Singer and songwriter Claude Kelly (27) wrote the song ‘Hold My Hand’ featuring Akon and Michael Jackson which was leaked to the internet a few days ago. Soon after the song was pulled off the internet again.

In an interview to Billboard, Kelly said that hearing Michael Jackson’s voice on the track for the first time was a total surprise to him:

“I wrote the song and gave it to Akon with the intention of it going to maybe Whitney Houston, but Akon said he wanted to cut it himself. I thought, ‘It doesn’t get any bigger than this’. A few months after, Akon plays the song for me and all of a sudden I hear Michael Jackson’s voice. I was literally shaking by the time the song was over.”

The track is in contention to be the first single from Akon’s new album, due late this year. Kelly’s manager Michael “Make” Mentore from Star Power Media/Make Moves Management said that plans are to release the track on both Akon’s and Michael’s album.

As a child, Claude Kelly took piano and flute lessons and sang with local choirs. He attended Brooklyn College of Music in 1999, and in 2002 wrote his first song, which was placed in a Bathing Ape compilation released in Japan. In 2006, his first major placement came with “Daddy’s Little Girl” from Frankie J’s album ‘Priceless’.

Source: Billboard