Today in MJJ HIStory

2002 - Michael Jackson made a surprise appearance, at a fan demonstration against Sony Music. He arrived riding on the top deck of an open-topped sightseeing bus, in front of the European offices of Sony Music, in Great Marlborough Street.

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Later, Michael attended "Killer Thriller Fan Party" at The Equinox nightclub in London, organized by MJNI fanclub.

At the event, Michael spoke for the first time of his problems with Sony CEO Tommy Mottolla, and explained that Sony takes advantage of their artists, including himself:

"I want to thank all the great, incredible talents. As long as you play the music, I want to dance! [referring to Ernest Valentino] I want to thank this guy for a wonderful performance. I thought Bryton McClure was amazing, too. He’s a great singer as well. Anyway, I first wanted to say, I really don’t like to talk that much. I really don’t. I prefer performing than talking. I really want you to know what I say. The tradition of great performers: from Sammy Davis Junior, James Brown, to Jackie Wilson, to Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly. The story is usually the same, though. These guys worked really hard, and they’re crabbed, for the story ends the same. They are usually broken, torn and usually just sad, because the companies take advantage of them, they really do.

And being the artist that I am, at Sony I’ve generated several billion dollars for Sony, several billion. They really thought that my mind is always on music and dancing. It usually is, but they never thought that this performer -myself- would out think them.

So, we can’t let them get away with what they’re trying to do, because now I’m a free agent. I just owe Sony one more album. It’s just a box set, really, with two new songs which I’ve written ages ago. Because for every album that I record, I write -literally, I’m telling you the truth- I write at least 120 songs every album I do. So I can do the box set, just giving them any two songs. So I’m leaving Sony, a free agent, owning half of Sony. I own half of Sony’s Publishing. I’m leaving them, and they’re very angry at me, because I just did good business, you know. So the way they get revenge is to try and destroy my album. But I’ve always said, you know, art -good art- never dies.

And Tommy Mottola is a devil! I’m not supposed to say what I’m going to say right now, but I have to let you know this. [Points to crowd.] Please don’t videotape what I am going to say, ok? Turn it off, please. [Pausing, then changing his mind] Do it, do it, I don’t mind! Tape it!
Mariah Carey, after divorcing Tommy, came to me crying. Crying. She was crying so badly I had to hold her. She said to me, ‘This is an evil man, and Michael, this man follows me’. He taps her phones, and he’s very, very evil. She doesn’t trust him.

We have to continue our drive until he is terminated. We can’t allow him to do this to great artists, we just can’t. I just wanted to let you know, I appreciate everything you’ve done, you’ve been amazing. You’re so loyal! [Scanning the audience]. Diana, everybody, Waldo, all the people here! I love you all. You’ve been amazing, I love you! But still, but still, I promise you, the best is yet to come!"

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Today in MJJ HIStory

2002 - Michael performs at a fund-raiser at "Apollo Theater" in Harlem, New York for the "Democratic National Committee", to launch a campaign aimed at persuading United States citizens to register and where nearly 3 million dollars are collected for the voting registration. Jackson performs "Dangerous", "Black Or White" and "Heal The World" (joined by Diana Ross) at the said event called "A Night At The Apollo", the superstar sharing the stage with former president Bill Clinton and singers Tony Bennett and K. D. Lang.The money would be used for the then new "Every Vote Counts" campaign, the committee said. The 1'400 audience members paid up to 5,000 dollars each to see the array of stars.
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Today in MJJ HIStory

2002 - Michael performs "Dangerous" at the taping of "American Bandstand's 50th...A Celebration" at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, Ca
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Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour at Carre Theater in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

1983 - Beat It enters the Pop Singles Chart.

Michael is on the Record Mirror magazine [UK]

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1984 - Michael attends the premiere of the two Jacksons Pepsi commercials at Pepsi Bottlers Convention at Lincoln Center in New York City.

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1993 - Michael is on Entertainment Weekly.

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1997 - At the 39th Grammy Awards edition held at Madison Square Garden in New York City, "Earth Song" is nominated for the "Best Short Form Music Video"

2002 - Michael Jackson's Neverland Entertainment invested $ 15 million - $ 20 million in Mark Damon's production and distribution company MDP Worldwide, making Michael and his new producing partner Raju Patel major shareholders in the company.

