Michael with his cousin Anthony Jackson's mother and father Debra and Tony. Tony died when Anthony was 7 and Michael, his godfather, took him around the world on several occasions, becoming his mentor and friend over the years. At the video link below see Anthony as a young boy who can be seen with Michael as he visits a hospital in Australia and also as an adult with Michael as he joins in the fun as Michael visits a supermarket and Anthony squirts cream on Michael's cap.
Anthony with Michael in Australia and at the Supermarket ~
http://youtu.be/Y25RpTYSHKA
A little difficult to hear but here is a speech by Anthony Jackson expressing his love and gratitude to the Michael @ Forever Michael Event June 26, 2010 Beverly Hilton where he expressed his gratitude to Michael. "He showed me the World and said he would be there forever, and he was"
http://youtu.be/PFPjsJQ7ios
Today Anthony is a singer songwriter ~
Previous post showed a photo that Michael found of Anthony's father Tony, had blown up and gifted to Anthony in 2002.
Tribute ~ A Caffe in Bitetto, Italy is dedicated to Michael ~ for more pics of this great little Caffe which is full of Michael photos and has a great welcoming mat see more photos at the link ~
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.221089801318166.50269.100002514432112&type=3
Many years ago, Michael Jackson [ Images] had collaborated with A R Rahman [ Images ] in a song called Ekam Satyam [ Get Quote ]. The album was produced by Bharat Bala and his wife Kanika Myer.Kanika goes back in time and recounts her memories of meeting with the pop icon:Michael heard A R Rahman's Vande Mataram -- which we had produced -- and wanted to work with Rahman and us. He was good friends with S P Hinduja, Chairman of The Hinduja Group, and got in touch with us through him.He wanted to dance on an Indian song. So we recorded the song Ekam Satyam and took it to to him. I met him for the first time in Paris. It was a great honour to meet and produce a song for him. He was very humble and creative.When he heard the song, he was very thrilled. In fact, when he put on the headphones to listen to the song, he started tapping his feet and tapping his band on his thigh in rhythm with the beats. He was enjoying himself. It was nice to see the way he heard the song.He wanted us to take this song to Munich where a fundraiser concert was organised for the Red Cross by Nelson Mandela [ Images ] in 1999. Michael Jackson asked us to bring Indian dancers for the concert. So we took Indian dancers, as well as Prabhu Deva [ Images ] and Shobhana.Before the concert, we met again to get his costume measurements. We wanted him to wear Indian costumes and he readily agreed.On the day of the concert, I wanted to take a video of him backstage. He was very cool and not nervous at all. He was very passionate about what he was doing. He loved music so much.One interesting thing about Michael Jackson was that he was vegetarian, and loved Indian food. He took an Indian chef to Munich. He loved Indian culture, Indian food and the song and dance in our films.I love his songs but my favourite is so You are not alone, They don't care about us, Heal the world, Childhood,Thriller and Man in the Mirror.I miss him a lot. I cannot forget my first meeting with him till date.
http://movies.rediff.com/report/2009/jun/26/mj-loved-indian-food.htm
Story from the archives ~ In the pic with Michael Natalia Rose and Roman Barrett. Natalie remembers Michael and pays tribute ~
[Edited from article Michael Jackson. The Man in the Mirror]
My father, Ben Barrett, was in the music business and recorded a great deal of Michael's music, from the early days with the Jackson Five right up to the "Dirty Diana" album. My brother Roman and I spent a lot time in the studios, and I remember spending time with Michael--playing video games and consuming "studio snacks" (sugar cubes, Hershey's Kisses, Melba Toast, etc.). For the record, he was always kind and engaging--never once inappropriate with us.
For many years, Michael lived with his parents and siblings down the road from us in Encino, California, As kids, Michael and his brothers would ride their bikes up to our house to visit my dad. Just take a moment to imagine Michael as a ten-year-old--that gorgeous little boy singing "My Cherie Amour"--riding his bike around the neighborhood like any ordinary, innocent kid. He was beautiful and, by anyone's standards, astronomically talented.
.. His light shone so brightly.
He was innocent, exploding with creativity, and in enough possession of his own soul power to radiate his essence. Let's all take a moment to acknowledge that what he expressed in his 1970 recordings of "ABC" and "The Love You Save" was his true, irrepressible spirit--inspiring, enchanting, downright magical! That was the real Michael, before the world of untruth had at him. I believe this is where his soul is returning as he sheds the cage of his physical body and all the abuse that it absorbed throughout his life on earth.
One of my favorite songs is "The Nightshift" by the Commodores. I invoke it here as a tribute to Michael's legacy and the mirror he offered mankind.
This is for you, Michael. May your pain not be in vain, and may your harmonies bring about greater harmony here on earth.
For Natalia Rose [Nutritonist] article MJ The Man in the Mirror go to link http://www.huffingtonpost.com/natalia-rose/michael-jackson-the-man-i_b_223432.html
What I wouldn't give for a hug from him right now