Michael Jackson, the 'King of Pop,' Dies at Age 50

[kueytoc]

Mad, mad rush for MJ's final movie...Jackson reigns at box office, in advance of film

Reuters - Tuesday, September 29

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's fans are ready to rock with him one last time, as next month's "This Is It" movie about the late pop star breaks records for advance ticket sales, the studio behind the film said on Monday.

Based on rehearsal footage of Jackson taken in the weeks before the "Thriller" singer's death, the film does not open until October 28. But early sales began on Sunday, resulting in hundreds of sold-out shows in North America alone.

Cities with particularly strong sales include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston and New York, said Sony Pictures Entertainment, the division of Sony Co that produced the film from "High School Musical" director Kenny Ortega.

Outside the United States, more than $1 million in tickets were sold in Japan on the first day they were available, which was a record, Sony Pictures said.

In London, "This Is It" fans bought more than 30,000 tickets on the first day, which eclipsed advance interest in the "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings" films, which were popular in Britain.

Record ticket sales were also reported in Holland, Sweden, Belgium and New Zealand, Sony Pictures said.

While online sales were high, fans also lined sidewalks waiting for tickets in Paris, Bangkok and Munich, Sony Pictures said.

U.S. authorities are investigating what lead to Jackson's death from an overdose of prescription drugs on June 25, focusing on doctors who treated him.

The rehearsal footage for "This Is It" was produced as Jackson prepared for a series of 50 sold-out comeback shows in London that were supposed to begin on July 13. Sony paid $60 million for the footage to make the movie.

Jackson fans rush for tickets to 'This Is It' film

AFP - Tuesday, September 29

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Michael Jackson fans scrambled to snap up tickets for the upcoming film about the entertainer's final concert rehearsals, studio chiefs said Monday, cranking up hype for the eagerly-anticipated movie.

A statement from Sony Pictures Entertainment said fans around the globe had rushed to buy tickets ahead of the release of "This Is It," which will include unseen footage of Jackson preparing for his series of London comeback shows.

Advance screenings of the film will begin on October 27 before a worldwide release a day later. The movie will screen for two weeks only.

Sony said an "unprecedented number" of shows across the United States had sold out and other cities including London, Sydney, Bangkok and Tokyo had experienced similar levels of demand.

London distributor Vue Entertainment said the film sold 30,000 tickets within 24 hours, director Stuart Boreman enthused, outstripping demand for films such as "Harry Potter" and "The Lord of the Rings."

"I've never seen anything like it in the 25 years I have been film buying," Boreman said. "It's a true phenomenon and sales show no sign of slowing down."

In the United States, more than 500,000 fans performed searches for showtimes on the film's official website, Sony reported.

Japanese fans snapped up more than one million dollars worth of tickets within 24 hours of their release, an advanced-sales record unmatched by any movie in history, Sony said.

Tickets for first showings also sold out in Thailand, the studio reported.

[kueytoc]

Orianthi: Michael Jackson's Guitar Thriller

By Lyndsey Parker Mon Sep 28, 2009 4:48pm

Ticket presales of Michael Jackson's upcoming concert documentary This Is It sold out in two hours over the weekend, allowing fans to soon catch a glimpse of what might have been, had the late Michael's London O2 Arena dates actually taken place. But the film will also offer a glimpse of a young new talent whose career is just starting to explode: Jackson band member and guitar prodigy, Orianthi.

This 24-year-old Australian guitar goddess first captured American audiences' attention at this year's Grammy Awards, when she blazingly accompanied (some might even say upstaged) Grammy performer Carrie Underwood, and she has also been quite vocally championed by six-string legends Steve Vai and Carlos Santana. ("If I was going to pass the baton to somebody, she would be my first choice," Carlos once said of Orianthi.)

It was in fact Orianthi's buzzy Grammy performance that made the King Of Pop himself take notice, and he quickly hired her to be his guitarist for the This Is It concerts. In fact, she was actually supposed to be Michael Jackson's official spokesperson during his much-hyped London residency.

Obviously, that sadly never came to pass, and Orianthi--who was actually with Michael the night before his death--ended up performing at Michael Jackson's Staples Center memorial instead. But still she raves: "Working with Michael was a life-changing experience, one I will never forget."

And now as Orianthi--recently named one of the "12 Greatest Female Electric Guitarists" in Elle magazine--readies her debut solo album Believe and lead single "According To You," she is all over This Is It, electrifying the screen.

Below is the exclusive unveiling of the Believe album's cover art, out October 27. As far as real rock-chick role models go, this is it, people.

[kueytoc]

AP Exclusive: Autopsy shocker: Jackson was healthy

By THOMAS WATKINS,Associated Press Writer - Friday, October 2

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson's arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips, but he wasn't the sickly skeleton of a man portrayed by tabloids, according to his autopsy report obtained by The Associated Press.

In fact, the Los Angeles County coroner's report shows Jackson was a fairly healthy 50-year-old before he died of an overdose. His 136 pounds were in the acceptable range for a 5-foot-9 man. His heart was strong with no sign of plaque buildup. And his kidneys and most other major organs were normal.

Still, Jackson had health issues: arthritis in the lower spine and some fingers, and mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. Most serious was his lungs, which the autopsy report said were chronically inflamed and had reduced capacity that might have left him short of breath.

However, according to the document, the lung condition was not serious enough to be a direct or contributing cause of death.

"His overall health was fine," said Dr. Zeev Kain, chairman of the anesthesiology department at the University of California, Irvine, who reviewed a copy of the autopsy report for the AP. "The results are within normal limits."

Kain was not involved in the autopsy. The full autopsy report has not been released publicly, but the AP obtained a copy.

Jackson died at his rented Los Angeles mansion June 25 after his personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, administered the anesthetic propofol and two other sedatives to get the chronic insomniac to sleep, court documents state. Propofol, normally a surgical anesthetic used in operating rooms, acts as a respiratory depressant and requires constant monitoring,

Murray told police he left the room to use the bathroom and phone records show he also made calls for 47 minutes around the time Jackson encountered problems. When Murray realized Jackson was unresponsive, he began frantic efforts to revive him, but Jackson never regained consciousness and was declared dead at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center.

The coroner's office announced last month that Jackson's death was a homicide caused by "acute propofol intoxication," with the other sedatives listed as a contributing factor. They said the standard of care for administering propofol was not met and the recommended equipment for patient monitoring, precision dosing and resuscitation was missing.

Murray is the target of what Los Angeles police term a manslaughter investigation. The decision on criminal charges will come from the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. Murray has been interviewed twice by police.

Except for a brief video posted to YouTube, Murray has not spoken publicly since Jackson's death. In the video, he said: "I told the truth and I have faith the truth will prevail." Murray's attorney, Edward Chernoff, previously has said nothing Murray gave Jackson "should have" killed him.

Jackson was declared dead a little more than two hours after paramedics were called. Evidence of the desperate struggle to save the star were evident on his body. He had chest bruising and cracked ribs from CPR, and a mechanical device known as a balloon pump was inserted into his heart to try to restart it, according to the autopsy report.

