Jan. 14 in history

22 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson At 25: A Musical Phenomenon New York Times January 14, 1984 Since its release just over a year ago, the "Thriller" album has sold 20 million copies worldwide; it is now in its 25th week as No. 1 on Billboard's chart of best-selling LP's. Meanwhile, Mr. [Michael Jackson]'s singles have been in the top 10 since November 1982, when "The Girl Is Mine," a duet with the former Beatle Paul McCartney, was released in advance of the"Thriller" album. Five other singles from "Thriller" have also reached the top 10 - an unparalleled number for anything other than a greatest-hits album. (America's current No. l single, in fact, is "Say Say Say," a duet by Mr. Jackson and Mr. McCartney that appears on Mr. McCartney's album "Pipes of Peace.") At Ease in Video Clips "Of course," Mr. [Frank Dileo] added, "the videos helped immensely, too." Mr. Jackson has appeared in ever-more- elaborate video clips - a $60,000 production directed by Steve Barron for "Billie Jean," a song about a paternity battle; a $150,000 clip of "Beat It" directed by Bob Giraldi, and the $1.1 million "Thriller" short directed by John Landis, the Hollywood director who made "An American Werewolf in London." --- 19 Years Ago --- Jacqueline Onassis Editing Jackson's Book Houston Chronicle January 14, 1987 In an atmosphere of secrecy and great expectation, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis is wielding the blue pencil on Michael Jackson's memoirs. The editing takes place 43 stories above Park Avenue at the Doubleday publishing house and has included several meetings between what must be one of the literary world's oddest couples. "It's an autobiography," said Onassis associate Jacqueline Deval, providing the merest outline of Jackson's book. "Michael talks about his career, his family, his friends Marlon Brando and Fred Astaire, and his producer, Quincy Jones (who jokingly refers to the immaculate Gloved One as Smelly.)" The title of the book is "Moonwalk," the name of a dance step originated by Cab Calloway and popularized by Jackson. The Jackson/Jackie collaboration is due out in April, two months before the singer's 30th birthday. But Doubleday will not release a single word of it until publication date. "Review copies will go out as the book arrives in the stores," said Deval, apparently banking on critics' speed-reading skills. Expectation in bookstores is high, although the $24.95 retail price is unusual for a first effort. "It's kind of high for a rock singer," said Richard Wagner, of Doubleday Bookstores, where a new biography of Peter the Great sells for $20. Doubleday would not detail the nature of the editing process. Jackson is touring Japan and Australia and begins his first national solo tour next month. He is expected to perform in Houston as part of the tour, but no date has been set for the concert. The former first lady, who has been in the book business for several years, is also editing a book on slavery in North Carolina. The publishing company also was reluctant to comment on the price paid the eccentric singer, whose gross income in 1986 was $12 million, according to Forbes magazine. However, Doubleday did reveal that the book includes drawings and photographs by the golden warbler, and that it includes thoughts of an "intensely personal nature." "Michael talks about his feelings of isolation," said Deval. The book is Onassis' second stab at celebrity autobiography following editorial chores on last year's ballet-and-cocaine best seller "Dancing on My Grave" by dancer Gelsey Kirkland. Meanwhile, Jackson is reported to be close to completing his second feature film - the similarly titled "Moonwalker." Variety quoted its producers as saying that Sean Ono Lennon, the youngest son of slain Beatle John, is his co-star. "Moonwalker" will be Jackson's first feature film role since "The Wiz," a failed version of the Wizard of Oz made in 1978. But Jackson is no stranger to the movie camera. His spectacular video for "Beat It" and the 10-minute extravaganza "Thriller" both became successful promotional tools for his records, which have sold over 50 million copies. More recently, Jackson worked with director Martin Scorsese on a 15-minute promotional video for his album "Bad," which was distinguished by the lyrics "I'm bad, I'm bad, you know I'm bad" and "You know it, I'm bad," as well as "You know, you know I'm bad, I'm really bad, you know it." The singer also starred in an extravagant science-fiction musical short in 3-D that can be seen only at Disney World. A long-awaited remake of the classic children's story "Peter Pan," which was to have been directed by Steven Spielberg, appears to have fallen through. Thousands of columns of print have been written about the superstar, but Jackson is now apparently determined to set the record straight. Late last year, in an anguished, handwritten note written in a Tokyo hotel room and published by People magazine, a wounded Jackson wrote: "Most people don't know me, that is why they write such things in which most is not true. I cry very, very often because it hurts, and I worry about the children, all my children all over the world. "Animals strike, not from malice but because they want to live. It is the same with those who criticize. They desire our blood, not our pain... I've been bleeding a long time now." --- 17 Years Ago --- Jackson Donates Proceeds From His Last Show To Childhelp Chicago Defender January 14, 1989 Michael Jackson has just released a video called "Moonwalker" and has donated the proceeds from his last concert to Childhelp USA to combat child abuse. --- 16 Years Ago --- Gala For Sammy Davis Houston Chronicle January 14, 1990 Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., well on the road to recovery after radiation treatments for throat cancer, is busy preparing for ``Sammy Davis Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration'' on Feb. 4, a 2 1/2-hour TV extravaganza to benefit the United Negro College Fund. The show has an all-star cast in the chorus line - Diahann Carroll, Nell Carter, Lola Falana, Debbie Allen, Dionne Warwick and Ella Fitzgerald - joined by singers Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra and Anita Baker and actress Shirley MacLaine. Michael Jackson will sing a number written for Davis. --- 14 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson's 'Remember' Single USA Today January 14, 1992 Michael Jackson rolls out the second single from his "Dangerous" album on Jan 14, 1992. The video for the single, "Remember the Time," will debut on MTV, BET and Fox on Feb 2. --- --- TV & Video Los Angeles Times January 14, 1992 Michael Jackson has hired John Singleton to direct the short film for "Remember the Time," the second single from his chart-topping "Dangerous" album. The short, which is being filmed around L.A., premieres Feb. 2 at 8:25 p.m. simultaneously on Fox, MTV and Black Entertainment Television. The single will be released today. --- 13 Years Ago --- Hollywood Heads East The Washington Post January 14, 1993 Now all they need is Madonna. With the confirmation yesterday of superstar Michael Jackson's participation, almost all of the other household names in the entertainment business are headed to Washington next week. The news of Jackson's appearance at Tuesday's Presidential Gala was confirmed by his office in Los Angeles and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. The addition didn't come as a total surprise. Once Quincy Jones was announced as the executive producer of the Sunday program at the Lincoln Memorial, Jackson's name surfaced. Jones has produced Jackson's three biggest-selling albums... Jones said yesterday he is still trying to get Jackson for the Sunday program, which includes a "We Are the World" sing-along. "Everybody is coming; you just don't realize the scope of this thing," said Jones. Yesterday Jones and Thomason held a press conference to expand the list of entertainers and to preview some of the musical and "emotional" moments. The Clintons, he said, have requested a special treatment of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" for the Sunday show. --- 12 Years Ago --- Let's Not Prejudge Jackson The Ottawa Citizen January 14, 1994 Michael Jackson became famous while he was just a child. Everyone had heard of the Jacksons and later on, The Jackson Five. The name Michael Jackson can be recognized almost anywhere. He has, or had, fans all over the world, until one 13-year-old boy and his father claimed something that made everyone think twice about the famous superstar Michael Jackson. Over the years Michael Jackson has proven to be a generous, caring, "let's save the earth kind of guy. He has donated large amounts of time and money to children. He had no real childhood, so being with kids made up for what he never had... As for his long, curly hair, a lot of guys have their hair like that. There is absolutely nothing wrong with it. And yet again, Michael Jackson gets called feminine. What about the make-up? I think both men and women superstars wear it. Why the big fuss? What I don't understand is, when one child makes such an allegation, all of a sudden everyone starts speaking up. It makes me crazy to think most people will believe what they read in tabloids, and rumors that are flying left and right. Doesn't it make you think it may all have been for money? Or some kind of publicity scheme? I may not have all the facts. But it's just like Elizabeth Taylor said: "Michael Jackson would rather slit his own wrists than ever harm a child." So please, before you condemn him, hear him out. Whatever happened to the saying, innocent until proven guilty? --- 3 Years Ago --- Michael Jackson Says Tommy Is Baloney Orange County Register January 14, 2003 Tommy Mottola might get ripped in a song on his former label, MSNBC reports. The music industry was buzzing last week about the exit of the high-profile CEO of Sony Music, who was once married to Mariah Carey and who clashed with Michael Jackson. Now, sources say, Jackson is recording a song about his fight with Mottola. The singer very publicly attacked Mottola, blaming him for the poor performance of his latest album, "Invincible" calling him, among other things, "devilish." Now, according to insiders, Jackson is recording a song, "Xscape," about his fights with Mottola. Although some scoffed at Jackson's allegations, both George Michael and Mariah Carey have also accused Sony of thwarting their careers. "Xscape is about that whole mess," says one insider, "but it's also high energy, and you can dance to it." --- --- Jermaine Jackson Casino? Orange County Register January 14, 2003 Jermaine Jackson of the Jackson 5 plans to open a $560 million casino resort in the U.S. Virgin Islands, officials said. In partnership with Connecticut developer Curtis Robinson, Jackson plans to build the 1,400-room resort in Robin Bay, on the eastern end of St. Croix, Lt. Gov. Vargrave Richards said. Jackson and his partners are waiting to arrange for more funding before beginning construction, Richards said, without giving details. The resort is to include a casino, a golf course, time shares and a conference center. U.S. Virgin Islands authorities have already approved a casino license, Richards said. --- --------------------