Feb.4 in history

15 Years Ago --- Briefly USA Today February 04, 1991 Michael Jackson's lawyer has sent a letter to Birch Lane Press asking to see what's in Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness, due in May, so that he can check the facts. The publisher's spokesman, Ben Petrone, says it is "policy" not to release advance copies... --- 14 Years Ago --- Dangerous Michael Now Wants To Heal Newsday February 04, 1992 Conquering the world from the concert stage isn't enough for Michael Jackson. Now he wants to heal it at the same time. Michael Jackson, who has turned in his white glove for a black one, announced plans for an overseas tour and the launching of his "Heal the World" foundation at a Radio City Music Hall news conference yesterday morning. The news event and photo opportunity was also called to publicize a new sponsorship agreement with Pepsi-Cola International. The soft drink company will sponsor Jackson's forthcoming overseas tour, which will begin this summer in Great Britain. For the subsequent year and a half, Jackson will perform in Europe, Asia, Australia and Latin America. No North American concert dates are planned. "The only reason I am going on tour is to assist the children of the world and the ecology," Jackson said. The singer said his goal was to gross $100 million by Christmas of 1993. Jackson said the foundation would make contributions to pediatric AIDS, "in honor of my friend Ryan White," the Indiana schoolboy who died of AIDS. Other beneficiaries mentioned include Camp Ronald McDonald and juvenile diabetes charities. "This tour will allow me to donate time to visiting children throughout the world and spread global love," Jackson said. Jackson was dressed like the Prince of Ruritania, wearing a black leather jacket full of military medals, badges, coat of arms, and a red arm band. He read a brief statement but did not answer any questions. Jackson was serenaded by members of the St. Thomas School Boys Choir of Manhattan, who sang "Heal the World," a ballad from the pop star's current recording "Dangerous." Jackson said that the "innocence and beauty" of their performance nearly brought him to tears. Peter Kendall, vice president of worldwide marketing for Pepsi-Cola International, gave Jackson a check for $100,000 to help launch the "Heal the World" foundation. Kendall would not say how much Pepsi was paying Jackson under the sponsorship agreement. "The answer is 'a lot,' " he said. Pepsi also sponsored Jackson's "Bad" tour which began in 1987 and the Jacksons' "Victory" tour in 1984. --- --- In Tune With Michael Jackson USA Today February 04, 1992 Michael Jackson is getting a bad rap, says Teddy Riley, who produced seven tracks on the pop star's Dangerous album. "He's kind of shy but you can't knock it ... He doesn't know who to trust." Contrary to some reports, Riley says Jackson doesn't ignore his family. "I've been there many times when he called his mom and his brothers and sisters. (For) Jermaine to come out with a record like Word to the Badd!! was wrong. He's just trying to sell albums..." Riley does admit that Jackson seems "very young-minded when it comes to recreation," recalling how they rode amusement park rides on Michael's estate and had water-gun fights in the recording studio. "But when it comes to business there's no young mind." The two first met on the phone, after Eddie Murphy told the pop star about the producer. Jackson "asked me how I program my music," says Riley. "I told him that I don't do the same thing twice, so if he was looking for another My Prerogative (Bobby Brown's hit, produced by Riley), forget it. "He said, 'You're coming to the house next week.' " Riley's retort: "I didn't know that.' He said, 'Your manager is going to let you know that in a few minutes.' " --- 12 Years Ago --- Michael Has Left The Building Boston Globe February 04, 1994 Michael Jackson popped up with Lisa Marie Presley to hear The Fifth Dimension and the Temptations at a Las Vegas resort. The two arrived five minutes before the concert started Wednesday night at the Sheraton Desert Inn. They entered from backstage with a security guard. "There was no announcement from the stage that he was attending the show, but there was a buzz from the crowd when he was seated," said Steve Schiffman, a resort spokesman. "No one bothered him. The people in the audience respected his space," said Schiffman... Tix to that Jackson Family reunion show scheduled for Feb. 19 in Las