Return From The Dead

CLEVELAND - Dirty Truth Films has just released the riveting, yet hilarious 37th episode of its flagship show, a Date with Deante entitled, "Just Beat It, Part 2."

It's a story of life and death.

In the clip, a sterling conclusion to Part 1, Deante Young continues his persuasion of Tony Train Wreck to expose himself yet again to the increasingly disgusted Faye. He gets to a point where, confidence aplomb, he continually tries to pleasure himself while standing directly in front of her.

As hilarious as Tony Train Wreck is, Lil' Rick is even more interesting as he reveals all aspects of his life from sex, drugs and petty theft to a stunning reveal; he died twice after a foolish accident caused his skull to fall apart.

But, he came back to life and turned this episode upside down. It's a true "must-see."

Reverend Ike: An Iconic Member Of My Childhood

CLEVELAND - Upon learning of the death of Reverend Ike, memories of Elizabeth Young and my childhood came rushing back.

He was always on that kitchen radio!

Elizabeth Young was my grandmother. During the 1980's and early '90's, she "religiously" listened to his charged-up sermons on WABQ, a local radio station that carried many of her favorite church-style programs. Reverend Ike always preached about money and faith in God and how that confluence could produce true prosperity. My grandmother loved his passionate, vocal delivery and she would close her eyes, shake her head and lift her hands as his inspiring voice filled the kitchen.

She would exclaim, "Hallelujah!"

I also haven't been able to forget the phone number that Reverend Ike used to repeatedly advertise; 1-800-453-9000. It was supposedly the best way to reach him. I never called it...at least not for myself. I dialed it many times for my grandmother, though.

My grandmother always referenced Reverend Ike and often quoted his powerful words, and if you ever spent time around her, you'd become a believer. She died in the autumn of 1998, leaving behind tons of memories and an immortal legacy. Reverend Ike died two days ago at age 74. Coincidentally, my grandmother's would-be 80th birthday is Sunday, and she got a great gift early; the chance to finally meet Reverend Ike in person, in heaven.

She'll definitely get his autograph!

Young: The 'Master' Of Shock and Surprise

CLEVELAND - Entertainer Deante Young, a steadfast advocate of controversy by way of brutal honesty has just released the 36th episode of his racy web series, a Date with Deante.

It lives up to his reputation as the king of shock.

The clip, entitled "Just Beat It, Part 1" premiered yesterday worldwide to rave reviews, particularly for its jaw-dropping conclusion. Young continues his tribute to his fallen hero Michael Jackson with the episode's title, which also describes the contents of the story in a rather subtle manner.

John is a weird, middle-aged pervert who reveals that he's under the influence of heroin. Tony Train Wreck, the hilariously homeless racist overlooks his own racism to hit on bi-racial beauty Faye. When the dust settles, he expresses his feelings for her in a rather "hands on" manner.

In terms of sheer comedy and shock, Young is a genius that stands alone.

Palin Was An Eyesore From The Word 'Go'

CLEVELAND - As Sarah Palin stepped down as governor of Alaska yesterday, America was given temporary relief from the train wreck that was forced upon us 11 months ago.

Notice I said, "temporary."

Palin proved herself to be a joke once again by quitting her job in the middle of her term. Her explanations for the sudden move painted her choice as an upstanding and selfless decision. She said that she can now "fight even harder for [us], for what is right and what is truth."

Um, sure.

Lt. governor Sean Parnell took over the reigns as Palin's successor and with his swearing in, us unwilling victims of the year-long Palin soap opera finally caught our breaths. Her entrance into the national spotlight as Sen. John McCain's vice-presidential running mate in August 2008 was an endless and overblown saga. She went from being a national unknown to a popular fixation, then became a seemingly clueless laughingstock who was famously lampooned by actress/comic Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. Since then, she's been a media whore.

While it is true that Palin turned heads with her sexy, naughty schoolteacher appearance, she was actually an eyesore in the proverbial sense from Day One. She initially seemed like eye candy, cleverly recruited by McCain and his team to capitalize on the millions of saddened Hillary Clinton supporters who only had Barack Obama to turn to as their choice for president after Clinton lost the democratic nomination. McCain was hoping to convert them to Republicans by utilizing Palin's appeal as a tough-as-nails woman who had a large family and was an advocate of many issues pertinent to middle America.

Soon after her meteoric rise to fame, it became obvious that she was in over her head as a vice-presidential candidate. She began to seem like a vacuous, yet witty and well rehearsed caricature of a modern day Kelly Bundy. Then there was the business of her 17-year old, pregnant daughter Bristol who was heavily attacked in the media. When McCain lost the election, Palin really began to experience a backlash from those inside the GOP. Many felt that it was her cluelessness that led to McCain's defeat, and rightly so in my book.

Once Bristol Palin and her fiance Levi Johnston broke off their wedding engagement earlier this year, the daughter took center stage while Gov. Palin drifted to the background. Bristol was criticized for being an unwed, teenaged mother. Soon after, Johnston began taking to the media to reveal inside details of his time with the Palins as well as his sex life with Bristol. This launched Sarah back into the spotlight as she defended her child and family, but always with her trademark hypocrisy.

Last month, comedian/talk-show host David Letterman drew Palin's ire when he unknowingly made a sexual joke about what turned out to be her 14-year old daughter. Palin raked him over the coals and a national backlash against Letterman ensued and persisted, even after he publicly apologized.

At the end of this 11-month Palin odyssey, I am relieved that she's no longer the governor of Alaska. Maybe now, we can care about our own family instead of being forced to care and respect hers. But I'm no fool. She won't be out of our hair for long.

