Jacko’s face on a 3,000-year-old Egyptian bust.
The spitting image limestone sculpture has been on display at the museum since 1988, but recently started drawing attention because of its likeness to Jacko --- complete with disfigured nose.
Unfortunately the bust, which was carved sometime between 1550 B.C. and 1050 B.C., is of a woman and MJ likely never had the chance to see the statuette.
“I have no idea whether Jackson ever visited the museum,” a Field spokesperson said to the Sun-Times' Michael Sneed. “But the similarity between the limestone statue of a woman – which is about 3,000 years old --- and Jackson is astounding.”
Interestingly, Jackson cast himself as an interloper in ancient Egypt in his video for “Remember the Time,” so maybe he sensed some Egyptian roots.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
What Was Michael Jackson Like As A Father?
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1617390/20090731/jackson_michael.jhtml
Producer Teddy Riley recalls how MJ cared for his children in 'Michael Jackson's Human Nature,' airing Saturday at noon ET on MTV.
By Andrew Millard, with additional reporting by Edward Paige
Most of us have memories of Michael Jackson being an electrifying performer. Teddy Riley remembers him as an amazing dad.
Riley became close to Jackson while producing tracks for his Dangerous and HIStory albums. That bond grew stronger while working on songs for 2001's Invincible, when Michael introduced him to his kids for the first time.
"I felt so nervous meeting his children," Riley recalled. "He brought them in and he said, 'I want you to meet Paris and I want you to meet Prince.' And they walk in, playful. And then he was like, 'This is Theodore'. He didn't say Teddy. They were like, 'Hi, Theodore!' And it was just the greatest feeling."
What struck Riley immediately was how much Michael loved his kids and how involved he was in their lives.
"He read them a book every day. When we were in Virginia during the Invincible [sessions], there was not one day missed reading the children something. So that showed me right there that he was an incredible father."
Parenting was a major topic of conversation between Jackson and Riley, who has a family of his own — especially when it came to methods of punishment. This was a sensitive issue for Jackson because of the physical abuse he said he suffered as a child from his father, Joe Jackson.
"He was like, 'I would never have them go through the same things ever in their lives,' " Riley said. "He was like, 'I think the best scolding for children was a time-out.' The best scolding for children was, 'Let's read a book.' "
Although Teddy respected Michael's hands-on approach with his kids, he did think he was kind of a pushover when it came to discipline.
"I have to say this, but his time-outs were not as bad as, you know, our time-outs," he laughed. "They don't go up against a wall and look at the wall for an hour or 10 minutes. He sent them to the bunks with no TV. For me, that's a good time-out. But the kids, they knew what it was."
Producer Teddy Riley recalls how MJ cared for his children in 'Michael Jackson's Human Nature,' airing Saturday at noon ET on MTV.
By Andrew Millard, with additional reporting by Edward Paige
Most of us have memories of Michael Jackson being an electrifying performer. Teddy Riley remembers him as an amazing dad.
Riley became close to Jackson while producing tracks for his Dangerous and HIStory albums. That bond grew stronger while working on songs for 2001's Invincible, when Michael introduced him to his kids for the first time.
"I felt so nervous meeting his children," Riley recalled. "He brought them in and he said, 'I want you to meet Paris and I want you to meet Prince.' And they walk in, playful. And then he was like, 'This is Theodore'. He didn't say Teddy. They were like, 'Hi, Theodore!' And it was just the greatest feeling."
What struck Riley immediately was how much Michael loved his kids and how involved he was in their lives.
"He read them a book every day. When we were in Virginia during the Invincible [sessions], there was not one day missed reading the children something. So that showed me right there that he was an incredible father."
Parenting was a major topic of conversation between Jackson and Riley, who has a family of his own — especially when it came to methods of punishment. This was a sensitive issue for Jackson because of the physical abuse he said he suffered as a child from his father, Joe Jackson.
"He was like, 'I would never have them go through the same things ever in their lives,' " Riley said. "He was like, 'I think the best scolding for children was a time-out.' The best scolding for children was, 'Let's read a book.' "
Although Teddy respected Michael's hands-on approach with his kids, he did think he was kind of a pushover when it came to discipline.
"I have to say this, but his time-outs were not as bad as, you know, our time-outs," he laughed. "They don't go up against a wall and look at the wall for an hour or 10 minutes. He sent them to the bunks with no TV. For me, that's a good time-out. But the kids, they knew what it was."
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