Vegas go on sale today at all Ticketmaster outlets, priced from $1,000 to $50. To charge, call (702) 474-4000. The show will be televised three days later by NBC. --- --- Altered Tape Barred From Jackson Case Denver Post February 04, 1994 A Denver woman suing superstar Michael Jackson for allegedly swiping her song and turning it into the big hit "Dangerous" won't be able to use a reconstructed tape of a May 1989 recording of the tune, a judge ruled yesterday. In a pretrial motions hearing yesterday, U.S. District Judge Edward Nottingham, in whose court the copyright infringement suit brought by Crystal Cartier will be tried starting Monday, granted a defense motion to keep her from using the reconstructed tape. Cartier testified yesterday about efforts to retrieve an original copy of the May 1989 demo tape from Los Angeles recording firms and from musicians with whom she had worked on it - to no avail. Cartier, who is seeking $40 million in damages from Jackson and several other defendants, alleges she gave the singer's road manager a demo tape of her original song, "Dangerous" in 1988 and also left a copy of her songs for Jackson at the office of Epic Records in Los Angeles. Jackson says his song "Dangerous" was recorded in September 1990. Cartier received a copyright on her song in July 1991 and Jackson got his copyright in February 1992. After Cartier testified she was unsuccessful in getting anybody to talk to her at some of the 25 record companies she gave demo tapes, Nottingham ruled she wouldn't be allowed to present evidence of her efforts to get an original demo tape. Once the suit was filed, he said, her attorneys could have subpoenaed the record firms. Nottingham also granted a defense motion to exclude tapes played at different speeds and otherwise altered to show similarities between Cartier's chorus and Jackson's chorus. But he denied a defense motion to use jury questionnaires, saying he will question prospective jurors himself. --- --- Youngsters Pick Their Musical Favorites Los Angeles Times February 04, 1994 Here are some of the hottest music acts of 1993, according to more than 8,500 readers, ages 6 to 14, who responded to Disney Adventures magazine's annual survey: Favorite female singer-Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Wynonna Judd and Whitney Houston. Favorite male singer-Jon Secada, Joey Lawrence, Garth Brooks, Michael Jackson. Favorite Group-Boyz II Men, En Vogue, Kris Kross, and tying for fourth place, Aerosmith and SWV... --- --- King Of Pop and a Princess USA Today February 04, 1994 Brooke Shields is no longer Michael Jackson's constant escort: The Gloved One stirred a Vegas crowd Wednesday night when he attended a Temptations and the 5th Dimension concert with The King's daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. "There was no announcement from the stage that he was attending the show, but there was a buzz from the crowd when he was seated," Steve Schiffman, a spokesman for the Sheraton Desert Inn, said Thursday. "No one bothered him. The people in the audience respected his space." Schiffman added that Jackson was wearing a black robe and headdress. The pop star will shift from public appearances to a public performance Feb. 19, when he joins his family at the Las Vegas taping of the Jackson Family Honors. It is the first time Jackson is scheduled to sing since abandoning his Dangerous tour last November. Meanwhile, the star's lawyers are seeking the return of his medical records, released earlier to prosecutors conducting a continuing child molestation probe involving the singer. Johnnie Cochran Jr. claims his star client waived rights to the records only temporarily, while prosecutors contend the waiver was indefinite. --- 10 Years Ago --- Detroit's Black Mosaic Pittsburgh Post Gazette February 04, 1996 ...The Motown Sound pulsed forth from Hitsville U.S.A. -- really Gordy's modest, two-story stucco home on West Grand Boulevard. Big sister Esther Gordy Edwards later turned it into the Motown Historical Museum (MHM). She is head of the museum board. Renovated in May with help from the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, the museum's artifacts include photos, album covers and Michael Jackson's sequined glove. Hear a simulated recording session in the garage-turned-studio. See the Gordy family's upstairs apartment, where the kitchen table doubled as an office desk. The $1 million renovation is paired with a new 11,000-square-foot