Michael Jackson showed up along with longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor and "Rush Hour" helmer Brett Ratner to tout the deal. Until his arrival, it was not clear whether Michael Jackson would show up at the event, but suddenly he appeared from a nearby dining room and entered the dinner tent to a standing ovation, arm in arm with Elizabeth Taylor.

After making it to their thronelike chairs onstage, Michael Jackson took to the microphone and explained his decision to invest in MDP and enter the independant film business. "I dream great dreams," Michael Jackson said.

"Everything I've achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about. The painter paints, the sculptor sculpts, but they just capture a glimpse of life - of the subject. And film, this medium, you live with the protagonist, you suffer with the protagonist, you laugh with the protagonist, you despair with the protagonist. It's the most artistic, influential medium of all. I am very proud of what we're doing, and I promise you wonderful and fantastical things to come."

After his onstage appearance, the notoriously shy King of Pop elaborated in an interview about his plans for Neverland Pictures. He said he will be involved in all aspects of the company, such as reading scripts, plucking talent and directing. "I have a lot to express in film," Michael Jackson said, revealing that his favorite movie is "To Kill a Mockingbird." "I'll be doing the whole thing, behind and in front [of the camera]. I love it."

Michael Jackson's Neverland Entertainment invest $ 15 million - $ 20 million in Mark Damon's production and distribution company, MDP Worldwide, making Jackson and his new producing partner, Raju Patel, major shareholders in the company. Michael Jackson appears along with longtime friend, Elizabeth Taylor, and "Rush Hour" helmer, Brett Ratner to tout the deal. The entertainer explains his decision to invest in MDP and enter the independant film business. "I dream great dreams," says Jackson. "Everything I've achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about. The painter paints, the sculptor sculpts, but they just capture a glimpse of life - of the subject. And film, this medium, you live with the protagonist, you suffer with the protagonist, you laugh with the protagonist, you despair with the protagonist. It's the most artistic, influential medium of all. I am very proud of what we're doing, and I promise you wonderful and fantastical things to come."

Filed under  //   1979   1983   1984   1993   1997   2002  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in Bournemouth, UK.

1983 - Jane Fonda presents Michael with a Platinum certification for "Thriller" at the CBS Press conference.

1986 - Songwriters Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie are honored with the "Best Song of the Year" award for "We Are The World", the relief single they wrote for the "USA For Africa" project in 1985, at the 28th Grammy Awards from Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

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The song is also voted as the "Record of the Year ", an award accepted by producer Quincy Jones, joined on stage by Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Dionne Warwick.

Michael and Lionel accepted the award for the Song of the Year together. On accepting the award he makes a brief speech
Michael stepped to the podium, dressed in black uniform jacket and red shirt, with several gold pins:

"First, I’d like to thank God, and I’d like to say thank you for choosing Lionel and myself to write "We Are The World". I thank Quincy Jones, who was the greatest producer to me. And I also like to say, when you leave here, remember the children. Thank you."
At an ensuing press conference, he is asked about how he creates songs and to comment a little on ‘We Are The World”.
“That’s one of the hardest questions to answer, because it’s a – it just comes, songs just kinda create themselves, so I don’t wanna dissect it really, just I let it happen. […] I wanted something that the whole world could sing.”
After the speech, Michael Jackson exits the stage happily and tightly holding mentour and friend Stevie Wonder's hand. The other honors for "We Are The World" are the "Best Pop Performance By Duo or Group" and "Best Short Form Video".

1998 - Michael attends the investiture ceremony of then South Korean President, Kim Dae-jung, one of the century’s astute fighters for democracy and 2000 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

He stays in Seoul, South Korea from February 20 to February 27. Kevin Sullivan, reporter of Washington Post, who met with the artist at the event, answers that the latter’s purpose for his being present at the event was because “[Jackson] praised Kim Dae-jung's commitment to children, and he said he was considering a concert to benefit starving children in North Korea and around the world. (Jackson did headline two huge concerts in June 1999, one in Seoul and one in Munich, that raised several million dollars for children's charities.)” A day after the artist’s sudden demise, former South Korean president, Kim Dae-jung, who, less than two months later will also pass on due to a multiple organ dysfunction, says “the world has lost a hero… and Korea also lost a beloved friend, who showed continued interest and supported unification of Korean peninsula. Korean people are sad.”

