Music museum expands reach with archive, library
By THOMAS J. SHEERAN (AP)
CLEVELAND — The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland has fascinating relics like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" mask. Soon it'll have space to showcase its interesting but less flashy artifacts.
The museum will open its library and archives later this year in a $12 million high-tech building it shares with Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) Community College's creative arts programs.
Jim Morrison's first poem will be there as well as and letters from the Grateful Dead, Whitney Houston, Patti Smith and others. There will also be old audio and video recordings, contracts, album covers, posters and scrap books.
Student and professional singer Tracy Marie hopes the museum-college collaboration will encourage young artists to aspire to have their campus studio work enshrined in the archive.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jV0XXfrLD2CRMSVAAVUOYecFgxQAD9E5H3TO0
***********************
Misc Mentionings:
Jazz Veteran Alfonzo Blackwell Honors Legend Icons John Coltrane & Michael ...
Another very noteworthy and highly anticipated track is Alfonzo's tribute to the late great entertainer, Michael Jackson. The impressive “Impressions” is a ...
Swinton Unveils Homeowners Fantasy Dinner Guest
Earthtimes
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM
UK homeowners would most like to sit down to dinner with Michael Jackson, according to a poll by Swinton. ...
Kapoor pays tribute to Jackson at awards
Digital Spy -
Shahid Kapoor did the moonwalk in tribute to Michael Jackson at the 55th annual Filmfare Awards. ...
The man who 'shot' MJ
India Today - Sangeeth Sebastian -
Instead, he became the favourite photographer of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. In Delhi for the inauguration of the renovated Olympus store in ...
Firestone plays the smooth criminal
By Sean Willey
Milwaukee - USA
A full house jammed into the Riverside Theatre last Friday to see the Michael Jackson Laser Spectacular, a laser and dance show that remembered the innocence of Jackson and his birth into greatness.
The show covered several of Jackson’s top hits and was complimented not only by a 3-D laser light show and several videos, but by Michael Firestone, Jackson’s “official substitute” as chosen by Jackson himself.
It might as well have been Jackson up there as people of all ages were rushing the stage, flashing pictures, and crying for Firestone to high five them. He provided the image so many had longed to see.
Before the event began, explosive gothic music filled the theatre as a video presentation took the audience through some of Jackson’s most famous scenes on camera. When the smoke and lights subsided, Firestone epically appeared as a laser figure donning copies of Jackson’s illustrious sparkling attire. With a quick wave of his sparkling glove, he launched into Jackson’s songs.
This show not only paid homage to Jackson, but also recognized the impact his music made on millions. When “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” blared over the speakers, participants joined Firestone on a ‘70s-style dance floor.
“ABC” gave the audience another opportunity to dance. During the song, parents all over could be seen whispering to their children, “That was Michael when he was little.” Natasha Jetson was impressed that the show focused on Jackson’s accomplishments.
“I think this did Jackson justice,” Jetson said. “I liked how they made this all about his music and not his personal life. Amazing!”
Inevitably, though, the story of Michael Jackson cannot be told without touching on tragedy. Midway through the event, Jackson’s recorded voice told the story of his lost childhood and the enormous pressures put onto him.
His testimony created a segue into his sleeper hit “Leave Me Alone,” a song founded on this unhappiness. The rendition included a dance-off between Firestone and the paparazzi (something I’m sure Jackson would have loved to do in real life). This sad story was just a small part of the night. Ashley Bradford attended the event with her family and was grateful for this opportunity to remember the King of Pop.
“I took my kids so they could experience his great music,” Bradford said. “I think we will come again.”
Firestone didn’t sell the fans short. The show included some of Jackson’s biggest hits: “Smooth Criminal,” “Black and White,” “Wanna Be Startin’ Something,” “Bad,” “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller.” Basically, Firestone gave Jackson fans everything they wanted.
Next to “Thriller,” which featured a band of ghoulish figures, “Billie Jean” received the biggest uproar of the night. His flawless moonwalk had everyone (even some adults) screaming like high-school cheerleaders. Firestone trained in Vegas and worked with Jackson, so it would be hard to expect anything less.
The Riverside has held the Michael Jackson Laser Spectacular before and said that because of the extremely high turnouts they would hold it again.
For more information on future showings, visit www.laserspectacular.com/michaeljackson.
http://www.uwmpost.com/2010/03/01/firestone-plays-the-smooth-criminal/
Today in
Michael Jackson History
1990 - Janet Jackson's first concert tour began. It was "The Rhythm Nation World Tour 1990." Michael Jackson History
1994 - Janet Jackson won the Best R&B Song for "That's The Way Love Goes" at the 36th annual Grammy Awards.
2004 - Michael Jackson unveiled a new website (www.mjjsource.com) that merged the celebration of his music career and with news and background on his criminal trial.
2004 - Several edited documents were released concerning the Michael Jackson child molestation case. The release included about 100 pages of phone records, videos of Jackson and a DVD of a party held at Neverland Ranch.
2005 - Michael Jackson's attorney hinted that Jackson may testify in his own defense in his child molestation trial. The comments were made during the opening statements of the defense.
2005 - Janet Jackson requested a restraining order against Robert Gardner. Jackson said the man had been harassing her for nine years. The order was put in place on March 17.