She wants to be our president in 2012. Yikes!

Michael's Departure: One Month Later

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson's sudden and shocking death occurred one month ago today and it continues to be a very sad and frustrating reality for me to accept.

I love him so very much.

The memories of that day, June 25, 2009, are still extremely painful and indelible for me. In the 30 days since, I have been both delighted and appalled at the way the media has portrayed and remembered his life. Of course Michael was incredibly complicated, that tends to happen when one becomes an international star in their teens and a global obsession in their twenties.

But the vilification of Michael has been disgusting.

Many people have talked endlessly of the child molestation allegations levied against him, both in 1993 and again in 2003 (which he was acquitted of in 2005). They've talked of his addiction to pain medication and his extensive plastic surgery. They've talked of his excessive spending and subsequent debt. In short, they've cleaned out his closet.

I'm not saying these things don't matter when defining his life and legacy; they do. I just wish that the people who drag his name through the mud would also give him credit for being such a positive, selfless and inspirational figure worldwide for four decades. Just once, can his critics see his colossal achievements and financial contributions to the planet as a good thing?

In a small way, he really did "heal the world!"

A couple weeks ago, stunning video was released of Michael's ill-fated Pepsi commercial shoot during which he suffered major burns to his scalp and face. The event took place 25 years ago, but the footage has only surfaced now. If anything, the graphic nature of the video, in which flames ignite his hair as he descends a staircase oblivious to the dire situation upon him provides a disturbing visual of the severity of that long ago tragedy. It is said to have been the genesis of his addiction to pain medication, which may have, in part led to his demise.

The past month has also proven his music legacy to be immortal. Enormous sales spikes have placed many of his timeless, classic tunes at the top of the charts as grieving fans the world over have sought solace in his scintillating music. Iconic short films from 1979's Off the Wall, 1982's Thriller, 1987's Bad and 1991's Dangerous have garnered major play on television and for those of us that adored Michael, made us smile with the memories of the first time we saw those brilliant videos.

With an endless and tangled web of legal matters yet to be hashed out by his attorneys, I refuse to delve into it. Michael himself is always what's mattered to me most and his gigantic impact on my life will never be compromised or diminished.

He had his demons and his flaws just like the rest of us, but Mr. Michael Joseph Jackson was a true gift that this world received, but never deserved.

I love you, Michael.

Both Sides Are Correct In Gates Arrest Saga

CLEVELAND - I've been watching the aftermath of Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s arrest for several days now and I'm very conflicted at who was "in the right."

Gates or the police?

Gates, an African-American professor at Harvard was arrested last week for disorderly conduct after an incident with an officer in his own home. Cambridge, Massachusetts Sergeant James Crowley was the arresting officer of the esteemed professor and the confrontation has ignited a national discussion on the viability of the arrest as well as racial profiling.

Many in the Black community have expressed outrage at the arrest of such a prestigious man in his own home and cite it as a tangible example of racist agendas by law enforcement. President Obama commented on the situation during a press conference on health care and famously stated that the Cambridge Police Department "acted stupidly" in their tactics which led to the arrest.

Of course, Obama came under fire for those "strong words."

The Cambridge Police Department dropped the charge against Gates, but Crowley has refused to apologize for the arrest. In fact, the department feels that Obama should issue an apology to Crowley for making his statement without knowledge of all the facts, a point that the president himself admitted to being unaware of.

I can see both sides as being right. People that agree with the arrest and feel that it was the proper thing to do are justified because of the circumstances. Gates was being a bit "unruly" and even behaved arrogantly, according to the official report. However, folks that believe that Gates was the victim of racism and should never have been arrested in his own home are justified in their beliefs due to the long history of police misconduct with minorities. It is very difficult, if not impossible for Whites to understand that even if they've been "victimized" themselves. When you're Black, it feels as though you're constantly under the cops' thumb because it has happened so much. It's easy to see how people can think Gates was just being "picked on" because of his race and status. Conversely, Blacks may ignore the fact that he didn't exactly behave like an esteemed member of the community while dealing with Crowley which may have actually led to the arrest.

Bottom line, Blacks will forever be suspicious and untrusting of cops because of their own harrowing and unjust experiences with the boys in blue, not to mention hundreds of years of pervasive racism that still exists in a more "discreet" way. White folks will always think Blacks are just grasping for excuses and crying wolf.

We all need to try and walk in each other's shoes every now and then.

Joe Jackson Needs To Be Assassinated

CLEVELAND - First of all, I salute Joe Jackson for keeping his young sons focused and dedicated enough to become international superstars in the early 1970's.

Other than that, he's a total jerk.

Jackson, the 79-year old father of pop icons Michael and Janet, as well as the other seven children has been a sketchy figure for decades. But in the aftermath of Michael Jackson's shocking death last month, he's been downright abominable. His first knuckle headed moment occurred at the BET awards on June 28, just three days after his son died. The elder Jackson seemed absolutely indifferent to the fact of his son's untimely departure. In fact, he spent more time (and was clearly more interested) in promoting his new record label. Not a tear was shed by he, and during that show's lengthy tribute to Michael, he sat stoically in the audience with Rev. Al Sharpton.

The following day, Jackson tried to defend himself against the criticism he was suddenly receiving for his seemingly lack of compassion and self-serving attitude, and ended up making matters worse. He has given one undigestible interview after another in recent weeks and continues to come off like a devilish monster that never truly cared about Michael.

Let's get rid of this clown.

