Michael Jackson (119 page)

I must thank Cloe Basiline for all of her work on transcriptions of interviews for the new edition of this work. She spent
many hours working under the tightest deadline imaginable to accurately put down every word. I would also like to thank Stewart
Payne, who conducted important interviews for me for this updated book. James Burrell also conducted interviews for me in
Gary, Indiana. Thanks to him we were able to track down people who worked with Michael and his brothers in the early days,
people who have never before been interviewed. I must also thank Thomas DeWitt for all of his research work in the United
Kingdom on what he calls ‘The Jackson Case’. Three other researchers whose kindnesses should not go unacknowledged are Maxwell
Taylor, Irene Roberts and Geri Thomas. These researchers typed many of the notes and other minutiae that were unearthed during
library research, saving me and others involved with this book so much time and energy. I am indebted to them.

Researcher Julio Vera spent many hours in the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse locating court records so valuable to my research.
I thank him for his patience and perseverance. John Redman also conducted interviews for this book, and I much appreciate
his assistance.

I would like to acknowledge my roots at
Soul Magazine
, the publication I used to read as a little kid and helped edit as an adult. Thank you, Regina Jones, for encouraging me
in the early days of my career. And thanks to my buddies Steve Ivory, Leonard Pitts and Reggie Wilson. All these years later – thirty,
at least – and we’re still friends. I so value all of my time and history with
Soul
, and between the three of us fellows it would be impossible to count the words in print we devoted to Michael and the Jackson
family. I like to think our interviews and stories about the family are an important part of the historic record and go a
long way toward explaining them for generations to come.

Special thanks to these individuals for their support in tangible and intangible ways on the original edition of this book,
including Cindy Adams, Larry Anderson, Kristopher Antekeier, Sherman Armstrong, Stewart Armstrong, Gil Askey, Virginia August,
Vern Austin, Billy Barnes, Glenn Bascome, Jeffrey Beasley, Louis Becker, Gary Berwin, Cindy Birdsong, Stanley Blits, Judith
Blum, Wayne Brasler, Len Brimhall, Robert Brimmer, Ralph Brine, Robert Brown, Kenneth and Dolores Bruner and family, Maryann
Bryant, the late and so-memorable Walter Burrell, Mark Butler, Tim Burton, Lee Campbell, Geron Canidate, Luis Cansesco, Eddie
Carroll, Gordon Carter, Lee Casto, Tony Castro, Kenneth Choi, Herman Cohen, Rob Cohen, Paul Coleman, Michele Connolly, Marvin
Corwin, Richard Crane, Ted Culver, Barbara Dalton, Hal Davis, Etterlene DeBarge, David Delsey, David Doolittle, Lamont Dozier,
Stewart Drew, David Duarte, Beverly Ecker, Carl Feuerbacher, Mickey Free, Rosetta Frye, Rudy Garza, Rick Gianotos, Louise
Gilmore, Sylvester Goodnough, Theresa Gonsalves, Martha Gonsalves, Berry Gordy and the entire Gordy family, the late and wonderful
Vivian Greene, Susaye Greene, Michael Gutierrez, Scott Haeffs, Sharlette Hambrick, Virginia Harris, Max Hart, Mickey Herskowitz,Jerome
Howard, Mary Ellen Howe, Steve Howell, Willie Hutch, Monty Iceman, A. D. Ingram, Terry Ireland, Johnny Jackson, Sarah Jackson,
Susie Jackson, Walter Jackson, Etta James, Joyce Jillson, Edward Jimenez, Val Johns, Gregorio Jove, Patty Kellar, Curtis Kelly,
Mark Kelly, David Kelsey, Randall King, Ken Kingsley, Mark Kotler, Dr Robert Kotler, George Lakes, Lance and John (The Hollywood
Kids), Randy Lane, Harry Langdon, Joseph Layton, Edward Lewis, Jack Lewis, Michael Lewis, Yolanda Lewis, Dr Carole Lieberman,
Harold Long, Leonides Lopez, Peter Lounds, Gregory Matthias, Joyce McCrae, Maryann McCullough, James McField, Phillip Meadows,
Charles Montgomery, Byran Moore, Clarence Moore, Lee Moore, Mark Mussari, Susan Myerson, Kenneth Nagle, David Nuell, Bernard
Pancheco, Ross Pendergraft, the late and so-very-missed Derrick Perrault, James Perry, Marcus Phillips, Rhonda Phillips, Stewart
Phillips, Andre Pittmon, Jonathan Ptak, John Reitano, Rich Reitano, Deke Richards, Jack Richardson, Lionel Richie, Seth Riggs,
David Ritz, Grace Rivera, the late Danny Romo, Stanley Ross, the late Raymond St Jacques, Ramone Sandoval, Stan Sherman, Joseph
Simon, Liz Smith, James Spada, Reed Sparling, Judy Spiegelman, Gina Sprague, Steven Sprocket, Rick Starr, Nancy Stauffer,
Robert Waldron, Vince Waldron, Marjorie Walker, Dan Weaver, Harry Weber, Tim Whitehead, Susan Williams, Edward Willis, Douglas
Wilson, Jeffrey Wilson, Rob Yaren and John Whyman.