2002 - It was announced that Michael Jackson's Neverland Entertainment was investing about $20 million into MDP Worldwide Entertainment, Inc. Mark Damon, chief executive of MDP, stated that Jackson would be a producer, actor and director for Neverland Pictures.

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Michael Jackson’s Neverland Entertainment has invested $15 million-$20 million in Mark Damon’s production and distribution company MDP Worldwide, making Jackson and his new producing partner Raju Patel major shareholders in the company.

As part of the deal, MDP will operate a new division, Neverland Pictures, headed by Jackson and Patel along with key executive Lawrence Mortoff.

The company plans to produce a range of projects with a focus on family films and reimaginations of classics, some of which might be directed by and/or star Jackson.

The venture was announced Sunday night during a private dinner reception at Damon’s hillside Benedict Canyon home, attended by 250 guests. Making a rare appearance, Jackson showed up along with longtime friend Elizabeth Taylor and “Rush Hour” director Brett Ratner to tout the deal.

Until his arrival, it was not clear whether Jackson would show up at the event, but suddenly he appeared from a nearby dining room and entered the dinner tent to a standing ovation, arm in arm with Taylor. After making it to their thronelike chairs onstage, Jackson took to the microphone and explained his decision to invest in MDP and enter the indie film business.

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“I dream great dreams,” Jackson said.

“Everything I’ve achieved started with a dream, and of all the dreams, this is the one I am most passionate about.

The painter paints, the sculptor sculpts, but they just capture a glimpse of life – of the subject.

And film, this medium, you live with the protagonist, you suffer with the protagonist, you laugh with the protagonist, you despair with the protagonist. It’s the most artistic, influential medium of all.

I am very proud of what we’re doing, and I promise you wonderful and fantastical things to come.”

After his onstage appearance, the notoriously shy King of Pop elaborated in an interview about his plans for Neverland Pictures.

He said he will be involved in all aspects of the company, such as reading scripts, plucking talent and directing.

“I have a lot to express in film,” Jackson said, revealing that his favorite movie is “To Kill a Mockingbird.” “I’ll be doing the whole thing, behind and in front [of the camera]. I love it.”

Another movie Jackson is fond of is 1994’s “The Jungle Book,” which Patel produced and Damon executive produced, marking the duo’s first collaboration.

After seeing the movie, Jackson called Patel, who also produced “The Adventures of Pinocchio” and “The Second Jungle Book: Mowgli & Baloo,” to compliment him on his work, and the two became friends.

That brought Jackson and Patel to Damon’s MDP. Patel said he and Jackson chose to invest in MDP and launch Neverland under their banner to gain creative freedom outside the studio system. “Michael wants control, and that’s hard to get at a studio level,” he said. “He wants to be able to go straight from an idea into the marketing.”

Neverland already has a slate of projects, with three of them expected to be announced shortly. Whether any of those include Jackson-directed projects is unclear, but if he’s not willing to hop behind the camera so soon, his close friend Taylor is.

“I wanted to direct for quite a while,” Taylor said in an interview. “I’ve observed and picked up so much from other directors and other actors and learned just by osmosis. I’d like to take the knowledge I’ve learned from them and have a go at it.”

Jackson has had several previous forays into film production, more notable for their ambitious announcements than their actual output: in 1991, he signed a nonexclusive first-look deal with Columbia Pictures through his Nation Films banner.

In 1993, he announced a second feature film company, Michael Jackson Productions Inc., promising to deliver movies with positive and uplifting themes.

Filed under  //   1979   1983   1986   1998   2002  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in London, UK.

1980 - Off The Wall enters the Black singles chart peaking at #5 and remains their for 13 weeks.

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1988 - The U.S. leg of the Bad World Tour began at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena in front of 16,960 fans.

Michael performed his first ever U.S. solo concert in Kansas City. The newly revised shows included more songs from the BAD album than did the shows in Japan. Michael left the sold out house of about 17,000 spellbound with moves that weren't around until he invented them. When not dumbfounded the fans cheered and waved their arms in response to the Gifted One's world-class talent and showmanship.