Last night, Jackson appeared on Larry King Live and again, was painful to watch. His voice, when talking about Michael sounded very insincere and his body language suggests that, to him, losing his son was nothing more than a financial loss. Of course, Joe says the "right" things and never actually incriminates himself. Michael has long accused his father of abusing him as a child, but Joe Jackson continues to blatantly deny anything remotely resembling abuse of his sons. He even went so far last night as to proclaim that "Michael was raised properly" and that he "never made any mistakes in raising him."

Does this guy even believe his own garbage?

True, Joe transformed his five oldest boys into the Jackson 5 in the mid-1960's which led to their enormous popularity and dominance of Motown Records in the next few years, but his tactics were always questionable. He was a known adulterer during his boys' meteoric rise to fame and was, by all accounts except his own, a strict disciplinarian. By the time Michael evolved into an unstoppable, enormously popular solo artist in the early 1980's, he was gaining more and more independence and fired Joe as his manager. Daughter Janet did the same thing a few years later, which may have, in the case of Michael, turned Joe sour in his feelings towards his son.

In two high-profile interviews (with Oprah Winfrey in 1993 and Martin Bashir in 2003), Michael detailed his father's shameless abuse and how it also came in the form of verbal insults that led to his self-consciousness about his appearance. It is safe to say that Michael's rapid and dramatic change in appearance can be heavily attributed to Joe. During the King interview last night, Jackson painted himself as the "good guy" who always had Michael's best interests at heart.

Ironically, he was clueless when King asked the current whereabouts of Michael's body as well as what the families' private autopsy revealed. He denied wanting to transform Michael's three children into performers and seemed a bit annoyed at those questions as well as questions about Michael leaving him out of his will.

I found it funny that Joe continuously mentioned that he wasn't able to get close to his son due to the "securities that barred [him] away" from Michael. He seemed unaware that this was because Michael truly didn't want to be around him!

Joe Jackson is an illiterate speaking, disingenuous, self-serving tyrant that deserves to be assassinated. He's arrogant, deceitful and wildly out of touch. Yes, he brought Michael and the boys to the world. But he also destroyed his son Michael and scarred him for life.

Joe Jackson -- damn you to hell!

Kennedy's Death Continued Awful Family Tradition

CLEVELAND - Hard to believe that it has already been 10 years since John F. Kennedy, Jr. died in an awful plane crash off the coast of Martha's Vineyard.

But shocking as it were, the tragedy was easy to believe due to the Kennedy curse.

Ten years ago today, Kennedy, 38 at the time was piloting a small plane that he owned with his wife Carolyn Bessette and sister-in-law Lauren as his passengers. Sometime after nightfall, the modest aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean due to JFK Jr.'s disorientation with the controls coupled with the poor visibility in the sky that evening. For a short time after the crash, Kennedy's relatives grew worried when he never showed for a cousin's wedding, which he was headed to.

Hope that the three might be found alive was crushed when their belongings began washing up on shore. By July 22, their bodies had been recovered by ocean divers and a memorial service commenced the following day.

It may seem crass to say it, but Kennedy's awful death was anything but surprising when viewed against the backdrop of his families' long history of colossal tragedy. JFK Jr. had certainly known all about unspeakable grief; his father, President Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 when the younger man was just about three years of age. Four and a half years later, his uncle Robert was gunned down as well. This is all on top of another uncle of his being killed during the war many years before his birth.

Less known about the family is JFK Jr.'s aunt having a lobotomy in the 1940's and essentially living as a vegetable thereafter and JFK and wife Jackie having a stillborn child in the early '60's. More famously, another of JFK Jr.'s uncles, Ted Kennedy got tangled up in the infamous "Chappaquiddick Incident" in 1969 that nearly sent him to prison for murder. There were freak deaths of cousins in 1984 and 1997 and a high-profile rape trial of another in 1991.

In short, JFK Jr.'s 1999 death fit right into family tradition, as awful as that sounds. With such a successful, wealthy and prosperous family, they were also incredibly snake bitten and highly unfortunate.

If unspeakable tragedy comes with wealth and fame, I don't want it anymore.

Young Keeps His Word In Series' New Episode

CLEVELAND - Keeping true to his word, Deante Young has honored his lifelong idol Michael Jackson in the latest edition of a Date with Deante.

The new clip debuted yesterday.

Young, who has taken Jackson's sudden death very hard, announced just days ago that he is planning a few Jackson-themed projects and will dedicate the remainder of season 2 of his controversial web series to Michael. In the new installment, Young uses clips from past episodes and intersperses new footage to discredit two different females who essentially claim to be on the up and up.

The episode is entitled, "Remember The Time," an obvious homage to Jackson's 1992 hit single from his Dangerous album. Young also features a text overlay at the outset of the episode proclaiming Jackson as "the greatest entertainer in history" followed by a photo of Michael at age 17.

Check out the episode above.

Young Plans Michael Jackson-Related Projects

CLEVELAND - Entertainer Deante Young has announced several Michael Jackson related projects to honor the legendary performer who shockingly passed away last month.

Jackson was just 50 years of age.

Young, a lifelong fan and admirer of the fallen icon discussed his plans for the tributes during a conference call with his production company April Fool's Entertainment. "Everyone that knows me, knows how much Michael has always meant to me," said Young as he seemed to be fighting back tears. "That man shaped my creative mentality as well as my desire to stand out from the crowd. Since he was so important to my life, I am planning a documentary on him as well as a song, book and quite possibly a web series."

Young also revealed that he will dedicate the remainder of season 2 of a Date with Deante to Jackson adding that "Michael gave me the confidence and audacity to be unapologetically over the top if that's who you choose to be, and that's exactly what my web show is."