Jackson's body was taken by helicopter to the coroner's office where the following morning Chief Medical Examiner Lakshmanan Sathyavagiswaran and Dr. Christopher Rogers carried out an extensive review and ordered a toxicology screening to look for drugs in his system.

Aside from propofol and the sedatives, the only substances found in his system were the local anesthetic, Lidocaine, sometimes used to numb injection sites and ephedrine, a commonly used resuscitation stimulant.

No other drugs _ legal or otherwise _ were detected, nor was any alcohol.

Kain said he was surprised that three other sedatives, known as benzodiazepines, were present with propofol. Anesthesiologists sometimes mix one "benzo" with propofol to help put a patient under, but using three increases the danger for the patient.

"People don't mix the benzodiazepines together because they interact with each other and increase the risk of respiratory arrest," Kain said, adding it was likely Jackson first stopped breathing and then suffered cardiac arrest.

The autopsy findings cut off a potential defense for Murray _ that Jackson hid serious pre-existing conditions that increased the risk of death from the drugs he willingly took. Even if he did hide a condition such as his weakened lungs, a prosecutor could argue Murray should have detected the condition before administering drugs, said Michael Brennan, a clinical law professor at the University of Southern California who specializes in criminal defense.

"A doctor has some obligation to know what his patient's physical condition is," Brennan said. "The doctor is going to try to substantiate whatever the patient told him ... and not simply rely on a patient's descriptions of his physical condition."

At the time of his death Jackson was preparing for a series of comeback concerts in London. Rehearsals were rigorous and there were questions about whether Jackson would be physically able to hold up.

But aside from his lungs, the autopsy report did not identify any serious physical problems that might have limited Jackson's ability to perform. It also provided details about his physical state from head to toes.

He had a 3/4-inch scar behind his left ear and another apparent scar behind his right ear. He had a scar beside each of his nostrils and another, 4-inch scar on his right shoulder. He had a pair of additional scars about 3-inches long at the base of his neck and smaller scars on his arms and wrist. He also had a small scar near his navel and a 2-inch scar on the right-hand side of his abdomen.

Kain said most of the scars appeared to be from plastic surgery though others, like a scar on the knee, could have been from a medical procedure.

The medical examiner found numerous punctures on both arms and on a knee and ankle. The leg punctures could have been from intravenous therapies not described in the autopsy report, Kain said.

Jackson had several tattoos, all them cosmetic, including dark tattoos in the areas of both eyebrows and under his eyes, and a pink tattoo around his lips.

He was going bald at the front of his head, with his remaining hair described as short and tightly curled. The bald part of his scalp was darkened with what appeared to be a tattoo stretching across the top of his head from ear to ear.

The coroner found depigmentation of his skin around his chest, abdomen, face and arms.

The coroner also found Jackson was actively producing sperm.

Details of Michael Jackson autopsy

By The Associated Press The Associated Press – Thu Oct 1, 12:47 pm ET

Here are some of the findings from the Los Angeles County coroner's autopsy of Michael Jackson:

• He was 5-foot-9 and weighed 136 pounds.

• There were dark tattoos on his eyebrows and around his eyes, a pink tattoo around his lips and what appeared to be a dark tattoo on the front of his scalp.

• He was balding and suffered from a skin disease that reduced pigment and left patches of white skin.

• Osteoarthritis was visible in the lower spine and some fingers.

• He had multiple scars around his body, including behind his ears, along one shoulder, at the base of his neck and near his navel.

• His heart was strong but his lungs were inflamed. Other organs appeared normal.

• The anesthetic propofol, four other sedatives, the pain killer Lidocaine and a resuscitative drug were found in Jackson's system. His stomach had no discernible pills.

• No illegal drugs or alcohol were detected.

• The manner of death was ruled a homicide based, in part, on the propofol being administered in a non-hospital setting without any appropriate medical need.

• Consistent with CPR attempts, Jackson had a bruised chest and his sternum and several ribs were fractured.

[kueytoc]

Unreleased Michael Jackson Song Features Background Vocals From Brothers

Posted Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:48pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training

Be sure to take a box of Kleenex with you when you see Michael Jackson's "This Is It." Expect people to be crying when watching Michael's posthumous concert film which hits the big screen on Wednesday, October 28.

If seeing footage of a healthy Michael effortlessly firing through production numbers just days before his death does not tug on the heart strings of fans, hearing his previously unreleased song, "This Is It," during the film's closing credits will definitely evoke emotion. The song was released Monday at midnight on MichaelJackson.com.

The song's opening lines are prophetic, as they succinctly summarize what the late King of Pop represents to his global listeners:

"This is it, here I stand

I'm the light of the world I feel grand

This love

I can feel

And I know yet we're sure it is real"

For a second, you feel as though Michael recorded this track for this very moment. The lyrics are actually about gently ending a relationship with a lover.

A regular and orchestra version of the compositon appears on the "This Is It" album released internationally on October 26 and in North America on October 27. The rendition featured on the MichaelJackson.com website is a classic Michael ballad. The music is soft and complimentary. The electric and bass guitars, violins, and piano are light, not over produced.

Michael's voice shines through, displaying the passion he did on "She's Out Of My Life," "Heal The World," and "I Just Can't Stop Loving You."

Hearing his brothers' perfect subtle supporting harmony sweetens the offering in typical Jackson 5 form.

This song makes us miss him that much more.

Disc 1 of the 2-CD set includes a compilation of hits. Disc 2 includes demo recordings of "She Out Of My Life," "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," and "Beat It."

See "This Is It" album complete tracklisting below:

Disc 01

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"

"Jam"

"They Don't Care About Us"

"Human Nature"

"Smooth Criminal"

"The Way You Make Me Feel"

"Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)"

"I Just Can't Stop Loving You"

"Thriller"

"Beat It"

"Black Or White"

"Earth Song"

"Billie Jean"

"Man In The Mirror"

"This Is It"

"This Is It (Orchestra Version)"

Disc 02

"She's Out Of My Life (Demo)"

"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Demo)"

"Beat It (Demo)"

"Planet Earth (Poem)"

[kueytoc]

"New" Michael Jackson single appears old

Tue, Oct 13, 2009

Reuters

LOS ANGELES/LONDON (Reuters) - Michael Jackson's new single "This Is It" was released online and on radio on Monday but fans and music experts quickly spotted striking similarities to an 18-year-old recording.

"This Is It" was promoted as a new Jackson recording and was released around the world nearly four months after the "king of pop" died in Los Angeles of a prescription drug overdose at the age of 50.

It will be available to buy as part of a two-disc album that hits the shelves internationally on October 26 and in North America on October 27 to coincide with the global limited release of the Jackson rehearsal footage movie "This is It" on October 28.

Fans said the "This Is It" song has the same melody and almost identical lyrics to a little-known 1991 recording by Puerto Rican singer SaFire. A version of the SaFire song, called "I Never Heard," was posted on YouTube on Monday.

In Los Angeles, 1960s teen idol and songwriter Paul Anka told celebrity web site TMZ.com that he had written the song with Jackson in 1983, and that Jackson himself had recorded it under the title "I Never Heard" in the early 1990s.