For the first few shows, there were also surprise appearances by Tatiana Thumbtzen for the performance of The Way You Make Me Feel. It was also a surprise for Tatiana, who was contacted by Michael's secretary only one week before the tour's opening. She was glad to be a part of the show, describing it as being like Christmas in February.

A month into the tour, Michael – finally ready to leave his family’s Encino home – bought a property he had been looking at for some time, a 2,700-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara that he would christen “Neverland”.

Although Michael’s tour would keep him away from his new home for most of 1988, the purchase gave him time to refurbish it into a magical space, complete with amusement rides and a petting zoo. It was a deeply symbolic move for the 29-year-old man who saw himself as a “Peter Pan” figure, a committed champion for the happiness of children.

1985 – Michael Jackson is on TV Guide

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1995 - "The National Association of Recording Merchandisers" (NARM) rewards Michael with the "Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award", at the 37th annual NARM Convention in San Diego, Ca.

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The award recognizing efforts to advance social change. Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter and dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger. On that occasion, Michael gives a special preview of several new songs off of his forthcoming album, "HIStory".

2002 - Michael won three awards [out of six nominations] at the "33rd Annual NAACP Image Awards" which took place at the Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA. Michael won for Best Variety Special: "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration", Best Performance in a Variety Special: "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration" and Best Music Video: "You Rock My World". However, Michael did not attend the ceremony.

2010 - Return of the Captain EO.

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The groundbreaking 3D movie called “Captain Eo”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas. Jackson writes and records two songs for the 17 minute epic: “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me”. He also helps create a “Captain Eo” ride for Disneyland. The movie enjoy great success and run ran for 8 years at Disneyland and 10 years at Epcot. It also released at Tokyo Disneyland where it ran for 9 years and Disneyland Park in Paris - for 6 years.

The attraction, now entitled Captain EO Tribute, re-opened at Disneyland Park on February 23, 2010. The attraction returned to Discoveryland at Disneyland Park (Paris) on June 12, 2010, returned to Epcot at Walt Disney World on July 2 and to Tokyo Disneyland on July 1.

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Today in MJJ HIStory

1970 - The Jackson 5 appeared on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand to promote their second single, ABC. Their performance included I Want You Back, ABC and a medley of Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah/There Was A Time.

1990 - Michael Jackson's "good vs. evil" sci-fi film, "Moonwalker", wins the award for "Best Long Form Music Video" at the 32nd Grammy Awards from Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.

2002 - Prince Michael Jackson II, better known as “Blanket”, was born at 9:23 p.m. in La Mesa, California, to a mother who remains unknown.

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Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in Sheffield, UK on Destiny tour.

1984 - Feb. 13, issue of People magazine featured Michael on the cover, became the publication's third best selling issue ever.

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1989 - Just two weeks after the end of the Bad World Tour, Michael fired manager Frank DiLeo, a former executive at Epic Records, who had been with him since 1984.

Despite his success at the helm of the Victory and Bad tours, and in negotiating endorsement deals with Pepsi, DiLeo had also failed to get Moonwalker into North American theaters, despite high demand. It is also thought Michael blamed DiLeo for being behind his wacky Tabloid image, despite the fact that subjects like the oxygen chamber and Elephant Man skeleton had been Michael’s ideas.

The firing had immediate repercussions when Michael was convinced by his family to perform concerts with his brothers in South Korea by the Moonie religious organization, who had literally offered a million-dollar reward to any family member who could convince Michael to do them.

The shows, scheduled for August 1989, never happened, and subsequent lawsuits and counter-suits proved to be more trouble than the deal was worth. DiLeo had been the one in the past to shield Michael from his family’s opportunistic demands, and had even turned down the same million-dollar offer from the Moonie’s representative to negotiate Michael’s part in the concerts.

Michael later rehired Frank DiLeo in 2009.

“Leave Me Alone” is the eighth single released from the BAD album on February 13, 1989. It is only released in Australia and Europe and not in U.S. and reaches #1 in the United Kingdom.