exhibit at the Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Museum in Dearborn, a 20-minute drive from Detroit... --- --- Mu's Schrupp Floors 'em In Cat Classic St. Louis Post February 04, 1996 Charise Schrupp is a Michael Jackson fan. But initially she did not want to do her floor routine to Jackson's music. But Mizzou assistant coach Kris Buchheister persuaded Schrupp to try. Schrupp, a sophomore, finally agreed. And that routine ended up winning the floor exercise title (9.80) at the Cat Classic on Saturday. "If we were only allowed, she'd wear a white glove," Buchheister said. Schrupp's routine mimics many of the moves Jackson performs in his videos, including a moonwalk near the beginning of Schrupp's performance that got the crowd into the routine. "I started doing the moonwalk and (people) were like, 'Oooooh,' " Schrupp said. Schrupp at first balked at doing a Jackson routine because she thought it was too audience-oriented. The first few times Schrupp performed it in practice she was bashful. But Buchheister knew that the routine would go over well. "She's a ham," Buchheister said. Schrupp's nerves resurfaced just before her routine on Saturday. Buchheister called Schrupp over and told her that she was "awesome." At the end of Schrupp's routine, the 5,000 fans at the Hearnes Center responded with their loudest ovation of the night. After watching Schrupp complete the final performance of the evening, most of the crowd seemed positive she had scored the 9.80 needed to defeat Arizona's Maureen Kealey... --- 9 Years Ago --- Genius Jackson An Example To Us All South China Morning Post February 04, 1997 Michael Jackson is a genius comparable to Mozart and Michelangelo - and should be an inspiration to us all. That's according to a new book Michael Jackson American Master - which describes him as the only living person to measure up to such universally acclaimed geniuses. Author C. Mecca, a 60-year-old former teacher who has published the book at her own expense - sees the controversial superstar as an almost spiritual figure whose life should be an inspiration to others. Mecca, from San Francisco, has created a theory of "masters" - people with remarkable talents and achievements who should be models to help the rest of us improve ourselves. She said: "The main premise of the book is to say the creation of the talent of these masters is in how they interpret nature in their lives and art." An advertising flier for the book, which sells for US$50 (HK$387) , says: "Join C. Mecca in discovering the techniques and thought processes of Michael Jackson as we study and observe the creativity of the living master of our generation." Jackson has read the book - and unsurprisingly approves - giving Mecca 37 previously unpublished photographs for it... --- 7 Years Ago --- Passion For MJ Daily Record February 04, 1999 Kathleen Rogers had a passion for Michael Jackson, while all her friends were into East 17 in the mid-90s. Kathleen, 20, said: "I imagined he'd be very gentle and articulate. I refused to believe the stories about how he was weird and had an obsession about his health." Her friends were unimpressed by her choice of idol. Kathleen, of Glasgow, who works for Toni and Guy, added: "They were into newer bands and laughed at me for being so old-fashioned." But the posters didn't come down until she was 16. She said: "I'd redecorated my bedroom and was about to put Michael back on the wall in his Thriller and Billie Jean outfits, but my friends wouldn't let me." --- 5 Years Ago --- Portraits From Patton To Pop Star Chicago Tribune February 04, 2001 Gen. George S. Patton Jr., pop star Michael Jackson, stage and screen legend Tallulah Bankhead, humorist Mark Twain, composer George Gershwin, author Henry James and abolitionist Frederick Douglass are among 75 very famous Americans brought together in portrait form in "A Brush With History," an exhibition just opened at Raleigh's North Carolina Museum of History. The show runs through April 8. --- 4 Years Ago --- Loving and Losing To Chase the Blues New York Times February 04, 2002 Alicia Keys has learned at least one important lesson from hip-hop: the best way to honor your musical heroes is to steal from them. During the first four songs she played at Radio City Music Hall on Friday night, she borrowed the theme from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, appropriated two beats from the Notorious B.I.G., swiped a chorus (and a few dance moves) from