Jan. 22 in history

22 Years Ago --- The King of Records At CBS New York Times January 22, 1984 Records. On Monday, Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, which has sold 21 million copies under CBS's Epic label, got 12 nominations for Grammy Awards, the record industry's answer to Hollywood's Oscars. That night, the young performer walked away with most of the American Music Awards. But on Tuesday, the music turned sour: the Supreme Court, in the Betamax decision, upheld the legality of television taping at home and dealt a blow to the record industry, which has lost billions in sales to the unauthorized taping of music. On balance, however, CBS Records is on a roll, and so is Mr. Yetnikoff. "This has been the best year we've ever had for CBS Records profits," he said, in an office tiled in "platinums," the prizes handed out by the Recording Industry Association of America for albums that sell over 1 million copies and singles that sell over 2 million... How would CBS Records have performed without Michael Jackson last year? "Pretty good," said Walter Yetnikoff. "Not as good. But a company is entitled to have a little break now and then." That is one way of putting it. Here is another: "Michael Jackson helped Walter become a hero in 1983," said John Reidy, an analyst with Drexel Burnham Lambert. It is hard to measure the impact of singer-dancer- songwriter Michael Jackson on CBS Records' bottom line, but it certainly runs well into the millions of dollars. His album, "Thriller," has so far sold 21 million copies, more than any other LP ever made by a single performer. Two of the album's songs, "Billie Jean" and "Beat It," ranked third and fifth among the best-selling pop singles in 1983. And the beat goes on: Last week, the best-selling single was "Say Say Say," a duet with Paul McCartney that appears on Mr. McCartney's Columbia album, "Pipes of Peace." But CBS has not participated in the entire Michael Jackson industry. It was Vestron, a privately owned home video company, that last month brought out "Making the Thriller Video," a 60- minute, $29.95 video cassette about the famous $1.3 million "Thriller" video. "CBS was a bit asleep on that," said Mark Riely of F. Eberstadt & Company. "Vestron got and made the deal before anyone else," Mr. Yetnikoff admitted. "We could have got sticky," he added, but CBS had already had a "minor-league squabble" with MCA when the company released its "E.T." record with a single by Michael Jackson. "It would have been absurd to get in his way," Mr. Yetnikoff said. "The practical matter is, when someone reaches the status of Michael Jackson, it's real hard to argue." Still, Mr. Yetnikoff is determined to prevent future Jackson properties from slipping through CBS's fingers. He says that, as soon as the hubbub from the American Music Awards and the Grammy Award nominations subsides, he will discuss some video projects with the young performer. "Right now, we're basking in the glow," he said. "I don't bask too much." And somewhere in the future, the CBS Records president suggests, there could be a CBS movie starring Michael Jackson. "Who could be more perfect for a movie," Mr. Yetnikoff asks rhetorically, "and who has as good a relationship with him?" --- 18 Years Ago --- Sympathic Rap On Rap Music Newsday January 22, 1988 Rap music is not on the same level of excellence as the music of some of the great musicians I have mentioned, though you can't convince most young rap lovers of that. Rap is loved and understood by a generation whose musical tastes and values are different from my own, just as mine were different from those of my elders... Perhaps much of what makes many adults uneasy is not the music itself, but the rap stars' blatant celebration of inner-city black lifestyles and dress codes - the gold chains, tennis shoes, street language and tough-guy image. Even a star as passive as Michael Jackson picked up on this attitude in the marketing of his new album, "Bad," which was to feature the popular rap group Run-D.M.C. Ironically, Run-D.M.C. grew up in middle-class Hollis, Queens. --- --- Horror Mixed With Slapstick Sun Sentinel January 22, 1988 Like other films in its genre, the comedy/horror Return of the Living Dead Part II accepts the premise that gore in today's splatter movies is so excessive that it has become slapstick... Early in the film, when fog drapes the cemetery and corpses begin to emerge, Return of the Living Dead Part II takes its cues from Michael Jackson's music video, Thriller. Both have their corpses grooving to a funky beat. (Toward film's end, there is also a Jackson lookalike gyrating with the bunch.) --- 16 Years Ago --- Cash-Strapped Comic Book Maker Hits Hard Times Again San Diego Business Journal January 22, 1990 Blackthorne Publishing Co., the El Cajon company that hoped to cash in on a 3-D comic featuring Michael Jackson, confirmed last week that it has suspended operations while it seeks refinancing. Saddled with $180,000 in accounts receivables and lacking cash reserves, the 3-D comics publisher last November laid off eight of its nine employees, including editor in chief John Stephenson. It also has postponed further comic book publishing ventures, including the comic version of Jackson's famous "Moonwalker" video. "We had some distributor problems over the past year and just ran out of cash," said Blackthorne