Sony Music's Columbia/Epic Label Group and executors of Jackson's estate did not immediately return calls for comment.

But TMZ.com quoted executor John Branca as saying, "We acknowledge that Michael and Paul wrote this song together."

Anka told the website that those handling Jackson's estate had apologized for "ripping off my song."

The "This Is It track, which features backing vocals by Jackson's brothers, opens with a soft, soulful introduction and the lines: "This is it, here I stand/I'm the light of the world, I feel grand."

Jackson's other executor, John McClain, who is also a co-producer of the "This is It" album, had said in a statement on Monday that the song "only defines, once again, what the world already knows -- that Michael is one of God's greatest gifts."

Some critics begged to differ. Jon Pareles, the chief pop critic of The New York Times, said in a blog it "won't be on anyone's list of best Michael Jackson songs, even if it's a long list" and hoped there was something better in the Michael Jackson vaults of album outtakes.

The "This Is It" movie is based on rehearsal video shot in Los Angeles in the weeks before Jackson's planned 50 comeback concerts in London. It was the subject of a $60 million deal between Jackson's estate and concert promoter AEG Live and Sony Pictures.

Sales of Jackson's records spiked after his death and the release of the movie and album will add to the value of the "Thriller" singer's estate, estimated at around $400 million.

Sony Music said the first disc of the album will feature some of Jackson's greatest hits plus two versions of the "new" single.

The second disc will include unreleased versions of some of the singer's classic tracks and a spoken word poem entitled "Planet Earth" performed by Jackson and never heard before.

Sony Pictures and Sony Music are units of Sony Corp.

[kueytoc]

Joe Jackson launches bid for share of son's estate

Sunday November 08, 2009 12:31 AM

Michael Jackson's father Joseph has launched a court bid for a share of the King of Pop's estate.

Jackson Sr. enjoyed a fraught relationship with the superstar during his lifetime and was excluded from his will, following Michael's death in June.

Five months on, the patriarch has mounted a legal challenge, and filed papers in Los Angeles County Court claiming there's "no justification" for his exclusion and that he is "entitled to his own independent family allowance".

Joseph wants a judge to grant him help covering his £9,640 monthly expenses.

He has recruited business manager Leonard Rowe, who claims to have been a consultant for Michael, to help his cause.

In the legal papers Rowe alleges Michael gave his parents a £37,500 monthly allowance, which they split.

Joseph claims the estate can afford to help him out, because it has "earned more than £62.5 million dollars in the first seven weeks following Michael Jackson's death" and is "well able to afford a family allowance for Joe Jackson."

Ironically, Rowe is suing the Jackson estate for flights and business meetings he set up while working as the King of Pop's advisor earlier this year.

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson's kids' tribute

By Bang, Updated: 01/02/2010

Michael Jackson's eldest two children, Prince Michael, 12, and 11-year-old Paris, paid tribute to their late father as they accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of him at last night's Grammys (31.01.10).

Michael Jackson's eldest two children accepted a lifetime achievement award on behalf of their late father at last night's Grammys (31.01.10).

Prince Michael, 12, and 11-year-old Paris received a standing ovation as they took to the stage at Los Angeles' Staples Center - where their dad's public memorial was held last July - to collect the honour and then paid an emotional tribute to him.

Prince said: 'We are proud to be here to accept this award on behalf of our father, Michael Jackson.

'First of all, we'd like to thank God for watching over us for these past seven months, and our grandma and grandpa for their love and support. We would also like the fans. Our father loved you so much because you were always there for him.

'Our father was always concerned about the planet and humanity. Through all his hard work and dedication, he has helped many charities and donated to all of them. Through all his songs, his message was simple - love.'

A musical tribute was also paid to the legendary 'Thriller' singer, in which stars - including Celine Dion, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson - sang one of his biggest hits 'Earth Song', accompanied by a 3-D mini-film which was created by Jackson as part of his planned 'This Is It' tour.

The big winner on the night was Beyonce Knowles, who scooped six honours - a record for a female artist - including Song of the Year for 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)' and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for 'Halo'.

When accepting that trophy, Beyonce - who is married to rapper Jay-Z - told the star-studded audience: 'This has been such an amazing night for me and I'd like to thank the Grammys.

'I'd like to thank my family including my husband, I love you.'

However, she was beaten to the coveted Album of the Year by country singer Taylor Swift, who has honoured for her LP 'Fearless', as well as winning a further three awards.

The Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z and Kings of Leon - whose hit 'Use Somebody' was named Record of the Year - all picked up three trophies each, while Lady Gaga and Eminem won two.

Main list of winners from the 2010 Grammy Awards:

Record of the Year

Kings Of Leon - 'Use Somebody'

Album of the Year

Taylor Swift - 'Fearless'

Song of the Year

Beyonce Knowles - 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)'

Best New Artist

Zac Brown Band

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Beyonce Knowles - 'Halo'

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Jason Mraz - 'Make It Mine'

Best Pop Performance by a duo or group with vocals

Black Eyed Peas - 'I Gotta Feeling'

Best Pop Vocal Album

Black Eyed Peas - 'The END'

Best Dance Recording

Lady Gaga - 'Poker Face'

Best Electronic/Dance Album

Lady Gaga - 'The Fame'

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

Michael Buble - 'Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden'

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance

Bruce Springsteen - 'Working On A Dream'

Best Rock Performance by a duo or group with vocals

Kings Of Leon - 'Use Somebody'

Best Rock Song

Kings Of Leon - 'Use Somebody'

Best Rock Album

Winner: Green Day - '21st Century Breakdown'

Best Alternative Music Album

Phoenix - 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix'

Best R'n'B Song

Beyonce Knowles - 'Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)'

Best Contemporary R'n'B Album

Beyonce Knowles - 'I Am... Sasha Fierce'

Best Rap Solo Performance

Jay-Z - 'D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune)'

Best Rap Performance by a duo or group

Eminem, Dr Dre and 50 Cent - 'Crack A Bottle'

Best Rap Song

Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West - 'Run This Town'

Best Rap Album

Eminem - 'Relapse'

Best Country Song

Taylor Swift - 'White Horse'

Best Country Album

Taylor Swift - 'Fearless'

Best Short Form Music Video

The Black Eyed Peas - 'Boom Boom Pow'

[kueytoc]

Gabon's Michael Jackson 'owes all' to idol

AFP - 1 hour 8 minutes ago

LIBREVILLE (AFP) - – Fans worldwide gathered Friday to mark the anniversary of Michael Jackson's death but in Libreville there is a permanent shrine to the pop icon in the home of Gabon's own version of the star.

"I owe him so much," said Jean "Michael" Anicet Ngadi, 34, a performer who was declared "Gabon's Michael Jackson" at a 2002 lookalike contest and since become a national sensation.

"Michael is part of my life, every day," he said in his family home in suburb PK10 where he held a traditional wake, in accordance with custom, after Jackson's shock death from a drug overdose last June 25.

"The pain I felt, it is indescribable. All I know is that I cried over Michael Jackson for nearly a month," he said.