On January 2, 1989, video for the single premieres on MTV and is a unique blend of live action and animation, combining a small carnival animal setting with Jackson crusing around in a small plane, and verbally poking fun at the false rumors about him such as the stories about him purchasing the bones of The Elephant Man, sleeping in a hyperbanic chamber, devoting a shrine for actress and friend, Elizabeth Taylor, or his cosmetic surgeries. Newspapers are thrown on a doorstep carrying outrageous titles: “Michael’s Space Age Diet”, “Bubbles The Chimp Bares All About Michael”, “Michael Proposes To Liz”, “Michael To Marry Brooke”; “Michael’s Cosmetic Nose Surgery”; “Michael and Diana Same Person”; “Jackson’s Third Eye Starts Sunglass Fad”, “Michael Weds Alien”; “Michael Frozen For 50 Years”, “Michael Confides To Pet Chimp”, “Michael Sleeps In Hyperbanic Chamber”. The song’s lyrics are mainly addressed to the media: “Leave me alone, stop it / Just stop dogging me around”, while cruising by an image of his ‘shrine’ to Elizabeth Taylor, lying in his hyperbanic chamber and dancing next to the Elephant Man’s bones. The closing part of the video features Jackson freeing himself from the enormous ties of fame holding him down.

1993 – Michael Jackson is on Lookin magazine, UK.

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1997 - Michael Jackson's wife Debbie Rowe gave birth to a healthy baby boy at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

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Michael was present at his son's birth. The boy is named Prince Michael Junior Jackson. According to MTV News the birth time was 1:07 am [PST].

The day that Prince was born Michael was filming the video for Blood On The Dance Floor. Michael Lee Bush: "Michael left before we totally finished because Prince was being born, the look in Michael's eyes when he got the warning it was starting to happen...... unforgettable,, damn see you made me start to cry again,...."

Yannick Allain (one of Michael's bodyguards from the 90s): "My first time in a maternity ward was not for my child but for Michael's. Michael invited us into to the room to introduce Prince to Me and Wayne. We both gave him a hug to congratulate him and all I could remember noticing was the look on Michael's face. The look of absolute pride. I had never seen him looking calm and yet so confident and happy without saying a word. At that moment I think I felt that kinship of manhood, that only comes from becoming a father. A wonderful moment."

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A happy, but concerned Jackson issues the following statement regarding his becoming a parent, one of his most ardent wishes:
"Words can't describe how I feel... I have been blessed beyond comprehension and I will work tirelessly at being the best father that I can possibly be. I appreciate that my fans are elated, but I hope that everyone respects the privacy Debbie and I want and need for our son. I grew up in a fish bowl and will not allow that to happen to my child. Please respect our wishes and give my son his privacy."
Prince is the first of two children he would have with Rowe before their divorce on October 8, 1999. With the end of the marriage, Michael retained custody of the children, which Rowe signed away in exchange for a settlement.

2002 - It was announced that Michael Jackson, Sting, Barry Manilow and Randy Newman are amongst the latest names to be inducted into the "Songwriters Hall of Fame".

The songwriters will be honored during the "33rd Annual Songwriters Hall of Fame" induction ceremony and dinner in June, at Manhattan's Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers.

A songwriter must have been a "professional" for over 20 years and penned a significant canon of music to be included in the coveted list.

Filed under  //   1979   1984   1989   1993   1997   2002  

Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in Preston, UK on Destiny tour.

1984 - Michael is on the cover of LA Semaine Magazine [Canada].

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1992 - On occasion of Black History Month - Michael tours 30,000 miles of the African continent (covering Gabon, The Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Kenya and Libreville) in 11 days [Between February 11 and February 18, 1992], where he visits medical centers, schools, churches, children’s housings and educational NGO’s for disabled children.

Michael Jackson began a trip of Africa in Gaob. He had planned to visit the Ivory Coast and Tanzania. Michael is welcomed by 100 000 people when he arrives in Libreville. President Omar Bongo presents him with a Medal Of Honour at the Ambassador’s Hall in the Presidential Palace.

Michael Jackson is also welcomed on February 11 by 100,000 people when he arrives in Libreville, Gabon, President Omar Bongo recompensing him with the 'National Honor Of Merit Award' on behalf of the country of Gabon, West-Central Africa, at the Ambassador's Hall in the Presidential Palace.

