By Roger Friedman

Michael Jackson’s great and loyal publicist, Bob Jones, passed away on Saturday. The word is he simply suffered a heart attack after returning from a bike ride. He was probably around 70 years old and had been associated with the Jacksons for 35 years.

It was Bob who guided Michael through his various scandals, from the marriages to Lisa Marie and Debbie Rowe to the Elephant Man’s bones, hyperbaric chambers, etc. And it was Bob who was there for Michael during the Jordy Chandler episode.

But in the winter of 2005 when Michael was on trial for child molestation and conspiracy, the pop star let Jones be fired without severance or notice. Jackson just dumped him. The result was that Bob and writer Stacy Brown self published “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask.” The book, which was hard for the public to find, told his story of Jackson.

Bob testified at Michael’s trial just as the book was coming out. He had planned to really skewer Jackson, but once he saw his old employer he couldn’t do it. Jones’ testimony was a let down. But it also showed that his loyalties were stronger than Michael’s.

Jones’ death means Michael is now without his two closest advisors and surrogate fathers. Bill Bray was the other one, and he died a couple of years ago. Bob was a Southern gent with a big heart, a lot of style, and always some good gossip that he delivered with mischievous glee. Many people from the Motown world will mourn his death, as shall I. He was just a lovely fellow, the sane centre of people who lived in the path of one hurricane after another.

Source: FOX News

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