Berry Gordy Statement

Berry Gordy, the man who started Motown and signed the Jackson 5, issued this statement yesterday via their website:

I am shocked beyond words. It’s like a dream - a bad dream. This cannot be! How can Michael Jackson not be here?

As a kid, Michael was always beyond his years. He had a knowingness about him that was incredible.

When I first heard him sing Smokey’s song, Who’s Lovin’ You at 10 years’ old, it felt like he had lived the song for 50 years.

Somehow, even at that first meeting with him, he had a hunger to learn, a hunger to be the best and was willing to work as hard and as long as it took.

I had no concern about his ability to go to the top. He was like my son. He had warmth, sensitivity and two personalities.

When he was not on stage, he was loving, respectful and shy. When he WAS on stage, he was so in charge you would not believe he was the same person.

Michael was and will remain one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived.

He was exceptional, artistic and original. He gave the world his heart and soul through his music.

I extend my sympathies to Joe, Katherine and the entire Jackson family. My prayers are with them.


Berry Gordy
Founder, Motown
June 25, 2009

Say It Ain't So!

I'm so sad to report that Michael Jackson has died. There are various reports about how and when, but the general consensus was that the 50-year-old King of Pop was unconscious when they took him to UCLA Medical Center today.

For most of us of a certain age, Jackson was one of the defining musicians of our childhood. How many of us wanted the red leather jacket and the glitter glove? The picture I've included is one of my favorites. I was a young teen, and I thought I'd either sing a duet with him or marry him. Either way, I was completely smitten.

Recently, my Mr. Wonderful -- who also works in the industry -- took me to a rehearsal hall where Michael was rumored to be practicing for his upcoming tour. I told him that I would be completely impressed if I got a chance to meet him. Unfortunately, it won't be happening now.

Despite all his troubles -- legal and otherwise -- Michael Jackson was an amazing entertainer, and he will truly be missed. My prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans.

Another Day, Another Michael Jackson Lawsuit

Looks like when it rains, it pours for Michael Jackson. We told you yesterday how Ola Ray, his co-star in the now-infamous Thriller video, was suing him to get her royalties from the 1983 project. Now E! Online is reporting that his former publicist and personal general manager Raymone Bain has taken the same action.

Bain, who was the King of Pop's spokesperson for about five years, is taking him to court to get the 44 million bucks she claims he owes her for her services. She filed the paperwork Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, DC. Her claim is that, in addition to entrusting her to run nearly every aspect of his life, he agreed to pay her 10 percent of the proceeds for the business transactions she oversaw. Those include the release of the 25th anniversary edition of Thriller and the negotiations that led up to the scheduling of his 50-date concert run in London.

Even though Bain has been forced to take Jackson to court, she says she holds no ill will for her former boss. In statement released Wednesday, she said, ""Despite the action I have been compelled to take for professional and business reasons, when looking back, I have no regrets. Michael Jackson, in my opinion, is the King of Pop.

Just in case you were wondering, Bain's replacement is Dr. Tohme Tohme.

What Ever Happened to...Ola Ray?

Remember Ola Ray, the girl who starred in Michael Jackson's Thriller video? Well, she's suing the King of Pop to try to collect royalties from her leading role. According to the New York Daily News, the 48-year-old former Playboy centerfold filed a lawsuit in Santa Monica, California Tuesday to get Jackson to pony up the cash for her now infamous strut and blood-curdling scream.

Ray's lawyer, Jason Feldman, said that she received some payments through the Screen Actors Guild in 1998, but she doesn't believe they were complete. At this point, Feldman says that the stay-at-home mother of a 14-year-old daughter just, "wants to get her fair share of payments from this extremely successful project that she's very proud of."

So just how much is Ray expecting to get? When you think about the fact that the Thriller video is still selling worldwide and was just re-released for its 25th anniversary, you're looking at quite a substantial sum. And that doesn't even take into account the licensing of the video's content and images to various DVDs and video games.

As for Ray, she still pursues her acting, modeling, and music work while living in Sacramento away from the spotlight. She wouldn't comment on the lawsuit, saying only that, "everything is good, especially now."

Ray was busted for cocaine in 1992 and was later quoted in People magazine as saying that she wasn't able to work after Thriller because she stopped giving sexual favors to producers.

Naturally, Jackson's spokesperson couldn't be reached by press time. Stay tuned...

Michael Jackson in the US?

Will Michael Jackson bring his comeback tour to the US? The New York Daily News says that since the London dates sold out in a matter of hours, the King of Pop is considering shows in Los Angeles and New York City. Concert promoters AEG are even thinking about doing a world tour. Stay tuned...