No word yet on when Young plans to release any of the Jackson projects.

MJ's Final Send-Off: Emotional, Funny and Fitting

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson was an incomparable giant during his illustrious 45-year career in the music industry that began when he was just a 5-year old kid from Gary, Indiana. He was also a son, brother, uncle and father who was relentlessly criticized and ridiculed by the media and many in the general public for the past 20 years.

Yesterday, those dichotomies met and produced an amazing and emotional tribute to the man.

Jackson, who tragically and unbelievably died on June 25 at just 50 years of age was memorialized in a star-studded farewell at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA reminiscent of a final send-off typically seen only in Black churches.

Against the backdrop of a faux church-style stain glass window, legendary musician Smokey Robinson kicked things off as he read moving statements from two of Michael's closest friends who were conspicuous by their absence; Diana Ross and Elizabeth Taylor. After a long break in the action, the Andrae Crouch Choir infused a jolt of electricity into the building with a performance of the famous gospel song "Soon and Very Soon."

That's when nearly all of the 17,000 in attendance got an unexpected treat; one final moment with Michael himself. The fallen icon was carried by his brothers into the building inside his closed casket, which appeared to be made of solid gold. It was covered with dozens of roses and was placed in front of the stage, a few feet from the front row where the grieving Jackson family sat and wept.

The star tributes were outstanding and clearly heartfelt. Mariah Carey sang Michael's "I'll Be There" and Queen Latifah reminisced about trying to replicate the "robot dance" from the Jacksons' 1970's tune "Dancing Machine" with relatives as a child. She also recited an awesome poem written to honor Michael by the legendary Maya Angelou. Lionel Richie moved the crowd with his return from obscurity and still-potent singing and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy shared his memories of first meeting a precocious yet wildly talented Michael in 1968 when he was the nine-year old lead singer of The Jackson 5.

By the way, I LOVED the fact that each of Michael's brothers wore a single, sequined glove in tribute to the iconic accoutrement that Michael made world famous in the 1980's.

Stevie Wonder, another of Michael's friends and former label mates at Motown in the early '70's touched me greatly, not so much with his awesome musical performance, but with his words before the music began. "This is a day that I'd hope I wouldn't live to see," said a visibly somber Wonder.

NBA megastar Kobe Bryant joined Hall of Fame hoopster Earvin "Magic" Johnson on stage to speak glowingly of Michael, a man they both knew personally. A teary-eyed Bryant spoke of Michael's record-setting benevolence around the world and how it earned him entry into The Guiness Book of World Records. Johnson, also teary-eyed, told a funny story about having dinner with Jackson in 1992 while discussing the former point guard's role in Michael's then-upcoming video, "Remember the Time" and being blown away that the entertainer ate Kentucky Fried Chicken.

For some reason, seeing Kobe and Magic all choked up brought tears to my eyes.

Jennifer Hudson's rendition of Michael's 1991 hit "Will You Be There?" was pitch perfect in my opinion, but the Rev. Al Sharpton brought the house down. Sharpton spoke of his friendship with Michael, which dates back to the early 1970's and hailed the man as a seminal force in race relations. He said that Michael expanded on the great progress of Jackie Robinson and MLK and himself laid the groundwork for the prosperity and widespread acceptance of such Black cultural figures as Oprah Winfrey and Tiger Woods as well as President Barack Obama.

Sharpton said that Michael "outsang the cynics, outdanced the doubters and outperformed the pessimists." He went on to mention how people like to "keep up mess instead of listening to the message." He thanked Michael repeatedly for never giving up or allowing others to "set his boundaries" and for "knocking down barriers." In what is sure to become one of the most famous moments of the ceremony, Sharpton took a stab at the media's continual bashing of MJ's unique style and eccentric behavior by speaking directly to Michael's three children from his position on stage. "Wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. What was strange was what he had to deal with."

This brought the house down.

John Mayer's scintillating guitar rendition of "Human Nature" was a jaw dropper, but the appearance of Brooke Shields brought back many memories for me seeing her accompany Michael to awards shows during his super-duper Thriller era. Shields, who became a celebrity at just 11 months old spoke of how she used to playfully tease Michael about that fact and how he took so long to get in the business at age 5. With a delightful mix of levity and palpable sadness, Shields affirmed their relationship as a true friendship, in spite of the crass comments made by the public-at-large since the '80's.

Shields said that the two child stars had to grow up very quickly and as a result became kindred spirits who laughed and engaged in mischief whenever they got together. Though she ended on a teary and sad note, my favorite moment from her was when she referred to Michael as "a genius of unchallenged ability."

Absolutely.

Michael's brother Jermaine reminded everyone that he was once (and still is) a very good vocalist as he sang MJ's favorite song, the Charlie Chaplin tune "Smile." MLK's eldest son and daughter Bernice took to the stage and both spoke with nearly the same command and substance that made their father a master orator. R&B superstar Usher absolutely nailed Michael's "Gone Too Soon" and punctuated the awesome performance by moving close to Michael's casket and emotionally touching it. Smokey Robinson returned to the stage and told poignant stories of the 10-year old Michael's prowess in singing songs that Robinson himself wrote, and actually singing them better.

Michael's brother Marlon was very grief-stricken as he spoke after a filled stage of people sang two anthemic Michael tunes, "We Are the World" and "Heal the World." He spoke of a childhood with Michael and being pulled away from cartoons to go to recording studios and asked Michael to hug their stillborn brother Brandon in heaven.