I would also like to acknowledge the late but never forgotten former wives of Jackie and Tito Jackson, Enid Jackson and Dee
Dee Jackson. They were so helpful to me in the past. Both were wonderful, giving women who left us much too early. They are
so missed by their friends and families.

I would also like to acknowledge those who played such a big part in Michael’s success and whom I have also interviewed in
the past: Diana Ross, Suzanne dePasse, Bobby Taylor, Tony Jones, Chris Clark, Nancy Leiviska, Gladys Knight and the late (great)
Bob Jones.

I could never do alone what I do with my books, and if I forgot any single person who contributed in any way to the research
of this book – particularly those who are employed by my researchers – I am truly sorry. It does take a team of professionals,
not just a single author, to tackle a project such as
Michael Jackson: The Magic, The Madness, The Whole Story,
and I am eternally grateful to all of the players.

As I have often stated, without a loyal team of representatives, an author usually finds himself sitting at home writing books
no one reads. Therefore I thank all of those from USA Team JRT who somehow mastermind the chaos in my office: attorneys Joel
Loquvam, James M. Leonard and James Jimenez; C.P.A Michael Horowitz, of Horowitz, McMahon and Zarem in Southern California;
and Felinda DeYoung, also of Horowitz, et. al.

I also want to thank Jeff Hare at Warner Bros. for being such a good and trusted friend and for always understanding and appreciating
the work that I do.

Thanks, also, to Brian Newman for his assistance in so many ways.

Some other good friends I must acknowledge are Andy Steinlen, George Solomon, Frank Bruno, Andy Hirsch, Richard Tyler Jordan,
Jeff Cook, Andy Skurow, Hazel and Rob Kragulac, Scott Allen, Freda Payne and Greg Abbott, Scherrie Payne, Brandon Schmook,
Lisa Reiner, Felipe Echerri, Steve Ridgeway, Billy Barnes, Barbara Ormsby, Rick Starr, John Passantino, Linda DiStefano, Mr
and Mrs Joseph Tumolo, Daniel Tumolo, Charles Casillo, Mark Mussari, Peter Spotswood Dillard, John Carlino, Wayne Brasler,
Jackie Percher, Tony and Marilyn Caruselle, David Spiro, Mr and Mrs Adolph Steinlen, David and Frances Snyder, Abby and Maddy
Snyder, Maribeth and Don Rothell, Mary Alvarez, Mark Bringelson, Hope Levy, Tom Lavagnino, Eric Underwood, Ersan Jon Capan,
John Townsend, David McCormack, Steven Kay, Jesus Rodriguez, Walter Tabayoyong, Nick LaRocco, Roman D’Angelo, Susan Kaya,
Marlene Morris, Kac Young, Aaron Lawrence, Erik Rodriguez, Nolan Blackford, Daniel Feser, Martha Vamos, Jared Murphy and William
(Wm) Rodriguez. I know I have forgotten some people and that when this is published I’ll be kicking myself. Whoever you are,
if I have forgotten to mention you here, know that I owe you a big dinner to make it up to you.

I have always been so blessed to have a family as supportive as mine. My thanks and love go out to Roslyn and Bill Barnett
and Jessica and Zachary, Rocco and Rosemaria Taraborrelli and Rocco and Vincent, and Arnold Taraborrelli and Yvette Jarecki.

Special thanks to my father, Rocco, who has always been my inspiration and who continues to encourage me in ways too numerous
to count. When I was a kid, it was my dad who always made sure I had the best seat in the house whenever any of the Motown
stars came to perform near my hometown. If we couldn’t sit in the first row, we simply wouldn’t bother going! Always the best
for his son – that was my dad’s philosophy. I thank him so much for that, and I continue to be inspired by him every day of
my life.

My mom, Rose Marie, was also very supportive of my interest in Motown as a youngster. I was a puzzlement, to be sure, always
locked away with my Motown music, my journals about the artists’ lives and careers, my crazy scrapbooks about them...my endless
telephone conversations with them. To this day I can’t imagine what my parents were thinking of their son! My mother was my
biggest fan, though. I miss her every day.

