drea97
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Michael Jackson's death felt in city
Friday, June 26, 2009 ERIN STOCK
News staff writer
When Michael Jackson came to Birmingham in 1984, Cliff Muldrow parked the luxury limo and instead escorted Jackson and his brothers in two vans with curtains on the windows.
Still, the crowds in Birmingham suspected it was the Jackson brothers pulling up to the old Hyatt hotel one night. Acting fast, Muldrow leapt out of the driver's seat and shouted: "Is Michael in there? I came to see him! Where is he?" Disappointed fans backed off, and the van drove through.
"They laughed about that for days," Muldrow said.
Muldrow, of Birmingham, remembers Michael Jackson at that time as someone who laughed easily and loved to joke around. He also enjoyed doing things in public and outdoors, despite the obstacles that his fame brought, said Muldrow, who took him to Century Plaza mall, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and a now-closed barbecue joint.
News of Jackson's death Thursday at age 50 shocked Muldrow, who ran Cliff's Limousine Service.
In 1984, the Jacksons rehearsed in Birmingham for their "Victory" tour. Jackson, a Jehovah's Witness at the time, disguised himself one Sunday morning and went door-to-door in Trussville for about two hours. Muldrow remembers Jackson wore a mustache, afro wig, hat and black suit while he handed out materials about his religion. No one knew it was him, until it hit the papers the next day.
One of the high points of their visit for fans came when Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington asked the Jackson brothers to make an appearance and they addressed the crowd from a hotel balcony.
Another Birmingham man, John Ray, promoted three of Jackson's concerts in Dallas.
"When he came out as a single artist, he wanted to make sure that everybody got a chance to participate, especially some of the African-American promoters throughout the United States," said Ray, founder of Just In Time Music Inc....
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/124600413848570.xml&coll=2
Friday, June 26, 2009 ERIN STOCK
News staff writer
When Michael Jackson came to Birmingham in 1984, Cliff Muldrow parked the luxury limo and instead escorted Jackson and his brothers in two vans with curtains on the windows.
Still, the crowds in Birmingham suspected it was the Jackson brothers pulling up to the old Hyatt hotel one night. Acting fast, Muldrow leapt out of the driver's seat and shouted: "Is Michael in there? I came to see him! Where is he?" Disappointed fans backed off, and the van drove through.
"They laughed about that for days," Muldrow said.
Muldrow, of Birmingham, remembers Michael Jackson at that time as someone who laughed easily and loved to joke around. He also enjoyed doing things in public and outdoors, despite the obstacles that his fame brought, said Muldrow, who took him to Century Plaza mall, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and a now-closed barbecue joint.
News of Jackson's death Thursday at age 50 shocked Muldrow, who ran Cliff's Limousine Service.
In 1984, the Jacksons rehearsed in Birmingham for their "Victory" tour. Jackson, a Jehovah's Witness at the time, disguised himself one Sunday morning and went door-to-door in Trussville for about two hours. Muldrow remembers Jackson wore a mustache, afro wig, hat and black suit while he handed out materials about his religion. No one knew it was him, until it hit the papers the next day.
One of the high points of their visit for fans came when Birmingham Mayor Richard Arrington asked the Jackson brothers to make an appearance and they addressed the crowd from a hotel balcony.
Another Birmingham man, John Ray, promoted three of Jackson's concerts in Dallas.
"When he came out as a single artist, he wanted to make sure that everybody got a chance to participate, especially some of the African-American promoters throughout the United States," said Ray, founder of Just In Time Music Inc....
http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/metro.ssf?/base/news/124600413848570.xml&coll=2