Without a shred of doubt, Michael's daughter Paris put the entire event in perspective. Flanked by her aunts and uncles, the 11-year old girl stood on stage and struggled to fight back tears and painful emotion. She recovered enough to say, "ever since I was born, daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine." She went on to say, "I love him so much" before breaking down and seeking comfort from her relatives.

That moment alone should finally shut up the idiots that question his story with children, but it won't.

After an excellent final prayer, the service had ended and my emotions were heavily disjointed. I felt a true sense of satisfaction while also feeling very depressed that my Michael is truly gone. Yes, I know he will live on through his legendary work, but I wish that he were still here. For one day though, the man got the respect he hardly ever got in life.

For all that he gave us, he deserved so much more.

Michael Jackson: Bigger Than Sinatra, Elvis, Beatles

CLEVELAND - In the pantheon of legendary entertainers, there have been just a handful that have transcended their field of excellence and become global and cultural icons; Frank Sinatra. Elvis Presley. The Beatles.

Michael Jackson outshines them all.

As I prepare to tearfully watch Michael's memorial service along with the rest of the planet, my thoughts have shifted partially to his place in history. On the music side and in terms of sheer stature, Michael eclipses those other highly celebrated figures. During the 1940's, no one was Sinatra's equal as a musician (his film work was acclaimed somewhat) and crooner and many aspired to be like him. Presley was possibly the original pop idol-turned-fan-obsession during his historic rise to fame in the 1950's and the Beatles, most notably Paul McCartney and John Lennon were veritable heads of state to their legion of fans.

With the stratospheric success of the Thriller album and the ensuing gigantic spike in popularity of Michael Jackson, his stature ascended to unprecedented levels which amazingly expanded with the release of the Bad album in 1987. With the release of several cutting-edge and revolutionary music videos and three larger-than-life world tours between 1983 and 1997, Michael's international status and acclaim skyrocketed to epic levels. Even the rampant controversy and media infatuation with his personal life fueled his immense popularity, albeit dubiously in some cases. In any event, evidence of his expansive legend is evident in the global grief-turned-celebration that has taken place since the unthinkable tragedy of his death two weeks ago.

Michael was a global figure, transformative and incredibly relevant across all nations and ethnicities. No wonder a man that could sing like Michael did, dance like he did, give like he did and create like he did holds the regal status that he does.

He was simply the best.

Young Dedicates Episode To Michael Jackson

CLEVELAND - Entertainer Deante Young has spent his entire life thus far being influenced by Michael Jackson. Today, he dedicates the entire 34th episode of his web series, a Date with Deante to the fallen icon.

The clip is entitled, "I Love You, Michael."

"There will never be another musician with the talent, creativity, originality and heart that Michael Jackson possessed," says Young. "Yes he was controversial and eccentric, but that should never undermine the immense joy he gave to the world over a four decade span. He was a seminal figure in race relations and a relentless innovator and a true pioneer in entertainment. He was family and I will always love him."

The episode makes its debut today, the 25th anniversary of the start of Jackson's Victory Tour in Kansas City, MO with his brothers.

Michael's Autobiography: A Personal Obsession

CLEVELAND - I remember it vividly. Even though I was only 11 years old at the time of its 1988 release, I absolutely had to have this awesome book.

Michael Jackson's life story.

That book, an autobiography entitled, "Moon Walk" had been edited by former First Lady and then-current book editor Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and it was pure bliss. Released by Doubleday, it carried a $15.95 price tag when it hit bookstores in the Spring of '88, a price that my mother felt was too steep when I begged her for it.

I needed that book.

I examined the book in the store with my mouth agape at its design and the incredible contents. Several beautiful pages of color photographs of Michael in various moments throughout his illustrious career. Remember, this was during the Bad era, and Michael was still just 29 years old. One photo in particular that I loved; Michael sporting a pair of dark shades and a red and white letterman jacket. The book's dust jacket featured a close-up of half his face on the front and the other half on the back. When the dust jacket was removed, the hardcover was revealed to have Michael's iconic signature embossed in a gold-tinged design on the front.

I needed that book.

Inside the hardcover, there was a two-page photo of Michael's "accessory table" complete with his trademark sparkly glove and several jars of make-up. The book, which ran nearly 300 pages in length was also filled with pages of black and white photos and offered a behind-the-scenes look at Michael's life. One of my favorite revelations in the book was his recounting of a phone conversation that he'd had with the legendary Fred Astaire the day after the famous "Motown 25" performance. Astaire was heavily impressed with Michael's electrifying dancing and singing and called the then 24-year old megastar a "hell of a dancer." Coming from the iconic Astaire, whom Michael had greatly admired and whose legendary dancing in musicals partly inspired him, he was blown away at the sentiments of the elderly man.

I needed that book.

When I found out that my God-mother had a copy of the coveted book and was willing to give it to me, I wouldn't and couldn't stop bugging her to bring it to me. It seemed like forever, but after a couple weeks or so, she showed up at my house and handed me the book. The whole thing seemed like an enormous event, and I promptly began reading it excitedly. I took that book everywhere with me, including to school where one of my classmates stole it from my book bag in the coat room. I was close to tears, but with the "detective work" of some of my other classmates, the thief was found out and I got my book back that same day.

Man!

Thinking back on those days, I gain a wide grin. Everything Michael did was incredible and indelible to me and I greatly appreciate him for all of that.

I just wish I could find a copy of that book nowadays!