Publisher Steve Schanes, the company's only remaining employee. Schanes said he is trying to raise $250,000 to resume the project. "Some disappointing sales results" with Mellon Marketing, the La Jolla firm hired by Blackthorne to promote its comic books, also contributed to the company's temporary shutdown, he added. Just last March, Blackthorne was riding high, planning to publish 1 million issues of the comic version of "Moonwalker," Jackson's $25 million video. Seven other "Moonwalker" comic spinoffs also were to be published over the next two years. The company had projected the first four Jackson comics would bring in $12 million in 1989. To handle the demand, Blackthorne had said its normal distribution network would be increased tenfold to between 30,000 and 40,000 outlets. But last week Schanes said six distributors -- a major newstand distributor called Pacific Marketing Services Corp. and five national comic book distributors, none of which are local -- went out of business. The distributor failures are the reason for Blackthorne's financial problems, he alleged. --- 14 Years Ago --- Christmas Season Gives Record Industry Boost Seattle Post January 22, 1992 Business boomed for the record industry this past holiday season, propelling the sales of Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" album beyond what "Thriller" or "Bad" had done in their first seven weeks, and pushing country singer Garth Brooks to the top of the charts. Industry analysts, which declared the post-Christmas buying binge officially over a week ago, said the season was good for everyone: pop, country, rap and hard-rock artists. In the week ending Jan. 5, Brooks had the No. 1-selling album for the week with 260,000 units sold; Michael Jackson, 243,000; rap artist Hammer, 235,000; Seattle rock trio Nirvana, 170,000; and pop star Michael Bolton, 150,000. --- 13 Years Ago --- Producer Dick Clark On Rock and the Ages USA Today January 22, 1993 ...Leading the parade of stars at Monday's American Music Awards will be show- biz supernova Michael Jackson, in a live and presumably flashy performance of Dangerous. "That's a pretty good opening act," says the show's unflustered producer, Dick Clark. Clark didn't pull strings to enlist Jackson. He just answered the phone. He says, "Michael called and said, 'What are you doing this year? Can I be on the show?' And I'm like, 'Yeah, I think we can arrange something.' He said, 'Would you like me to perform?' I said, 'Absolutely.' He said, 'Could I open the show?' I said, 'If you like.' " Jackson told Clark he's aiming for an appearance that would rival his indelible moonwalking performance of Billie Jean on the 1983 NBC special 25 Years of Motown. "Michael said, 'I'd like to do something as memorable as that,' and I said, 'That's your problem. If you can do that, be my guest.' He's working very, very hard. We talked about it for half an hour earlier this week." Their friendship began when Michael was a child star in the Jackson 5. When Clark asked for the sequined glove from the Beat It video, Jackson delivered it himself. "He is unique, certainly," Clark says. "But if you're in a room talking with the man, he's no different from anyone else you've met." Jackson, shy and introverted offstage, has a quick mind and a mischievous sense of humor, says Clark, who's been somewhat of a father figure. "The last time I met with him, Michael was chewing ice out of a drink," Clark says. "I told him to stop. He asked why and I said, 'You'll crack the enamel on your teeth!' I've been telling my own kids that for years. "Few people can talk that way to somebody so well known. He will take it from someone he's known since he was a kid. He laughed and kept on chewing ice. He's like my kids; he didn't pay any attention." --- 12 Years Ago --- A Media Feeding Frenzy Is Devouring Michael Jackson New York Amsterdam News January 22, 1994 Well, we might as well go get the rope and hang Michael Jackson. He's already been tried and found guilty by "Hard Copy", "A Current Affair" and "The Enquirer"z. Even if there is an out of court settlement, even if the L.A. district attorney's office fails to bring forth an indictment, Michael Jackson as we knew him could be through... But is it in the interests of truth and justice to pay witnesses to come forward to testify against a person? Maybe it is, but it is debatable. One can only imagine a six figure bounty on "your" head! Every broke, spiteful, publicity-seeking wannabe with a bone to pick, with you anyway, comes forward saying you did this and you did that. The latest media salvo was "A Current Affair." Tired of losing ratings to "Hard Copy," a reporter was sent to Manila, Philippines to interview, Quindoy, with his wife, servants in Michael Jacksons household. Quindoy, who obviously does not like Jackson, made such statements as: Michael Jackson's relationship with Liz Taylor is a farce, a fraud. According to him, during her recovery from drug dependance she convalesced at Neverland. They had dinner together twice during the six weeks she was there, and they rarely came into contact with each other. This is plain malicious gossip. Michael and Liz are friends. She may be the only true friend he has. ... According to his original charge, Jackson tried to kiss him in the mouth, and he turned his head away and told Jackson he did not like that. And