I must also acknowledge those readers of mine who have followed my career over the years. Specifically, I would like to thank
Michael Jackson’s many fans. At times over the years I have made them happy with my reporting of their star. Other times...not
so much. I think most of Michael’s followers who know my work realize that I have tried my best to be fair and accurate. Michael’s
memory lives on in his devoted following – indeed, in all of us who cared about him. I am eternally grateful to anyone who takes
the time to pick up one of my books and read it, but especially to Michael’s loyal following. I thank you so much.

What can I say about the death of Michael Jackson, a guy I first met when he was just ten and a person I have interviewed
and written about so many times over the years? It states the obvious to say that there was never any other person like Michael,
and there’ll never be anyone to take his place. Yes, he had his demons. Like all of us, he had his flaws. The last fifteen
years of his life, in particular, were so very challenging. However, I like to think he is at peace now. I’m not, though.
Not now, anyway. And I know in my heart things will never quite be the same for me...not without Michael.

J. Randy Taraborrelli

July 2009

Much of the material in this book was drawn from personal interviews and conversations with Michael Jackson and the Jackson
family over the years, from the 1970s through the 1990s. Among those interviews:

Michael Jackson in May 1972 (New York), June 1973, August 1973, July 1974 (Madison Square Garden, New York), November 1974,
October 1977 (New York, for
The Wiz
), August 1978 (Encino), 19 April 1979 (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania);

Michael Jackson on 18 January 1980 (Los Angeles), 18 September 1980 (sound check at the Forum, Los Angeles), 26 September
1980 (backstage at the Forum), October 1980 (Encino, with Janet Jackson), June 1982, April 1983 (Universal Amphitheater, Los
Angeles), January 1984 (Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles), June 1984 (Birmingham, Alabama, with Tito and Jackie), 29 June 1984
(Atlanta, with Jackie), November 1986 (Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles), 2 March 1988 (rehearsal, Madison Square Garden),
16 January 1989 (sound check, Sports Arena, Los Angeles), 30 January 1989 (rehearsal for American Music Awards, Shrine Auditorium,
Los Angeles), 13 November 1989 (rehearsal,
Sammy Davis, Jr., 60th Anniversary
television special, Los Angeles), spring 1991 (Capitol Records ‘Record Collectors’ Swap Meet’);

Michael Jackson on 3 February 1992 (press conference, Radio City Music Hall, New York), 26 August 1993 (from Bangkok), July
1994 (after my appearance on
Good Morning America
to announce his marriage to Lisa Marie Presley), August 1994, September 1995 and 7 February 1998 (with Lisa Marie Presley
at the Ivy restaurant in Los Angeles).

Moreover, I drew from interviews with:

The Jacksons – Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Michael, Randy, and parents Joseph and Katherine in February 1975, (Radio City Music Hall,
New York), June 1975, July 1975, January 1976, March 1977, April 1977, May 1977, August 1978 and September 1979 (all at Hayvenhurst
in Encino), November 1983 (press conference, Tavern on the Green, New York);

Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson in July 1974 (Pittsburg, Pennsylvania) and December 1978 (L’Ermitage Hotel in Los Angeles);

Jermaine Jackson in April 1979 (at Motown Records in Los Angeles) and May 1980 (Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles);

LaToya Jackson and Jack Gordon, December 1993 (Madrid, Spain).

Also useful in my research were two lengthy court documents: Sworn Deposition by Michael Jackson, dated 15 January 1976 and
Sworn Declaration of Michael J. Jackson, 20 February 1976. (These declarations became part of case number C139795:
Michael Jackson et al. v. Motown Record Corporation of California et al
., 30 March 1976.) Text and background from both documents were used throughout the book.

For research purposes, I secured many hundreds of Motown interoffice memos regarding Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5. Because
of the confidential nature of these communications, and to protect those former Motown employees who made them available to
me, these memos are not enumerated here, though they were vital to my research.

Voluminous Motown press department releases (and also releases from different public relations firms representing Michael
Jackson, The Jackson 5, and The Jacksons, as well as individual members) were individually judged as to their validity and
value and utilized where appropriate.

As the editor-in-chief of
Soul
magazine (1980) and later its publisher (1981-82), I had access to the complete
Soul
files.
Soul
was one of the first black entertainment publications (
Jet
and
Ebony
were both general interest publications) and, as such, had a close association to Motown. Many of the Motown acts received
their only national exposure through
Soul
. A great deal of the material in this book was culled from the extensive
Soul
files (1966-82), including previously confidential notes and memos.

Practically all of the interview sources listed here contributed to more than one subject area of the book, but in most cases
they are listed only once.

Wherever practical, I have provided sources within the body of the text. For some of the published works consulted, see the
bibliography. The following notes are by no means comprehensive but are intended to give the reader a general overview of
my research. Also included are occasional comments of an extraneous but informative nature.