Michael's 'Bad' Album: More Ambitious Than 'Thriller'

CLEVELAND - With the stunning and historic success of Michael Jackson's Thriller album, his follow-up would have very huge shoes to fill. As it were, the album that followed didn't come close to its predecessor's success.

But it was far from a failure.

Bad, released two days after Michael's 29th birthday was extraordinary. It spawned more number one singles than Thriller and was arguably more ambitious. The title track was a less spectacular version of "Beat It" but was still a catchy tune with a thoughtful message. It's accompanying short film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorsese continued Michael's trademark of foregoing the standard music video format in favor of something deeper and more creative. "The Way You Make Me Feel" was and remains one of my all-time favorite tracks. Michael sounds far more "romantically" confident than usual on the song, and the video showed him as something of a "charming stalker," but undeniably smooth with the ladies.

The anthemetic "Man In The Mirror" is arguably his most important song ever. It really spoke to Michael's thoughtfulness about changing the world by changing one's own self. This was an extraordinary expansion of the concern-with-global-issues he displayed in 1985's "We Are The World." Even though Michael's duet with music legend Stevie Wonder on "Just Good Friends" was disappointing, it was still great to hear two child prodigies-turned adult icons together on the same record. Even still, it had its moments, though Michael's 1982 collaboration with Paul McCartney on the similar "The Girl Is Mine" was superior.

"Another Part of Me" was used in Michael's 1986 space-themed short film Captain EO, and was a decent song, but even better when he performed it live in concert. The album's lead single, "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" was a syrupy ballad that conveyed Michael's powerful ability to articulate love and unflinching emotion. Both "Dirty Diana" and "Smooth Criminal" are rambunctious in their tone, but are sheer classics because of their production and Michael's masterful vocal presence. The music videos for the two tracks enhance the experience of listening to the music.

The bonus track "Leave Me Alone" is a sobering view into Michael's post-Thriller world. The relentless presence of the media and paparazzi invading his life is palpable, especially in the ultra-creative music video. Add it all up, and Bad really reveals Michael to be a heavily talented, incredibly complex individual.

With the release of his autobiography "Moonwalk" in 1988, a feature-length VHS movie entitled "Moonwalker" in 1989 and the Bad world tour which spanned about a year and a half, Michael's visibility was at an all-time high and only expanded his overflowing legacy. I know it sounds crazy, but could it be that Bad was better than Thriller?

I'd say no. Bad was incredibly successful and sold a staggering 30 million worldwide. But compared to Thriller, which has sold 104 million copies globally, it was seen by some as a disappointment. I believe that Bad only did what it did because Thriller forced Michael to come bigger and badder than ever. It was more ambitious because Michael raised the bar for everyone.

But his only competition was himself.

Michael's Stature Was On Par With World Leaders

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson's shocking and sudden death has triggered an unprecedented outpouring of grief around the globe and extensive television coverage.

He deserves every bit of it.

Michael was very dear to me, but I speak with a lot of objectivity when I say this; Michael Jackson was on par with royalty and world leaders. Many people see the massive media interest and coverage as being overblown and excessive. Why would a pop star, albeit a very talented one receive such adulation and attention?

Very simple.

Michael was far more than a pop star or an amazing entertainer. His music was equal parts entertainment and inspiration. He wrote and sang songs that were meant to engender change in the world. He touched so many with his singing and dancing and could make a dying child's day by merely showing up. He was a transformative figure that millions of people grew up admiring and revering. Michael Jackson was the original Twitter; millions upon millions followed him and wanted to know what he was doing because he meant something to them. The child sensation that was Michael had found his way into the hearts of so many in the early 1970's because of his jaw-dropping talent and stage presence.

During his prime in the 1980's, the music of the seminal Thriller album captured the world's attention and became a cultural touchstone for even non-listeners of his genre of music. He made people relax and get hyper all at the same time and could make anyone smile just from hearing him speak. In short, he made enormous amounts of people happy.

Michael's iconic music videos and music and dancing and glitter glove and penny loafers became such staples in people's lives all over the world, that he truly felt like someone that we owned -- or at least, a close friend or family member that we'd "known for years."

Michael gave extraordinary amounts of time and money to worthy causes; he was proactive in trying to improve our world. He was shy, sensitive, emotional and soft-spoken and we found that adorable. Even when he exhibited odd behavior and made us shake our heads, we still held reverence for "the good ol' days" of him. People that grew angry at him and were turned off by the child molestation allegations still had their great memories of the man.

Seeing the way people fawned over him for decades internationally in remote locales such as China, Australia and Japan was surreal; here was a guy that started out as a poor kid from a midwestern American ghetto that had ascended so high that he had become an international obsession and a beloved hero of epic proportions.

Truly stunning.

Michael made the world a better place through his music and his philosophy. He made people all over the planet smile. He made us happy. He gave us some of our greatest ever memories and moments. He was about love and togetherness. Being so extensively honored by the entire planet now is the least we can do.

He was truly royalty.

The 'Cinderella' Effect of Michael Jackson's Thriller

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson had already been a star for about 13 years at the time of his Thriller album's release in late 1982.

But that album single-handedly turned him into a music legend and cultural phenom.

When I think back on the days when that album was steamrolling the music industry, I can't help but shake my head in awe. The brilliance of the music and the amazing music videos that it spawned helped to earn Michael a larger-than-life image and unmatched popularity during two entire calendar years, 1983 and 1984.

Michael absolutely owned those two years.