Posters of his idol plaster the doors, the star's photo hangs next to his father's in the living room, and his cell phone rings with a Jackson hit.

Ngadi's dance troupe has two shows planned in honour of Jackson, one in Libreville in January and the other in the southeastern city of Franceville in February.

"I even have him to thank for my job," said Ngadi who was given a local government position after the mayor was captivated by his Jackson routine at an election rally.

It all started in 1992 on Jackson's high profile trip to Africa.

The pop idol landed in this west African state to be met by tens of thousands of screaming fans and a banner proclaiming: "Welcome Home Michael".

"I was in high school, I skipped classes to go see him at the airport," said Ngadi. "Like many kids my age, I adored Michael Jackson: the way he moved, his gestures, his look, everything."

"I decided to imitate him," he said.

After graduating, Ngadi threw himself into dance "out of pleasure and fanaticism" but to the consternation of his parents in a country where a self-taught professional male dancer is not held in high regard.

In 1993, "I began dancing in front of people. A real audience of people," Ngadi recalled.

"It was my first time... It was such a great success. I told myself: 'OK, maybe the flame has been lit, the flame that was embedded in me.'"

And there was more success. Ngadi, who also teaches dance, now has his own company, the "Michael Anicet troupe", which counts 20 other Jackson fanatics, including a soldier and a construction worker.

On stage Ngadi "becomes" Michael Jackson, with an array of wigs and costumes to trace his icon's career in frighteningly faithful renditions.

His next dream is to make dance lessons -- including Jackson routines -- obligatory in Gabon's school.

He has already passed on his passion to one of his nephews, 13-year-old Scott "Jackson", who can compete with his uncle on hits that more than twice his own age.

If Ngadi's bid to bring dance to schools doesn't work, "I'm not worried, my successor is here," he said of Scott.

[kueytoc]

Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary

AFP - 52 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Michael Jackson fans around the world began Friday marking the first anniversary of the music icon's death, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honour of the tragic superstar.

Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop."

Flowers began piling up in Tokyo where 50 diehard fans paid more than 1,000 dollars each to attend a sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings.

The participants were chosen from some 10,000 applicants who wanted to spend the night in the Neverland Collection at Tokyo Tower, surrounded by artifacts including Jackson's music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.

In Germany, candlelight vigils with music, balloons, posters and Jackson imitators were planned in numerous cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.

Fans dressed as their idol gathered in Prague, too, and unveiled plans for a bust of the singer in a city party.

In Los Angeles, fans began gathering early at the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a star-studded cemetery where the singer's golden casket was entombed last September.

Park authorities have indicated they plan to keep a tight grip on the proceedings, saying visitors will only be allowed to walk past the elaborate neo-classical mausoleum that houses Jackson's final resting place.

Long Beach college student Dominique Richardson woke up at 2:00 am in order to get to the cemetery at daybreak.

"It's Michael Jackson," she told KTLA local television. "Michael Jackson has inspired a lot of people and it's like the closest we're ever going to get to Michael so why not come and pay your respects?"

Jackson fans are also expected to pay tribute at the singer's family compound in Encino, scene of mass floral tributes for days after the star's death last year.

In Hollywood, a wax likeness of Jackson has been placed on display in front of Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from Jackson's star on the Walk of Fame.

In the only official memorial event planned Friday, family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, is slated to unveil a monument at the home where she raised her famous son and eight other children in Gary, Indiana.

The two-bedroom, one-story home has become a magnet for tourists from all over the world since Jackson's death.

Meanwhile a Jackson tribute event -- "Forever Michael" -- will be held at a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday, with tickets priced at between 150 and 500 dollars. Members of Jackson's family are expected to attend the event.

Jackson's death sent shockwaves around the world last year, while family and fans were outraged after it emerged he had been given a cocktail of powerful prescription drugs including the anesthetic propofol.

Jackson's doctor Conrad Murray, the last person to see the singer alive, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case and is expected to stand trial next year. Murray denies the charges.

While the immediate aftermath of Jackson's death saw intense speculation about court-room wrangling for control of the singer's affairs, expected legal battles over his children and vast musical empire failed to materialize.

Katherine Jackson was granted custody of the children Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, who are slowly adjusting to life without their father.

Katherine Jackson revealed on Sunday the children, who previously were educated at home, will enrol in a school for the first time later this year.

"They don't have any friends," Jackson told Britain's Mail on Sunday newspaper. "They don't go to school; they have private lessons at home, but that will change in September when they are due to enrol at private college."

Meanwhile, Billboard magazine reported Jackson's estate has generated more than one billion dollars in revenues since the singer's death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

[kueytoc]

Japanese Michael Jackson fans begin memorial sleepover

AFP - 48 minutes ago

TOKYO (AFP) - – Michael Jackson's legions of Japanese fans began piling up flowers in Tokyo Saturday to mark the first anniversary of his death, with 50 devotees spending the night with his most treasured possessions.

The diehard fans have paid more than 1,000 dollars each for the sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings, including his music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.

Jackson died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop".

The 50 fans -- one for each year of Jackson's life -- who were taking part in the slumber party in the Neverland Collection were chosen from some 10,000 applicants, said exhibition producer Matt Taylor.

"It's priceless," Sari Kure, a 27-year-old Japanese among them, said of the ticket. "It depends on a person, but... it's going to be my treasure for the rest of my life."

The selected fans, some of whom were sobbing, made a tour of the collection, where gospel singers sang Jackson's numbers, including "We are the World", with violins accompanying.

More than half a million visitors have filed through the exhibition since it opened on May 1 and Jackson lookalikes and Moonwalk-dancers have turned up at what has turned into a pilgrimage spot.

"I can't imagine one year has passed," said Mark Okita, 40, at the sleepover. "Time goes by so quickly. Being here, I want to think of how he went to heaven."

Earlier in the day, hundreds flocked to see the exhibition of some 300 of Jackson's possessions, many placing white roses and yellow sunflowers before a large portrait of the smiling megastar.

"I felt like I could sense his breathing in there. I felt like I could smell him," said Keiko Fujiwara, 51, as she emerged from the dimly-lit space with her son, filled with emotion after her second visit.

"I'll come again," she said, adding that she planned to hold a candlelit vigil at home to commemorate Jackson's death.

"I may not be able to stop myself from crying," said Fujiwara, wearing a Jackson-style hat and green "King of Pop" T-shirt.

"He liked Japan a lot. There would have been a Japan tour if his London tour had come true. How wonderful it would have been."

Another fan, Ying Youming, 44, said she would pay thousands of dollars if she could go to a Jackson concert now, noting that the first CD she bought after she moved to Japan from China 15 years ago was a Jackson album.

"His talent can't be measured in money," she said.

Yukari Kozakura, 46, said she was shattered by the pop icon's death.

"I was so shocked that I was crying for the first three months," she said, adding that her two teenage children only became fans of Jackson after he died.

"I played his DVDs in tears every day, asking 'Why is he dead, dead...?'"

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson family one year on...

Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary

AFP - Saturday, June 26

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Michael Jackson fans around the world marked the first anniversary of his death on Friday, with events from candlelight vigils to slumber parties planned in honour of the tragic superstar.

Jackson, 50, died from a drug overdose at a rented Los Angeles mansion on June 25 last year, a seismic celebrity death that triggered a global outpouring of tributes for the eccentric genius known as "The King of Pop."

Family matriarch Katherine Jackson, 80, paid a visit to the modest white frame house in Gary, Indiana where she raised her famous son and eight other children, slipping past excited fans through a side gate in a wrought iron fence.

In the only official memorial event planned Friday she was to unveil an eight-foot high monument to her son in the front yard in the afternoon. A candlelight vigil was planned for later in the evening.

The two-bedroom, one-story home has become a magnet for tourists from all over the world since Jackson's death, and a crowd of about 100 fans gathered outside as Gary police cruised the streets and private security popped in and out of the house.

"This is where he was born," said Eileen Garbutt, 44, who flew in from London on Thursday for the anniversary. "Without this place we wouldn't have Michael Jackson."

In Tokyo, flowers began piling up where 50 diehard fans paid more than 1,000 dollars each to attend a sleepover inside an exhibition space showcasing some of the singer's belongings.

The participants were chosen from some 10,000 applicants who wanted to spend the night in the Neverland Collection at Tokyo Tower, surrounded by artifacts, including Jackson's music awards, Rolls Royce and crystal-studded gloves.

In Germany, candlelight vigils with music, balloons, posters and Jackson imitators were planned in numerous cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich.

Fans dressed as their idol gathered in Prague, too, and unveiled plans for a bust of the singer in a city party.

In Los Angeles, fans began gathering early at the picturesque Forest Lawn Memorial Park, a star-studded cemetery where the singer's golden casket was entombed last September.

Park authorities have indicated they plan to keep a tight grip on the proceedings, saying visitors will only be allowed to walk past the elaborate neo-classical mausoleum that houses Jackson's final resting place.

Related Article: Adoring Jackson fans catch glimpse of hometown statue

Long Beach college student Dominique Richardson woke up at 2:00 am to get to the cemetery at daybreak.

"It's Michael Jackson," she told KTLA local television. "Michael Jackson has inspired a lot of people and it's like the closest we're ever going to get to Michael so why not come and pay your respects?"

Jackson fans are also expected to pay tribute at the singer's family compound in Encino, scene of mass floral tributes for days after the star's death last year.

In Hollywood, a wax likeness of Jackson has been put on display in front of Madame Tussauds on Hollywood Boulevard, a short distance from Jackson's star on the Walk of Fame.

Jackson family members are expected to attend a tribute event -- "Forever Michael" --at a Beverly Hills hotel on Saturday, with tickets priced at between 150 and 500 dollars.

The music icon's death sent shockwaves around the world, and family and fans were outraged to learn that the singer had been given a cocktail of powerful prescription drugs including the anesthetic propofol.

Legal wrangling over the tragic death flared anew after patriarch Joe Jackson filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his son's doctor Conrad Murray, the last person to see the singer alive.

Murray has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the case and is expected to stand trial next year. Murray denies the charges.

While the immediate aftermath of Jackson's death saw intense speculation about court-room disputes for control of the singer's affairs, expected legal battles over his children and vast musical empire failed to materialize.

Katherine Jackson was granted custody of the children Prince, 13, Paris, 12, and Blanket, 8, who she has revealed will enroll in school for the first time later this year after having been educated at home for years.

Though Jackson racked up a massive debt during his lifetime, his estate is said to have generated over a billion dollars in revenues since his death, through the re-issue of his music, films and other commercial spin-offs.

[kueytoc]

NEWS - Jackson album set for November release

Sunday August 1, 01:26 PM

Michael Jackson is set to invade the charts from beyond the grave - a posthumous album featuring 10 never-before-heard songs from the King of Pop will be released this November.

At the time of his death, Jackson had reportedly left hard drives filled with previously unreleased music.

The Thriller hitmaker's former manager Frank DiLeo estimates Jackson's vaults contain more than 100 completed and unreleased songs, including collaborations with Akon, will.i.am and Ne-Yo.

The tracks are expected to be included in the forthcoming release, alongside songs Jackson recorded at the peak of his career in the 1980s.

DiLeo tells RollingStone.com, "There are a couple of songs we recorded for the Bad album that we had to cut that are just sensational."

A spokesperson for the estate confirms the new record will be the first in a 10-project, seven-year deal worth £166.7 million that Jackson estate executors signed with Sony Music bosses in March.

The deal will also include reissues of Jackson's classic albums, new greatest hits sets, a DVD collection of the King of Pop's music videos and a possible collaboration with circus troupe Cirque du Soleil.

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson's mother sues concert promoters

AFP - 1 hour 48 minutes ago

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Late pop icon Michael Jackson's mother has filed suit against promotors of a concert series he was supposed to give in London in 2009, claiming they shared the blame for his death during rehearsals.

Katherine Jackson filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court in her name and those of the singer's three children. The suit is for an unspecified amount in damages.

She charged that the AEG group did not give her son appropriate medical care during rehearsals for the shows, and alleged negligence in allowing Dr. Conrad Murray to care exclusively for her son.

A Los Angeles judge has set a January 2011 hearing to weigh whether there is sufficient evidence to prosecute Murray for involuntary manslaughter over the singer's death.

The 57-year-old doctor, who was with Jackson when he died June 25, 2009, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in February this year, but is free on a 75,000 dollar bond.

Officials have ruled that Jackson died after being injected with a powerful cocktail of sedatives and painkillers, including propofol, which the singer regularly requested from Murray to help him sleep.

Jackson's death sent shockwaves around the world, and family and fans were outraged to learn that the man dubbed the King of Pop was administered a dangerous mix of powerful prescription drugs in the hours before his death.

Murray, who was born in Grenada and grew up in Trinidad before moving to the United States, has denied the charges against him, which were filed after a painstaking seven-month probe involving local and federal investigators.

[kueytoc]

New Michael Jackson single prompts more controversy

Reuters - Tuesday, November 9

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES - The first Michael Jackson single from a new December album was released on the Internet on Monday, sparking a new round of controversy over whether the voice is really that of the dead "Thriller" singer and if the track does him justice.

"Breaking News", a new song said by his record label to have been recorded by Jackson in 2007 and "recently brought to completion", opens with clips from old news reports about the more bizarre events in Jackson's life.

The song was released at the same time a rare TV interview with Jackson's mother, father and three children was broadcast on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" about their life after the singer's sudden 2009 death at age 50.

The "Breaking News" vocals, which feature many of Jackson's signature whoops and hee-hee's, are in a lower-register than the tone usually associated with the "King of Pop", and the lyrics start with the line "Everybody wanting a piece of Michael Jackson."

Jackson's Epic record label, part of the Sony Music Entertainment Group, said last week that after extensive research, they had "complete confidence" that the vocals on the new album are Jackson's own.

But Jackson's two eldest children are reported to have said they do not believe it is their father singing, and the entertainer's sister LaToya has also expressed doubts.