Jackson moved away and apologized and began to cry. He said he saw Jackson's tears as an attempt to make him feel guilty for turning him down. But if he turned Michael down, how did all his other abuse take place? The boy is a Capricorn. If he says no, he is fully capable of maintaining that stance. In fact Jackson is no match for this kid. The boy now has what he wants. He was returned to the custody of his father. His mother, because of this Michael Jackson scandal, did not contest the custody bid. Also according to reports, she and her newest husband, the boy's step father, have divorced! There are reports that the father of the boy may sue his former wife and her new husband, claiming they endangered his son. But according to my sources Jackson met the boy through the father, not the step father. The deposition now maintains that the boy met Jackson through the step father who is the founder and owner of the nationwide Rent-a-Wreck car leasing service. He was profiled on Life styles of the rich and famous. Did he divorce the boy's mother to protect himself from being dragged into the mess and risking his fortune? Did something occur between the 14-year-old boy and Jackson? Is this something embellished and yeasted up by the boy? His father and their lawyers in order to make a better case? The boy's story has changed dramatically. What he originally described was sexual impropriety. What he now describes is out and out sexual abuse -- why the dramatic change? ... But the case is so over exposed. How can Jackson get a fair venue? The public does have a right to know. But do these media feeding frenzies, with paid witnesses have anything to do with justice? Or its direction? And if we are subjected to Michael's clips in that yellow and black dance costume, during every TV news segment, on every channel, we will know that the media feeding frenzy is one big over-interpretation and exploitive method aimed, perhaps to pick Michael's money-making bones into oblivion. And the locusts will have eaten. --- 7 Years Ago --- No Messiah - it's just Jackson Africa News Service January 22, 1999 Michael Jackson jetted in from the United States especially for the event, stunning guests with his enthusiastic participation in the festivities. The superstar threw himself into traditional Jewish dances such as the hora, the havhnagila and "the train". He also joined the rabbi for a brocha (prayer) at the head table, and admired the payers (traditional sideburns) of some of the Hasidic guests. Jackson himself did not tone down his legendary sartorial taste for the occasion, opting for a maroon, military-style outfit. From Gallo Manor to Sydney, Australia, Johannesburg's Jewish community has been buzzing with talk of the superstar's Sandton appearance last Saturday. The bar mitzvah was held for the son of a family whom Jackson befriended at Sun City two years ago. A bar mitzvah is a rite of passage to manhood for Jewish boys on their 13th birthday. The family, who is understood to want to remain anonymous, decamped with Jackson to an undisclosed destination this week. --- --- What Celebrity? The Gazette January 22, 1999 Twenty-seven years ago, James Anderson was no closer to celebrity life than the Falcons were to an NFC title game. But when the telephone rang in his Newark, N.J., home one day in 1972, it both changed the course of his life and had a profound effect on the development of his son, Jamal. Phone calls from Muhammad Ali will do that. ... James hung up. Moments later, the phone rang again. "What'd you hang up on me for, boy? I'm the greatest of all-time!" James quickly accepted an offer to join Ali's security team. Before long, he was a guard for hire for Sugar Ray Leonard, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and others, and Uncle Muhammad was performing magic tricks for Jamal. Today, James is head of security for Mike Tyson. Jamal plays for the Falcons. ... In Toronto, Michael Jackson got out of his limo and walked to a metal fence to wave at fans. "Frightening," James said. "They damn near tore the fence down." --- --- Dick Grove, 71, Jazz Pianist and Composer Dies Newsday January 22, 1999 Dick Grove, an influential jazz pianist, composer and arranger who founded a school of music that taught students like Michael Jackson and Linda Ronstadt, died Dec. 26 of a heart attack. He was 71. Mr. Grove established the Dick Grove School of Music in 1973. At its peak, the school had about 450 students, and classes were taught by such well-known performers as Henry Mancini and Bill Conti... --- 5 Years Ago --- Another Dog To Let Out: Shaggy The Oregonian January 22, 2001 ...After finding marginal success in the late '80s with a few underground hits, Shaggy's career was stalled, so he joined the Marines. Determined to become a musician, Shaggy shed the military fatigues to record his 1993 career-changing album, "Pure Pleasure," a fairly authentic collection of reggae/dub/ska tracks that featured the smash hit "Oh Carolina." The song was a hit in America and Europe, and Shaggy briefly became an international reggae star. As noted, subsequent follow-ups were dismissed for pandering to the R&B pop crowd. But such pandering is paying off handily today. Must hear tracks/tracks to skip: The production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis gives "Hotshot" instant credibility. Their tracks "Luv Me, Luv Me" and "Dance & Shout" both dig into the crates to revitalize old classics. "Luv Me, Luv Me" -- which also appeared on the soundtrack for "How Stella Got Her Groove Back" -- uses Rose Royce's "Ooh Boy," which hip-hop fans will also recognize from Candyman's 1990 hit "Knockin' Boots." The new version of the song -- like most of the album -- celebrates Shaggy's profound skills with the ladies. "Dance & Shout" is a sexy sendup of Michael Jackson's disco hit "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)." Some of the album's other covers are harder to swallow, however, especially the reggae sampling of Steve Miller's "The Joker," which was transposed into the love song "Angel."