As 1983 dawned, the Thriller album had been out for about a month and had not yet done much for anyone to think that it would become a record-setting cultural touchstone. It was a good record, and some critics even saw it as average or even mediocre. Some questioned why "The Girl Is Mine" was released as the lead single in October '82. No one seemed to see the importance of two of the biggest music icons in music history teaming up for this rather cool song; Michael and Paul McCartney. Maybe it was because Michael hadn't yet ascended to iconic status. He was still seen by many as the child star of the Jackson 5 who happened to go on and create a good solo album as an adult, 1979's Off The Wall.

Michael soon became an international fixation and changed everyone's perception of him.

Beginning with the release of the "Billie Jean" music video in February 1983, Michael's stature began elevating at a rapid pace. The video was so special because of his incredible dance moves that were on full display coupled with the thumping, make-you-wanna-dance bassline of the song itself. MTV began playing the clip heavily after they were forced to break their typically segregated programming in favor of the public's insatiable desire for Michael's music.

When Epic Records took the unusual step of releasing the Rock-infused "Beat It" as a single while "Billie Jean" was still headed up the charts, Michael supplemented the tough song with yet another jaw-dropping music video. Powered by aggressive lyrics by Michael and a stunning guitar solo from Eddie Van Halen, "Beat It" was an irresistible track and that iconic video turned heads everywhere. Treated as a short film, the video introduced Michael's unique fashion sense as he donned his mega famous red leather jacket which was adorned with 27 zippers. Kids and adults all over the globe were soon the proud owners (and wearers) of this awesome and eye-catching jacket (even though it was released in a very cheap, pleather edition).

Sales of the album began to take off in dramatic numbers and everywhere you went, that was virtually the only music that was heard. Michael performed at the 25th anniversary celebration of Motown Records at the end of March and when it aired on NBC in mid-May, Michael's electrifying solo performance of "Billie Jean" was the talk of America. He unveiled his now trademark dance step, the moonwalk for the first time in public and provided a 5-minute clinic on spellbinding dancing. His moves were precise and fluid and his command of the stage and entire arena was astonishing.

Michael's performance was not only critically acclaimed, it was also the de facto start of Michael mania. The single, sparkly glove, sequined jacket and black fedora all became signature accessories of his. In addition to his dark shades, "flooded" pants, white socks and Jheri-curl, Michael's sense of style became must-haves and would later become historical artifacts of his prime dominance.

"Motown 25" sparked Thriller again as the album surged and surged into unprecedented sales territory. Michael released three more singles over the next few months from the album, and all of them did very well on the charts. But it was the December 1983 release of the music video "Thriller" that turned everything around forever. The 14-minute short film possessed a plot, storyline, dialogue, music score and elaborate choreography and was helmed by feature-film director John Landis instead of a standard music video director.

The epic brilliance and conceptualization of the "Thriller" film was breathtaking. Just when it seemed that the album had run its course (it was heading down the charts), this seminal work from Michael once again injected a dose of major interest into the record and it shot right back up the charts a full year after it debuted!

As 1984 dawned, all talk was centered on Michael and the once unthinkable feat that he'd just accomplished. The Thriller album had already become the biggest selling record in history with an astounding 25 million copies sold! Michael kept the brilliance up as the new year got underway and as a result, the public fell more in love with him. He predictably won 16 awards in just six weeks from the American Music Awards and the Grammys combined. Between racking up all of that hardware, he was nearly killed while filming one of two Pepsi commercials in L.A. His hair caught fire after a special effect went awry and he suffered second and third degree burns.

Of course, he recovered very well which allowed his planet full of fans to breathe a sigh of relief. A Michael Jackson doll was released to much popularity as well as a videocassette showcasing the making of his pioneering "Thriller" film. By now, Michael was heads and shoulders above every other musician in the entire spectrum of music. He was revered, adored and highly imitated. Even President Reagan gushed over his guest appearance at the White House in May '84. "Beat It" and "Thriller" jackets were everywhere. The glitter glove was everywhere. Michael's soft and articulate voice caused scores of young women to go crazy over him and his singing made them faint.

Michael and his brothers reunited for a summer tour across America beginning in July, and fans were all too excited. The Victory Tour commenced in Kansas City, MO and lasted until late autumn. With Michael having signed an enormous endorsement deal with Pepsi in 1983, they sponsored the tour which ended up being panned by many critics, but many of us fans were just giddy to see Michael perform in person.

I know I was!

When 1984 drew to a close, it ended the most prolific and unbelievably iconic era in music and pop culture history. Though Michael continued his seismic excellence and immense popularity in the coming years, he never again enjoyed the level of adulation and obsession that followed him for two remarkable years. Once 1985 hit, it was as if the previous two years were Michael's "Cinderella" moment at the Ball with the prince, and now the clock had finally and suddenly struck midnight. The analogy may be a bit of a stretch, but I believe that it has some merit.

Beginning in 1985, nothing ever felt the same with Michael. Odd tabloid stories began to surface about him and other music acts became more visible as Michael no longer had a recent album. By the time he returned with Bad in 1987, so much had changed in music and Michael himself looked very different in appearance.

In any case, I continued to love Michael equally as the years and decades progressed. I saw his behavior get more bizarre and his face become more unfamiliar. But his heart, talent and what he always meant to me remained unchanged. He was still Michael Jackson, even up until the end.

I'll always love him for giving me the "thrill" of a lifetime!

Michael: A Creative Genius And Peerless Visionary

CLEVELAND - Michael Jackson was such an incredibly creative being, that he changed the face of music videos and music, rewrote the rules and raised the bar. He was the prime reason that I became a student of creativity.

And he only worked with the best.

