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iZotope: It seems as if you both were destined to make music. Can you each describe how you got your breaks as musicians?
Danny Sembello: “[My brother] Michael was musical from an early age, but I wasn’t as sure that the music business was the right place for me. It took me a little longer to realize that I wanted to make music. My cousin was playing with the Jackson 5 in Philly and he had invited them over for dinner before the show. Sitting around my cousin’s table eating pasta, Michael [Jackson] began to egg me on saying that your brother bragged about how great of a keyboard player I was. I replied, “Well, I’m actually a better basketball player but I’ll play something if you want.” So I played “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, then I segued into “The Secret Life of Plants”, a song I learned in the studio with my brother and Stevie Wonder. Michael became captivated with the melody and asked me to play it at least a half dozen times. Each time I played, Michael leaned a little further over the piano to watch my hands. That night was truly magical for me. The day Michael died my brother and I both lost a great friend and inspiration.”
iZotope: Being that you both knew Michael Jackson; Danny having played piano for him early in his career and Michael writing “Carousel” which was released on the Special Edition of Thriller, what went through minds when he passed away earlier this year?
Michael Sembello: I immediately called Danny. I was going through a rough spot in my life and Michael’s passing truly broke my heart. I had the opportunity to work with him when he was picking songs for Thriller. At the time, I had written “Carousel,” which Michael loved and actually recorded a demo of. It was slated to be on the album, but then the orders came down from Quincy [Jones] that there was only room for one song on the album with that kind of groove and “Human Nature” won that slot. “Carousel” was released on the Special Edition of Thriller a few years ago, and in Quincy’s commentary he talks about the song and my time with Michael. He will always be a legend to me.
Danny Sembello: To be honest, I cried. Playing piano for Michael is a memory I never forget. Having him respond the way he did made me want to be a musician. It was the first time I felt I had inspired someone and witnessed first hand what music can do. Right after that, I graduated high school and then jumped on a plane to California to become a musician.