Entertainment BEAT EXTRA - BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MICHAEL JACKSON

Michael Jackson then - Photograph by Alan Light, early February 1988

Michael Jackson in 1988 - Drew H. Cohen photo

The limo man with the Commodores lead singer JD Nicholas - JD Nicholas photo

James Loving - National Radio Text Service

He didn't portray himself as a rock star that was above everyone else but he quite simply was down to earth - On this day one of the best performers of all time passed away. Michael Jackson will be remembered for many things not all good and most certainly not all bad as he sang in BAD. We were fortunate to have experiences with the king of pop and members of his family. We share some of those moments with you now

Friday June 25, 2010

MICHAEL JACKSON REMEMBERED

June 25th 2009 was a sad day for music lovers when they heard about the passing of the King of Pop Michael Jackson. It was a day that left many in shock and disbelief. At 50 years old Jackson who was preparing for a tour passed away in a medical induced sleep. Some call it murder others an accident. The bottom line is Jackson is no longer with us physically but his incredible music lives on.

I've had various experiences with Michael Jackson and his family. As a journalist, musician and involved in the pay per view TV industry our paths crossed several times. The first being playing softball with Jackie Jackson on the BMI softball team though he played but one or two games. The second was pitching against the Jackson family softball team at our SelecTV anniversary party.

The third was as a chauffeur rides with Michael's father Joe and sisters Reebie and Latoya followed. The came the first encounter with Michael being a part of a five car convoy for an awards show prior to his hair being caught on fire. Michael rode with his long time friend Charlie Horkey of Charlie's Limousines who at that time was the only chauffeur to drive Michael…then came our chance meeting in the mid eighties.

Michael was attending an Academy Awards ceremony where he won several awards. He was driven to the Awards show by someone else but for some strange reason there was a request to pick him up early and his chauffeur wasn't available. I was assigned to do the pickup.

After arriving at the venue's back door Jackson ran out with Liza Minnelli. Off we went to Swifty Lazar's after awards party in Beverly Hills. Our office was a few blocks away at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Via two way radio a message came to pick him up at the back door. Upon arrival paparazzi were swarming the place and then it became a cat and mouse game of circling the block to duck them while receiving instructions as to where he was to be picked up at the front door or back.

After circling the block a few times he and Liza got into the limo at the back door. Liza instructed me to go to her father's house which was two blocks away. The paparazzi got wind of it and followed. Again the chase was on as well as trying to lose them while screeching through the streets of Beverly Hills.

Shortly after we arrived at Liza's fathers home (Vincente) the paparazzi appeared and started to walk on the un-gated property. In those types of situations it is the chauffeur's job to protect the client and they were instructed to get off the property. They were reluctant to do so but weren't aggressive. Then the big surprise came about.

Michael walked up to where we were gathered and said in his soft voice, "That's all right."

He then let the paparazzi take pictures and signed autographs. That was an amazing display of thoughtfulness and consideration of others. After spending some time talking to them they dispersed. In effect he diffused the situation with kindness and a person who cared. He didn't portray himself as a rock star that was above everyone else but he quite simply was down to earth.

That was the beginning of a 14 hour experience with Michael and Liza. What started out with Michael ended up with Liza and I with whom at first we clashed heads but later became friendly as her bacon was saved after she missed her flight arrangements were made to get her on a plane to New York so she could make her contracted agreement for the show she was doing the Rink and avoid behind sued. But hey that's another story and this is about remembering Michael and how thoughtful he was.

MORE MICHAEL

Another strange somewhat relationship was when taking a broadcast journalism course at UCLA Extension my investigative journalism instructor was Don Ray who at that time was with the CBS affiliate in Los Angeles. Ray was the individual who broke the case of Jackson having relationships with children. The television show Frontline did a feature program about the incident on PBS with Ray being credited with the discovery.

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