During filming of Michael's feature film debut The Wiz in 1978, the 19-year old star met super-music producer Quincy Jones. They forged what would become a stunningly successful partnership as Michael provided the killer vocals and Jones crafted the scintillating production on three brilliant albums; Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad. Teaming with Jones, who was among the best in his field began a decades-long alliance with superstars in all genres of entertainment for Michael.

He was the master at thinking outside the box. Jones was a jazz music producer, yet Michael brought him in to produce his pop/R&B music and it was obviously a rousing success. Michael also worked on The Wiz with such legends as comedian Richard Pryor, singer/actress Lena Horne and director Sidney Lumet. During production for the Thriller album in 1982, Michael recorded songs for acclaimed film director Steven Spielberg's E.T. Storybook. He also worked with Beatles' icon Paul McCartney on two songs and one music video.

Michael's approach to his music videos for Thriller was pure genius. He never called them videos; he called them "short films." Before Michael, music videos were basic and uninspiring. Michael included storyline, dialogue and special effects to his videos. For the "Beat It" video, he brought in real-life Los Angeles gang members to give the clip an air of authenticity. He'd already worked with superstar guitarist Eddie Van Halen on the song.

For the iconic "Thriller" video, he hired film director John Landis instead of a standard video director. He'd greatly enjoyed Landis' work in the 1981 flick An American Werewolf In London so he made the pivotal choice. He used make-up guru Rick Baker, a man who was accustomed to working on movies, to craft highly realistic make-up effects for the ambitious project.

In addition to his incredible decision making with the people he worked with, he also had unlikely friends and admirers. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy visited him on the set of "Thriller." Legendary movie actress Elizabeth Taylor was his close friend as was Liza Minelli and Jane Fonda. All older women, and presumably not interested in a young pop star like Michael, his relationships with them belied conventional wisdom as well as proved his universal appeal and amazing transcendence.

He treated his Pepsi commercials like they were music videos or even micro films. The two from 1984 were highly popular, but the ones from 1989 (a 4-part ad that placed Michael in an over-the-top storyline) were a major event. Think about that -- a commercial series that played like a mini-movie and garnered much attention.

He picked movie actress Anjelica Huston to co-star in his 17-minute film, Captain EO in 1986 and brought in Francis Ford Coopla, another iconic film director to helm what was essentially an extended, special-effects laden music video set in outer space. The king of outer space-type films was George Lucas, who brought us such classics as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. Michael enlisted Lucas to produce the 3-D short, which played exclusively at Disney theme parks for a dozen years.

For the Bad album, Michael worked with music icon Stevie Wonder and made another cutting edge short film to accompany the song. The clip was directed by another super movie director; Martin Scorsese and featured a then-unknown Wesley Snipes.

Michael also featured around two dozen Hollywood celebrities in his video for "Liberian Girl" and used a then-unknown Sheryl Crow in the video for "Dirty Diana." The 1991 release of the Dangerous album ended Michael's musical alliance with Quincy Jones, but the videos were more cutting edge than ever. He featured then-super popular child star Macauley Culkin in the clip for the song "Black or White" as well as actor George Wendt. He once again called on the services of film director John Landis to helm this project and he also utilized then-revolutionary "morphing" technology in the video.

For the video to "Jam," Michael brought in basketball giant Michael Jordan to co-star with him in the 1992 clip. During this time, Jordan's stature had grown tremendously due to his leading the Chicago Bulls to their 2nd straight NBA championship. The highly stylized short film for "Remember the Time" was set in ancient Egypt and filled with special effects. Michael brought in the then-recently retired Earvin "Magic" Johnson, another basketball deity to co-star along with legendary comedian/actor Eddie Murphy and supermodel Iman. Another acclaimed film director, John Singleton (who was in high demand as a result of his semial debut a year earlier with Boyz N Da Hood) helmed the nine-minute masterpiece.

For "In The Closet," Michael used another supermodel, this time Naomi Campbell, as the object of his affection. He was a man with limitless clout and endless influence which enabled him to bring in such A-list talent across the board.

Not to mention the fact that everyone seemed to be a huge fan of his.

Michael even did a largely forgettable video with Eddie Murphy for "Whatzupwitu" in 1993 for Murphy's Love's Alright album.

The rest of the 1990's were largely sparse for Michael in terms of creating music and videos. He did have a few other notable highlights during mid-decade; co-starring with sister Janet in the 1995 video for "Scream," working with R&B star R. Kelly, who wrote "You Are Not Alone," teaming up with rap legend The Notorious B.I.G. for a song in '95 during B.I.G.'s most popular year and bringing in acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee to direct two clips for "They Don't Care About Us" in 1996.

Michael also worked with legendary horror author Stephen King for Michael's 38-minute film "Ghosts."

In 2001, Michael released Invincible which was generally panned. In any case, he teamed up with star producer Rodney Jerkins in an attempt to create a stunning and updated version of his past sound. In the short film for "You Rock My World," Michael starred alongside comedian and actor Chris Tucker as well as the legendary Marlon Brando. Succeed or fail, Michael always came from an innovative and unconventionally ambitious place in all of his endeavors.

He even did a remix for "You Rock My World" with rap legend and mogul Jay-Z.

He was invited to the White House by President Reagan in 1984 and was honored and hailed as a man who was a valuable citizen of the world. Reagan also said that Michael's success was "an American dream come true." Michael also met with both President Bushes and performed for President Clinton. He was close friends with Princess Diana and sang for Nelson Mandela.

With Michael's surreal brilliance and incredible spirit, it's no wonder so many esteemed superstars, luminaries and dignitaries were drawn to him.

He was one-of-a kind.