"I listened to it ...It doesn't sound like him," LaToya Jackson was quoted as telling celebrity website TMZ.com.

The new album "Michael" -- the first since Jackson's death and the first of new material since "Invincible" in 2001 -- is due to be released on December 14.

Jackson's father said last week that his son would never have wanted to release incomplete and unfinished songs.

On Monday, fans were divided, with many loving the new single and others expressing skepticism.

"So it sounds a bit different. That was the great thing about Michael, he could change the way he sang, the way his music sounded. I would rather hear some of his music than not hear any of it," wrote MJJFAN4LIFE on the Entertainment Weekly comment boards.

In one early review, entertainment reporter Ashante Infantry of the Toronto Star website thestar.com called it "a self-referential rehash that spotlights all that was wrong with Mike" and added that the new single's theme of persecution by the media "threatens to diminish the posthumous goodwill afforded the pop star."

The "Michael" album has the backing of Jackson's official estate and is the latest commercial venture to capitalize on the singer's renewed popularity in death. A Cirque Du Soleil show, dance videogame and complete DVD set of his pop music videos are also on their way.

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson kids reminisce about their normal dad

Reuters - Tuesday, November 9

LOS ANGELES - Michael Jackson's children reminisced on Monday about their "normal dad" in a rare TV interview that marked a transition to a less sheltered life.

"I kind of felt like no-one understood what a good father he was. I'd say he was the best cook ever," his daughter Paris Jackson, 12, told TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

"He was just a normal dad, except for he was, like, the best dad ever," she added.

Paris, her older brother Prince Michael, 13, and Prince Michael II, 8, who is also known as Blanket, were filmed with their grandmother and guardian Katherine Jackson and her husband Joe at the Jackson family compound in Los Angeles.

The interview was broadcast on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Monday.

Paris and Prince said they were adjusting well to school, which they started in September. Katherine Jackson, saying she wanted to give the children as normal a life as possible, said that shy Blanket wants to attend school next year.

Jackson kept his children secluded before his death in June 2009, and often had them wear veils in public.

Paris, the most talkative of the trio, said the veils were sometimes uncomfortable, but she appreciated that her father wanted to protect them.

"He tried to raise us without us knowing who he was, but that didn't really go so well," she said, adding that she hoped to be an actress. "I'd like to be an actress when I'm older. I sometimes do improv. I used to do it with my dad."

Prince said he liked videogames and sports and that he wants to produce movies and direct when he grows up.

Katherine Jackson said all three kids speak a lot about their father. "Paris, she's very emotional. She talks about him all the time, and she's a strong one. All the pictures on her wall in her bedroom are Michael," she said.

Katherine Jackson called the day Jackson died of a prescription drug overdose "the worst day of my life."

"You know what broke my heart more than anything else in this world? When people at the hospital told us 'You can leave now' and Paris said 'Grandma, where are we going?'," she told Winfrey.

Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, is awaiting trial on a charge of involuntary manslaughter. He has admitted giving Jackson what turned out to be a fatal dose of the powerful anesthetic Propofol to help him sleep.

Katherine Jackson told Winfrey that she had tried to stop what she called his addiction to painkillers and to plastic surgery procedures on his nose.

Her son's nose got so small that it looked "like a toothpick at one time. I had told him, 'that's enough, why do you keep going?'" she said.

[kueytoc]

Jackson family call single a fake

Posted Tue 9 Nov 2010 10:14 GMT by Ben Arnold in Pop Gossip

Sony Music has had to release a statement refuting claims the new Michael Jackson song is a fake, after members of his family denounced the release.

Jackson's nephews Taryll and TJ, sons of Michael's brother Tito, have made their opinions known about single 'Breaking News' on their Twitter pages.

“Deceptively merging shady vocals with MJ samples will never fool me,” said TJ. “I'm disgusted, disappointed and saddened. The vibrato is a dead give away that it's not my uncle. Fans, I am so sorry you were put through this. If you heard the a capella you would be even more disgusted.

“I was at the studio when these questionable files were delivered,” added Taryll. “How they constructed these songs is very sneaky and sly. Many people who have worked on this project either have strong doubts and questions while others KNOW the truth yet decided to turn and look the other way with their hands out for $$$.

“There are songs that ARE my uncle singing on the upcoming album and I will support those 100%. But I will not support 'Breaking News' and a few others because it simply is not him.”

Sony Music has said that they have “complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own”. [The Independent/Twitter]

The reason behind the confusion could well be the fact that Jackson reportedly recorded the vocals on a mobile phone. Apparently the singer was so scared that the tracks would be leaked that he performed the song whilst on the phone and recorded the tracks on voicemail.

A source told The Sun: "A large chunk of the album came from voicemails. Michael was certain new stuff would get out so he decided to sing lyrics down the phone".

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson new album vocals genuine, Sony says

Reuters - Saturday, November 6

By Jill Serjeant

LOS ANGELES, Nov 5 - Sony Music on Friday released a brief "teaser" of a new Michael Jackson single and insisted that the vocals on an upcoming new album were genuinely those of the late "Thriller" singer.

But controversy over the December album release of "Michael" was stoked by a representative of Jackson's father Joe, who said the perfectionist performer would never have wanted his unfinished material to be released.

A short clip on the official michaeljackson.com web site for "Breaking News" -- a song that Jackson is said to have recorded in 2007 -- consisted of TV news soundbites on Jackson's June 2009 death, followed by a faint scream of less than two seconds.

The full song will be released on Monday. The new album "Michael" will be released Dec. 14.

"Michael" is the latest commercial venture by Jackson's official estate and the first album of new material from the singer since his "Invincible" album in 2001.

Sony has declined to say how much production work was done on the album after Jackson's sudden death from a prescription drug overdose, or how many tracks it contains.

"If Michael had wanted this music released he would have done so before his death," Brian Oxman, a lawyer for Joe Jackson, said in a statement on Friday.

"The songs which are being released on the new Michael Jackson album were unfinished and incomplete tracks that Michael said over and over many times he never wanted released. We should honor Michael Jackson's wishes," Oxman added.

Earlier this week, celebrity website TMZ.com said that Jackson's mother Katherine, and his two eldest children, Prince and Paris, believe that the voice on some of the album tracks is not Michael's.

But a spokeswoman for Sony's Epic Records said on Friday that the label has "complete confidence in the results of our extensive research as well as the accounts of those who were in the studio with Michael that the vocals on the new album are his own."

The Jackson family's misgivings follow an embarrassing debacle last year when "This Is It," a new Jackson single touted as his first posthumous release, turned out to have been first recorded 18 years earlier under a different title by an obscure Puerto Rican singer.

Sony said "Breaking News" was recorded by Jackson at a friend's place in New Jersey in 2007 and "recently brought to completion."

Other tracks were recorded at studios in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with various unidentified collaborators, Sony Music said. At the time of his death, Jackson was reported to be working with hitmakers like R&B star Akon and Lady Gaga collaborator RedOne.