While in Gabon, President El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba, declares that “the return of Michael Jackson (to Africa) fits into the tradition of the abolition of time and the integration of space. His music made us feel that he’s never really been away”. In return for the honors received by the entertainer in Gabon, he presents President Bongo with the album Jackson was awarded when he was named ‘Artist of the Decade for the Eighties’.

The President’s grandchildren, Christopher, Neata and Malika join some one thousand children, including the singer’s friend, Brett Barnes at a party given by Jackson back at the Intercontinental Hotel. He also gives an interview while in London regarding his visit and more for May's issue of "Ebony" magazine, confessing towards the end, "You know, that's the most I've said in eight years... You know I don't give interviews. That's because I know you and I trust you. You're the only one I trust to give interviews to."

He phones his ranch daily, however, to make sure his property and animals are unaffected by the storms and floods in California at the time. He is reportedly interested in making a film, "Return To Africa", for his own video library. During his goodwill trip, Michael is crowned King Sanwi by King Nana Amon Ndoufou IV - ruler of Sanwi on the Ivory Coast - during vast ceremonies held in the Village of Krindjabo.

1998 - News broke that Michael Jackson is nominated for the 1998 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE - Michael is among the record 130 nominees for 1998's Nobel Peace Prize, along with Pope John Paul II and US President Bill Clinton.

Nominations for the Peace Prize can be made by members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, members of some national legislatures and governments, previous laureates and university professors of history, philosophy and political science, among others. The 1998 prize will be presented on December 10, the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swede who invented dynamite and endowed the prizes in his will. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded in Oslo. Michael did not win the Nobel Peace Prize for 1998 but it is already a HUGE HONOR to be nominated!

2002 - The "16th Annual Soul Train Music Awards" announced that Michael Jackson is nominated in the category Best R&B/Soul Album, Male for "Invincible".

2008 - The Thriller 25th Anniversary Special Edition is released in UK and Europe.

Jackson issued a 25th anniversary edition of his top-selling album Thriller called Thriller 25. It is a double disc album; disc one contains the original nine tracks from "Thriller", five remixed "Thriller" tracks, a song originally recorded in the Thriller era called "For All Time", a voice over by Vincent Price and featured will.i.am, Fergie, Kanye West, and Akon, with single releases alongside the album. Disc two is a DVD which contains the three music videos from "Thriller" and Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" at Motown 25.

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Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 - The Jacksons perform a concert in London, UK on Destiny tour.

1984 – Michael Jackson leaves Hemsley Palace, New York City, NY, the day after he went there to attend a performance of The Tap Dance Kid.

1991 - La Toya Jackson, Michael’s sister, released her autobiography “La Toya: Growing up in the Jackson Family”.

She recounts in her (controversial) autobiography, one of the many memorable stories of her brother, which is relevant to his character and life philosophy:

"When Mother picked Michael’s shoes one day, she noticed gaping soles in the holes and brought him a new pair. He refused to wear them. I had to plead with him to discard the old shoes and, really tempting fate, to change his socks. Forget about it. “La Toya, these things are not important”, he said. “Why do people care about clothes? Music is what’s important to me, how it sounds, that I get it right. And why do we care about having new shoes? What about the man who has no shoes? Or the man who has no feet?... These are great shoes... and I’m going to keep wearing them.” […] At home, it was back to wrinkled jeans and old sweaters. […]”
2002 - Michael Jackson escorted Elizabeth Taylor to the first Art for AIDS fundraiser held at Laguna Art Museum in Laguna Beach, California (Orange County, USA) in a tribute to Rock Hudson.

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Roy Harold Scherer, Jr., professionally known as Rock Hudson, was an American film and television actor, and also one of the first major Hollywood celebrity to die from an AIDS-related illness.

At the beginning of the event commemorative t-shirts signed by various stars including Michael, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Ringo Starr, Sharon Stone, Halle Berry and others were auctioned. Michael's, which was signed twice, went for an amazing $ 700, well above the average. The gala was expected to raise $150,000.

Michael was wearing a black suit with white trim and Elizabeth was adorned with jewels. They arrived late, to the strains of "Elizabeth, I Love You". He held Taylor’s bejeweled hand throughout the press conference, his slender, costumed body curved protectively around her.
Both stars appeared briefly at a subsequent Art for AIDS fundraisers, a private $ 2,500 per plate private dinner at the St. Regis in Dana Point, CA.

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