Michael Jackson, quoted Marvin Gaye, covered a song by Prince and brought out an old Roy Ayers hook. Ms. Keys, the most successful new singer of 2001, has been praised as a fresh new voice in R & B, but this was a night of celebration, not innovation... --- --- Beatles 'Irked' With Jackson, Lennon Over Ad Chicago Sun Times February 04, 2002 Michael Jackson is back in hot water with Paul McCartney. The ex- Beatle, along with his former bandmate Ringo Starr and the estate of the late George Harrison are said to be "extremely irked" that Jackson has again given permission for a classic Beatles tune to be used for promotional spot for a corporate enterprise. To make matters worse--in the eyes of McCartney and company--"one of their own has gone over to the enemy," says a close friend of McCartney's who spoke to him about this last week. Julian Lennon, John's son, will record "When I'm 64" for an upcoming Allstate Insurance spot. Julian and Jackson have been good friends for some time and it is assumed [Michael Jackson] gave his OK without much of a fuss. Of course, it's not the first time Jackson, who owns the rights to the Beatles songbook, has allowed songs by the Fab Four to be used for commercials. Previously he's said yes to licensed use of "Revolution" and "Good Day Sunshine." A spokesman for Jackson could not be reached for comment. --- 3 Years Ago --- Millions Watched Jackson South Wales Echo February 04, 2003 Michael Jackson's candid confessions drew one of the biggest audiences for a TV documentary for years, figures showed today. More than 15 million people tuned in last night to see Martin Bashir's revealing portrait on ITV1... Apart from soaps, very few shows manage to pull in such large audiences and ITV chiefs said they were "very pleased" with the figures for the programme Living With Michael Jackson. Unofficial overnight figures showed an average of 14.1 million people watched the show, with a peak of 15.1 million. A further 1.7 million are believed to have recorded the show. --- 2 Years Ago --- MJ's Classics Still Number One New York Beacon February 04, 2004 Michael Jackson's latest CD, titled Number Ones, is a compilation of his number one hit songs. It also includes one new song, "One More Chance." A live recording of the Grammy Award winning solo "Ben" from MJ's days as a Motown artist is also on the CD. The project undoubtedly rates a 10 and captures the musical genius of Jackson. Jackson has written and co-produced most of his classic songs. His number one hits include "Thriller," "Billy Jean," "Remember The Time," "Bad," "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," "Dirty Diana" and "Rock With You." Listening to the CD makes one realize that Jackson has had some beautiful number one hits including the slow jams "I Just Can't Stop Loving You," "You Are Not Alone," "Break of Dawn" and "The Man In The Mirror." Michael Jackson's music brings back a lot of memories. It makes one remember the time before and after Jackson was accused of such heinous acts that are confronting him today. It also makes one realize how Michael Jackson's image has changed over the years, but more importantly how his character has been assassinated. As an American who is still naïve enough to believe that one is innocent until proven guilty and that accusations are mere words until they are substantiated with facts, one could not help but wonder the effect of Jackson's legal troubles could have on his creativity. Jackson has given us over three decades of great music. If he is guilty, he should pay. But, if he is innocent, who plays for the public debacle we have witnessed? The raid on his Neverland estate was staged with giggling prosecutors the day the CD was released. If he is guilty, it is not funny. It is criminal. If he is innocent the public castration is not funny, but criminal. Ultimately, this CD proves that the musical legacy created by Michael Jackson's genius will far out live his public image and private hauntings. MJ has also released a DVD titled Michael Jackson Number Ones featuring such hits as "You Rock My World," "The Way You Make Me Feel" and "Smooth Criminal" to name a few. (Glenda Taylor has written numerous articles and is the editor of "The Secrets of Success: Quotations by African American Achievers" and co-editor of "The Secrets of Success: The Black Man's Perspective." She is currently working on the third volume of "The Secrets of Success" titled, "The Womb Of My Soul"). ---