The executors of Jackson's estate have sanctioned a number of projects to pay off the singer's debts and to provide for his mother and children. They include a Jackson-themed Cirque du Soleil tour that will open in Montreal next October, and a dance videogame due in stores later this month.

(Additional reporting by Dean Goodman, editing by Christine Kearney)

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson duet with Akon set for release

Reuters 15 mins ago

A duet recorded by Michael Jackson and rapper-producer Akon will go on sale on Monday -- the first single off an album of new music from the King of Pop after his death in 2009, his record label said on Thursday.

Called "Hold My Hand", the song was first recorded in 2007 and was leaked in an unfinished state on the Internet in 2008.

Jackson's Sony/Epic record label said Akon recently completed production on the track. It will be released globally on November 15 as the first official single from the album "Michael", which goes on sale on December 14.

Sony and the executors of Jackson's estate said they had a hand-written note from the "Thriller" singer, indicating his desire that "Hold My Hand" be the first single on his next project.

"The world was not ready to hear 'Hold My Hand' when it leaked a couple years ago. We were devastated about it," said Akon, who was known to be working with Jackson before his sudden death in June 2009 at the age of 50.

"But its time has definitely come; now in its final state, it has become an incredible, beautiful, anthemic song. I'm so proud to have had the chance to work with Michael, one of my all time idols," the music producer said in a statement.

Sony also released details of the 10 tracks on "Michael" -- the first album of new material from the singer since "Invincible" in 2001.

Two of the tracks feature rapper 50 Cent and rocker Lenny Kravitz. Sony said the songs were the work of "an esteemed group of producers along with Michael Jackson. While primarily focussed on songs that Michael worked on recently, there are also earlier compelling tracks."

Monday's release for digital sale of "Hold My Hand" follows the streaming on the Internet this week of another new track "Breaking News" from the upcoming album, which has met with initial skepticism.

Some music critics, along with a few of Jackson's family members, have said they do not believe the vocals on "Breaking News" really belong to the entertainer.

Jackson's estranged father Joe has said his perfectionist son would not have wanted his unfinished material released.

But last week Sony countered that after extensive research, it was confident the vocals are Jackson's own.

"Michael" has the backing of Jackson's official estate and is the latest commercial venture to capitalise on the singer's renewed popularity in death. A Cirque du Soleil show, dance videogame and a DVD set of all his pop music videos is also on its way.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson's dad refiles lawsuit against doctor

AFP - Thursday, December 2

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - – Michael Jackson's father has refiled a lawsuit against the late pop icon's doctor, alleging negligence in treatment before the singer's death and when he was found unconscious.

The 24-page lawsuit, filed at the Los Angeles Superior Court this week -- after a federal court rejected it in June -- claims that Dr. Conrad Murray spent 47 minutes on the phone while Jackson was dying on June 25, 2009.

Joseph Jackson is seeking unspecified damages from Murray and others, including a Las Vegas pharmacy said to have supplied the powerful sedative drugs administered to the 50-year-old in the run-up to his death.

"Defendants negligently did not recognize Michael Jackson's life threatening distress, which defendants caused through their use of inadequate equipment, personnel and monitoring," said the suit, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.

Jackson's father already filed a suit with a federal US court on June 25 this year, the anniversary of his son's death, but it was dismissed because the court said it was not within its jurisdiction.

The refiled wrongful death suit again sets out in grim detail the alleged events in the hours leading up to Jackson's death, and the immediate aftermath.

It notes that Murray initially told investigators that he found Jackson not breathing shortly before 11:00 am at his Los Angeles home, but that a 911 emergency call was not made until 12:22 pm.

The 57-year-old doctor later changed his version of events, after police discovered that he had spent 47 minutes talking on the phone, allegedly in relation to his medical business in Nevada and Texas.

"Defendants were negligent and acted below the standard of care by conducting their Texas and Nevada medical practice business outside of (Jackson's) immediate presence for 47 minutes while (Jackson) was unconscious."

Once Jackson was taken to hospital, Murray failed to divulge Jackson's medical background or full details of the drugs he had taken, and even allowed Jackson to be misidentified by the false name of Soule Shaun, the lawsuit says.

Jackson was found to have died after being injected with a powerful cocktail of sedatives and painkillers including Propofol, to help him sleep.

Murray was charged with involuntary manslaughter in February this year. A judge has set a deadline of early January for prosecutors to gather evidence in that case.

[kueytoc]

Jackson doctor defense may say singer killed self

Reuters - Thursday, December 30

LOS ANGELES - Lawyers for the doctor charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson could claim the pop star killed himself when a hearing begins next week, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.

In a court session to discuss evidence in the case against Dr. Conrad Murray, Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David Walgren said he believes it is clear defense attorneys are looking into that theory, which has long been a consideration.

Outside the courtroom, Murray's attorney J. Michael Flanagan declined to comment on Walgren's statement.

"I'm not going to respond to that characterization. But apparently it is a consideration of Mr. Walgren," Flanagan told reporters.

Walgren spoke at a hearing in which a judge cleared the way for Murray's defense to test residue from syringes and an IV tube used to administer drugs to Jackson.

The "Thriller" singer died at age 50 on June 25, 2009, of an overdose of prescription drugs, primarily the powerful anesthetic propofol which can be used in surgery. Other drugs in Jackson's system included lorazepam, known under the brand names Ativan and Temesta, and diazepam, the generic version of Valium.

Murray, hired as Jackson's physician while the singer prepared for a series of concerts that would have begun in July 2009, has admitted giving Jackson propofol to help him sleep. But Murray has pleaded not guilty to the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

The court session on the syringe testing came only days before a January 4 start date for a preliminary hearing in which a judge will decide if there is enough evidence against Murray to proceed to a full trial.

Representatives for the prosecution and defense told Reuters they expect the preliminary hearing to begin as planned and take roughly two weeks to complete.

[kueytoc]

Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

Reuters - Saturday, January 1

By Bob Tourtellotte

LOS ANGELES - The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson's body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star's estate.

The show, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on January 13.

"Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely," Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery spokesman declined comment beyond the statement. Co-executors of the estate responded in their own statement saying they were "pleased" with the decision.

The "Thriller" singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery's show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program "insensitive" and "in shockingly bad taste."

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer's well-known sequined glove.

Following Discovery's decision, McClain and Branca released a statement saying, "we are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future."

"While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored," the statement said.

Jackson's physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on January 4.

[kueytoc]

Waitress 'was on phone to doctor of dying Jackson'

AFP - Saturday, January 8

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – A cocktail waitress recounted Friday how she was called by Michael Jackson's personal doctor the day the pop icon died and heard a "commotion," apparently as the medic struggled with the crisis.

Sade Anding, from Houston, Texas, was one of 11 people with whom Dr. Conrad Murray spoke by telephone in the hours leading up to Jackson's shock death on June 25, 2009.

The waitress said she had met Murray in a Texas steakhouse in February 2009. The pair had exchanged phone numbers, and she received a call from the doctor on the morning of the fateful day.

"He told me that he was doing well," she said, adding she had cut him off and started talking, but realized five or 10 minutes later that Murray was no longer on the phone.

