Jan. 21 in history

18 Years Ago --- Rock Hall of Fame Inducts Members New York Times January 21, 1988 As fans clustered behind police lines outside the hotel, hoping to snap a photograph of "everybody who's famous," as one put it, music-business executives and other rock fans sat at tables for which they had paid $5,000 or $10,000 for 10 people. They saw Mr. Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Bruce Springsteen, Little Richard, Neil Young, Mick Jagger, Billy Joel, Elton John, Pete Seeger and other performers step up to the dais, to receive or present awards and pay tribute to fellow musicians. Only one sour note was struck, as Mike Love of the Beach Boys challenged "the moptops" or Mick Jagger to perform as often as the Beach Boys did, and complained that Diana Ross, from the original Supremes group, and Paul McCartney were absent. Les Paul, who refined the electric guitar and pioneered multitrack recording, said, "Have a lot of fun with my toys." Also cited was a nonperformer, Berry Gordy, founder of Motown Records. Mr. Gordy's "hit factory" approach was responsible for some of the most enduring rock records of the 1960's. Michael Jackson, a Motown discovery, sent a congratulatory telegram signed, "Your son." --- 17 Years Ago --- Thriller Orlando Sentinel January 21, 1989 Andrew Wigglesworth, a 10-year-old boy who lost a leg to a tumor, was awe-struck when he met rock star Michael Jackson in Los Angeles, then visited Disneyland with actor Martin Sheen. Sheen, who met the boy last November when he appeared as an extra in a movie, arranged the trip for Andrew and his mother, Philippa, of Vancouver, British Columbia. He met them at the airport Tuesday and escorted them to meet Jackson backstage before a concert. Andrew stood up in the aisle and began dancing as Jackson performed the song "Thriller." During his visit to Disneyland with Sheen on Wednesday, the youngster was mobbed by Disney characters. Andrew couldn't decide what he liked best about the trip: "Everything was good," he said. --- 15 Years Ago --- SA For Africa Closes Doors After Raising $61 Million US The Vancouver Sun January 21, 1991 Six years has passed since a little celebrity sing-along spawned an instant international anthem. The song, We are the World, raised more than $61 million US to fight hunger in drought-stricken Africa. Its organizers are now closing shop. United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) has cut its office staff in Inglewood, Calif., to three from 25, as the last of the We are the World proceeds make their way to 19 African countries. Among USA for Africa's original 12-member board of directors included Harry Belafonte, who conceived the effort; Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, co-authors of the song and Ken Kragen, a music manager who organized the recording. Of the celebrities who initiated the effort, only Belafonte is still on the board, now reduced to seven members. The record was an instant hit. Radio stations played it endlessly; the video was big on music TV stations. T-shirts, posters and books boosted USA for Africa's fundraising. About $49.4 million has been distributed in Africa so far, with about $5 million more yet to be dispersed, said executive director Marcia Thomas. An additional $5.6 million was spent in the U.S. to combat domestic homelessness and hunger. The remainder of the funds went to administrative costs. About $1 million was used for U.S. public education about Africa, much of it to help fundraising efforts of other groups working on behalf of the impoverished continent. CBS Records distributed and promoted We Are the World for two years and, along with retailers, took no profit, said Thomas. --- 14 Years Ago --- ox To Air New Jackson Video The Salt Lake Tribune January 21, 1992 Jackson's new music-video Remember The Time, is set to premiere on KSTU-TV, Fox affiliate, Feb. 2 at 6:26 p.m. (MST), and will feature guest appearances by Eddie Murphy, Earvin `Magic' Johnson, and supermodel and actress Iman. Filming on the six-minute production in and around the Los Angeles area was completed Monday. It is the second film from Jackson's Dangerous album, and was directed by John Singleton, whose credits include Boyz N The Hood... The new production promoting his album has an Egyptian theme and features Iman as "the beautiful Queen Nefertiti, with Murphy and Johnson in cameo roles. A Fox spokeswoman told me that Jackson was being doubly cautious about including anything in the performance that could be construed as controversial. "It will have lots of good music and fine dancing. And the Fox affiliates will have a copy a couple of days in advance to reassure themselves if they want to." --- 13 Years Ago --- Cascading Stars Get Fanfare for Good Reason At Silver Anniversary Image Awards Sentinel January 21, 1993 In the words of the astute lyrics of silver anniversary Image Award-winner Vanessa Williams, to the song which garnered her the Best Female Recording Artist at the momentous occasions of the Silver Anniversary Image Awards, Saturday, Jan. 16, the NAACP "Saved the Best for Last." So I'm going to get ahead of myself just to give you the scope of events which couldn't be considered anything but a thundering feather in their cap for