... --- 4 Years Ago --- Minnelli Plans European Tour Houston Chronicle January 22, 2002 Liza Minnelli is taking a new show on a European tour, beginning in April in London. The 55-year-old performer plans a five-night run at the Royal Albert Hall, followed by dates in Denmark, France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, publicist David Freed said last week. Minnelli, winner of three Tony Awards, an Academy Award and two Golden Globes, has suffered from numerous health problems in recent years but is "feeling fantastic, looking fantastic and sounding great," Freed said. The tour will begin after Minnelli's March 16 wedding to producer David Gest in New York. Pop star Michael Jackson, who introduced the couple, is to be a best man. Elizabeth Taylor and Marisa Berenson, Minnelli's co-star in the film Cabaret, will be matrons of honor. It will be the fourth marriage for the singer and the first for Gest. --- 2 Years Ago --- Jackson Car Sale Could Be Thriller Newsday January 22, 2004 Michael Jackson's classic Bentley, which is featured in one of his music videos, will be sold at the Barrett-Jackson classic car auction this weekend in Scottsdale, Ariz., unless company executives hear from the pop singer himself. Barrett-Jackson president Craig Jackson said his firm contracted in October to sell the vehicle - before child molestation charges were leveled against the singer - but is unsure whether he still wants to sell it. "We just want to do what he wants us to do and we don't know what that is," he said. Craig Jackson, who's not related to the singer, said that company officials have had numerous discussions about the status of the car with representatives of Michael Jackson's management team," adding: "These discussions have resulted in mixed directions about the car's status ... " He added that because the singer signed the original documents, Barrett-Jackson needs to hear from him by noon Saturday. "Despite our repeated attempts to gain clarification, we have not had any verifiable direction," Craig Jackson said. The four-day Barrett-Jackson event is expected to draw about 400,000 people. Classic and antique vehicles are sold there for prices that often reach more than $100,000. Michael Jackson's car, a 2001 Bentley Arnage Red Label Turbo, appeared in the video for "What More Can I Give." The metallic blue car is signed by the entertainer and several other celebrities and has been customized. Craig Jackson said the vehicle is valued at $150,000, but with its celebrity status will likely sell for much more. --- --- 'Deal' Not Offered to Jax: NBC Newsday January 22, 2004 NBC has been drawn into a news ethics controversy with Michael Jackson just weeks after CBS was accused of indirectly paying the King of Pop for an interview with "60 Minutes," a charge the network vehemently denied. Now NBC faces accusations that it was willing to shelve a special critical of Jackson in exchange for access to the troubled star. In E-mails obtained by The New York Times, NBC queried Jackson's camp about doing a special for the network and dangled as part of the deal an offer to preempt a planned "Dateline" investigative piece about him. The E-mails, revealed last February in a little-noticed article in the Washington Post, also offered Jackson $5 million for an interview special. "There was absolutely no quid pro quo involving NBC News or 'Dateline NBC' in this 11-month-old-communication between attorneys," said an NBC spokeswoman. "The proposed preemption was in no way offered as a cancellation of 'Dateline's' investigative piece, merely a scheduling change which would have moved the 'Dateline' piece out of its original time slot and pushed it to a later date." Any suggestion that NBC was offering to cancel the special "without anyone noticing is naive and far-fetched," she said. The Jackson E-mails again raise questions about boundaries between network news and entertainment divisions. CBS was recently slammed for tying its airing of a preplanned Jackson entertainment special to his doing an interview with "60 Minutes." CBS officials maintain that they couldn't have aired the music program after he had been charged with child molestation unless he addressed the charges on a news program. In the past, there has been a definitive line between news and entertainment. But as the demand for celebrity news has grown, there have been several instances of questionable practices. "There's no question that the blurring of the line between news and entertainmnet is becoming something that is very, very difficult to defend," said Alex Jones, head of the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University. ---