"I heard a commotion... coughing, mumbling of voices," she said, adding that she was unsure if the mumbling was coming from Murray.

Anding said she stayed on the phone for about five minutes, saying it was unusual for Murray to stop responding. "I just remember saying, 'Hello? Hello? Hello? Are you there?' Are you there? Are you there?'" she said.

The waitress eventually hung up and tried to call Murray back and send him text messages, but got no reply.

Prosecutors allege that Murray, 57, negligently administered an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol to help Jackson sleep and then tried to cover it up.

Paramedics and emergency room doctors this week have said Murray initially failed to mention having administered propofol, and that Jackson appeared to have died at least 20 minutes before they arrived at his mansion.

On Thursday paramedic Martin Blount said that when he arrived Jackson seemed to have been dead for at least 20 minutes, despite Murray's claim that he had stopped breathing a minute before they were called.

Blount added that Murray initially denied having given Jackson any medications, but said he saw the doctor holding a needle and spotted three bottles of the anesthetic Lidocaine on the floor.

On Friday Anding said she heard nothing more until LA police contacted her. She called Murray, who apologized for involving her, and urged her to call his lawyer to be present if she met with detectives.

Los Angeles detective Dan Myers told the hearing that Murray had made or received 11 cellphone calls, totalling some 90 minutes of conversations, in the roughly five hours leading up to midday on the fateful day.

These included a 32-minute call to his medical practice in Las Vegas and an 11-minute call shortly before Murray called Jackson's personal assistant at 12:12 pm to say the singer had had a "bad reaction."

Prosecutors allege that Murray "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11:00 am.

Murray could face up to four years in jail and lose his doctor's license if the case goes to full trial -- as is widely expected -- and he is convicted.

Jackson's death shocked the entertainment world and triggered intense debate over the performer's health in the run-up to the London concerts, known as the "This is It" tour.

[kueytoc]

Michael Jackson fans mostly mum at doctor's hearing

Reuters - Tuesday, January 11

By Alex Dobuzinskis

LOS ANGELES - A plane flying a banner with a photo of Michael Jackson on Monday soared above the court where his ex-doctor stands accused of involuntary manslaughter, and the message with the picture was blunt: "Change charges to murder."

In the case against Dr. Conrad Murray, the plane and its banner were a rare instance of anything close to the spectacle of Jackson's 2005 trial and acquittal on child molestation charges. Back then, hundreds of Jackson fans from all over the world gathered daily near the courthouse and even saw their hero dance for them atop a vehicle one day after a hearing.

The lack of a swarming and adoring crowd has prompted the question of whether the "Thriller" singer's star has faded in the roughly 18 months since his death. But pop culture watchers say, probably not.

Murray's preliminary hearing, they say, has failed to generate excitement in the same way as other celebrity-related cases because Murray is not a star himself and the allegations against him were revealed months ago in court papers.

"It's not that Michael Jackson's fans don't still love him, they just don't feel compelled to take a stand and make a statement by showing up over this, because they've already made their minds up," said Cooper Lawrence, the author of "The Cult of Celebrity."

The preliminary hearings began last week into whether Murray should stand trial for involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's June 25, 2009, death at age 50 from an overdose of the anesthetic propofol and the sedative lorazepam.

Murray was caring for the singer at the time, and prosecutors claim he is responsible for giving the singer too many drugs. Murray has pleaded not guilty. After the hearing, a judge will decide if enough evidence exists for a full trial.

A couple dozen Jackson fans have shown up every day outside the Los Angeles courtroom, waiting in a hallway and hoping to get a seat in the hearing. But aside from Monday's fly-over paid for by Jackson fans, there have been few incidents to grab the media's attention outside the court.

RED ARM BANDS

Bus operator Dana Brenklin, 34, is one of those die-hard Jackson supporters attending this month's hearings and wearing red arm bands to show their allegiance to the singer.

"I don't know why they are not here. It's strange," Brenklin said. "I thought we would be filling up this whole hallway."

Few if any of the Jackson fans have traveled to Los Angeles from other parts of the world, as they did back in 2005.

Jackson's family members, including his mother Katherine, his father Joe and his sister La Toya, have attended the hearings, and fans have cheered them on during their walks down the courthouse hallway. They have given the same praise to the prosecutors. One fan exclaimed, "Those are our attorneys."

But Brenklin remembers an entirely different scene at the 2005 child molestation trial in Santa Maria, California, northwest of Los Angeles.

Back then, she traveled to the arraignment with a bus full of Jackson supporters from a church. Once there, she saw vendors selling memorabilia and so many people milling around that she could barely even see Jackson walking in.

"It was ridiculous, it was like it was going to be a concert or something," Brenklin said.

Robert Thompson, professor at Syracuse University and an expert on pop culture, said he is "surprised" the hearings have been so low-key. "If this were Michael Jackson on trial, it would be huge," he said. "How do I know that? It was huge when Michael Jackson was on trial."

But he said that if the judge holds the case for trial, as is expected, the next phase could draw more attention.

[kueytoc]

Thriller Live "MOONWALKS" its way to Singapore

By Satish Cheney | Posted: 22 April 2011 1622 hrs

SINGAPORE: He may have been gone too soon but a concert dedicated to Michael Jackson's music is "moonwalking" its way to Singapore. The two-and-a-half hour show, called "Thriller Live", celebrates the music of MJ and the Jackson 5.

Having dazzled audiences in London's West End, the show comes to the MBS Grand Theatre in Singapore from May 3 to 16.

The man behind it is Adrian Grant, who was Jackson's friend for over 20 years.

Grant said: "He was due to come and watch "THRILLER LIVE" in 2009 but obviously we all know he's sadly passed away.

"He was going to come in disguise so nobody could recognise him. That's the kind of thing that Michael did often when he went to watch shows. I'm very honoured now that this show can continue Michael's legacy in a small way."

Grant's most memorable MJ moment was the first time they met, when he was invited to the recording of Jackson's album "Dangerous".

"He walked into the room with a big smile, he was singing, and I thought, "Wow, he sounds amazing". He looked great and I spent the whole day with him.

"At the end of the day he asked me if I wanted to come to Neverland - his ranch - for lunch. And of course I said yes. It was fantastic. The ranch was a beautiful place - the chimpanzees were there, the giraffes, the llamas, and it was just magical," he said.

And adding to the magic is not just his solo work but also music from The Jackson Five.

Of course, it was not always magic in Jackson's life. He had his fair share of controversy.

Grant said: "It was very difficult to read some of the headlines that were written about MJ and a lot of the negative press that he used to receive and I mentioned this this to him and asked him what he feels about all the bad things that were written about him and obviously, it was very difficult for him but he said there's nothing he could do about it.

"No matter what he does, people will always have a bad story about him. Even when he's doing good things, people would twist it. So all I could do is speak highly of the man and focus on his music and his work as a performer, because that's what I think really made him the great artiste that he is."

And it is that part of Jackson that will shine through, when "Thriller Live" hits Marina Bay Sands next month.

-CNA/ac

[skengman]

sad day