the eminent organization. When you get the peerless megastar Michael Jackson to appear in person to accept what must be one of a multitudinal, myriad collection of awards, you've done the inconceivable. When you get him to perform impromptu, after a few perfunctory "I'm sorrys," that says Amen. From the retiring, reclusive, shy and gracious superstar Jackson, to the littlest members of the cast of more than 100 prima donnas, you have what the NAACP had: a cavalcade of stars... As might be anticipated when Michael Jackson won the Best Video Award, the crowd went wild, and in accepting he said, "Thank you to the NAACP." And to the audience he stated, "You're very dear, sweet, loving people. Thank you so much." Then actor Wesley Snipes awarded Michael the Silver Anniversary Entertainer of the Year Award stating, "If you're black, you know what planet Michael is from." Jackson was feted in song by the Voices of Faith Choir, featuring Daryl Coley and Patti LaBelle, who, along with the audience, coaxed Michael into song. In accepting this highest of all awards, Jackson made a most gracious and monumental speech, quickly evaporating all the rumors that fly about him. His standing ovation was almost 10 minutes in duration. --- 11 Years Ago --- Brownstone Lifts You From the Bottom Up New York Amsterdam News January 21, 1995 What a fitting description for the three young women of Brownstone, whose debut album, "From the Bottom Up," rings with the voices that radiate from the depths of the soul to the tops of the highest mountains. "We wanted something that portrays us as who we are," explains Mimi, who along with fellow members Nicci and Maxi, believes the album's title is reflective of what they've gone through in terms of their careers. Debuting on Michael Jackson's own MJJ Music label (distributed by Epic Records), "From the Bottom Up" melds stone-solid tracks with girdle-tight harmonies so eloquently that it becomes difficult to pick out the album's highlights. From "The Fruit of Life," where one can choose their favorite flavor of love, to "Party Wit Me," the LP's explosive opener, Brownstone weaves an intricate web of ballads and mid-tempo jams that entrap the listener right from the start. A networking opportunity opened the door for an introduction to MJJ Music president Jerry Greenberg and an eventual audition with the one and only Michael Jackson, where the girls performed an a cappella track appropriately entitled, "Acappella". Nicci describes what happened next: "After we finished, Michael just smiled and said, `Thank you, Jerry. These girls are extraordinary.'" --- 5 Years Ago --- NEW CDs: Michael Jackson Comeback On Tap The Atlanta Journal January 21, 2001 Some major artists -- including Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, Radiohead and Sisqo -- are planning to enliven the pop music scene soon with new records. Here's a sampling of what's scheduled (dates are subject to change): ... R&B and rap: In the first quarter of the year, we'll find out whether some of 2000's biggest hitmakers were flukes. The "Thong Song" man, Sisqo, will release "Return of the Dragon" in March, a follow-up to his multimillion-selling solo debut. (That means his supposed reunion album with R&B act Dru Hill has been put on hold. Again.) In April, multimillion-sellers Destiny's Child will release "Survivor." Usher returns in April with "The Wonderful World of U," which was supposed to come out last year, but producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis are adding three tracks. Probably the most anticipated disc is coming from the entertainer whom Sisqo and Usher aspire to be: Michael Jackson. Producer Rodney Jerkins --- who has worked with Monica ("The Boy Is Mine"), Destiny's Child ("Say My Name") and Jennifer Lopez ("If You Had My Love") --- is assisting Jackson's comeback. --- 4 Years Ago --- Tonight On TV Newsday January 21, 2002 SPECIALS Michael Jackson Day - VH1 salutes the King of Pop all day with "Fan Club: Michael Jackson" (10 a.m., 8 p.m.), "King of Videos: Michael Jackson" (11 a.m.), the movie musical "The Wiz" (noon), "Pop- Up Video: The Jacksons" (3 p.m.), "Pop-Up Video: Michael Jackson" (3:30 p.m.), "Michael Jackson: Smooth Criminal" (4 p.m.), "The Making of Thriller" (5 p.m.), "Michael Jackson: Ghost" (6 p.m.) "King of Videos" (7 p.m.) --- --- Flash Dance The Sun January 21, 2002 Eri Halliwell's knickers made a not-too-brief appearance as she kicked off a music awards bash. My snaps show the star flashing while performing her hit It's Raining Men, which picked up Best International Single at the annual NRJ ceremony in Cannes, France... Other winners included Dido, Best Album and Best Newcomer, Jennifer Lopez Best Female and Michael Jackson, voted Best Male. --- 1 Years Ago --- Jackson Gives TV Statement Townsville Bulletin January 21, 2005 The judge in the Michael Jackson child molestation case has given the star permission to make a TV statement responding to leaks of grand jury testimony given by his teenage boy accuser. Fox News Channel confirmed yesterday the judge had approved a statement Jackson gave to talk show host Geraldo Rivera. A source said an interview Jackson gave with Rivera dealt with his "personal life and family relationships" and not the case. ---