Famed Filipino musician Gary Valenciano will be releasing a new album titled ‘Rebirth’ on May 14, 2008 in the USA in celebration of his twenty-five years in show business. In a recent interview with The Philippine Star he was asked to write a list of 25 artists who have influenced his life and career most. He listed many popular artists such as Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, and Sting. Of course Michael Jackson was also on the list at #11:

“Michael Jackson — Usher and Justin(e) are just two of many who have included a touch of Michael in their performances. It’s like the two best learning from the very best.”

Source: The Philippine Star, ABC News

Jeffrey Daniel, an US dancer, choreographer and singer of the soul vocal group Shalamar, heavily defended Michael Jackson in an interview to the British newspaper ‘The Voice’. Daniel was involved in the Michael Jackson videos ‘BAD’ and ‘Smooth Criminal’ and served as a dance consultant on ‘Ghosts’.

In the interview, Jeffrey Daniel said that he knows that Michael Jackson did not molest any children, that he did not deserve the ‘wacko Jacko’ label, and should not be portrayed as a child molester. He explained that he has watched Michael Jackson do many kind things for underprivileged children dying from multiple sclerosis, cancer and other terminal illnesses.

“I stayed at Neverland. I saw what is there. I saw the kids who were staying there, it just doesn’t add up. It doesn’t make sense. As far as I know, he’s not that type of person.

Michael does not tell people, but I have seen what he does. His greatest crime is his humanitarianism and his humility. It backfires on him and these people have gone after him.

I just feel sorry that he’s such an open hearted person - that he didn’t grow a much harder shell earlier.

Isn’t it odd that the media can be so forgiving of people who are in rehabilitation, people who have been convicted and gone to jail? I just think it’s unfair that the media paint such a negative picture of a person who was not found guilty.”

Daniel is performing the hit records and dances which made him famous at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London on May 17, 2008.

Referring to debates over whether Michael Jackson actually learned the moonwalk from him, Daniel added:

“That is between the fans. Michael Jackson and I have nothing but love and respect for each other. I never feel slighted by Michael’s achievement with the dance because he’s one of my dance brothers.”

Click Here to read the entire interview.

Source: The Voice

Dominic Winter Book Auctions are holding an auction this coming Wednesday on May 14th in Gloucestershire, UK. They have have three items pertaining to Michael up for grabs.

Firstly is a ‘Smooth Criminal’ white fedora that Michael wore during one of his concerts, and is signed under the brim “All my Love Michael Jackson 1990?, and bears the words “Michael Jackson” in gold lettering inside, a standard feature with all of his stage-worn fedora hats. It’s estimated to fetch between £300 - £500.

The second item available at the auction is an ‘Artist of the Decade’ award, which is a nicely mounted display, limited edition Platinum Award (number 576 of 1000). It includes a Platinum record, list of albums, record sales, a pencil signed letter of authenticity from Michael Jackson, three miniature album covers and plaque, framed and glazed 65 x 59cm. It’s estimated to fetch between £150 - £200.

The third item is a group of three autographed items, including a signed colour reproduced photo mounted with an unused 1988 concert ticket, plus a nicely mounted colour reproduced photo of Michael holding a panther signed “Love Michael Jackson”. A certificate of Authenticity attached to reverse, plus a large mounted ‘Dangerous’ poster signed on the top left margin, with an inch closed tear to the top margin, various sizes, all framed and glazed, plus a ‘Dangerous World Tour’ official jacket, size XXL, large tour logo on the back with “Dangerous World Tour presented by Pepsi” on the front, leather sleeves. It’s estimated to fetch between £100 - £150.

Source: Dominic Winter Book Auctions, MJWN, MJFC-USA

Nowadays, Sean Cheesman is a well-known dancer and choreographer who has worked with such stars like Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Tina Turner, Prince, Whitney Houston, Faith Hill, and Britney Spears.

But when he was younger and growing up in Calgary (Canada) he was having quite a hard time. Young Sean started as a figure skater, but quickly recognized that he was drawn to dance. In an interview to The Calgary Sun he said:

“My mother says that ever since I was little I was dancing.

In Calgary at that time, I was always the only boy in dance class, I mean not only that I was the only black boy as well. It wasn’t always easy, and I got teased.

But a cool thing that happened is one of the guys who had always given me trouble in school grew up and saw me in the Michael Jackson Bad video. He was like, this is amazing and he eventually ended taking dance himself.”

Now he is returning to Calgary to look for some new dance talents. He will be a celebrity judge during the Calgary audition sessions for the new talent show ‘So You Think You Can Dance Canada’, which airs on CTV this year.

Source: The Calgary Sun, MJFC-USA

According to the official auction listing registry at Priority Posting, the impending public auction of Neverland Ranch that was scheduled for May 14th has now been cancelled. No further details about the cancellation are available at this time.

Priority Posting is a posting service in California that publishes a list of area forclosures.

Source: PriorityPosting.Com, MJFC-USA

During the recent taping of her talk show with Cher and Tina Turner in Las Vegas (USA), Oprah Winfrey admitted that she’s only been nervous twice in her 22-year-TV-talk career:

“My knees started shaking when I realized I had no plan B in place when I interviewed Michael Jackson live to the world, but he did answer the questions so it became OK.

The only other time was the first time with Tina in the late 90’s. I was her biggest groupie at her last farewell LA concert. I even had her wig, until Steadman told me that had to go! My knees were hitting each other. I had 1 minute, 37 seconds left in her song and I’m dancing on stage with her. Tina said ‘you really can’t dance can you?’ Then I realized nobody cared if I could dance or were even watching me so I just let go and enjoyed the moment.“

Source: Vegas Lux Life, MJFC-USA

The German radio show “HR1 Musik-Box”, which focused on Michael yesterday (for reference see MJFC news item dated 29-4-2008), was a big success for Michael Jackson and his fans.

Fans worldwide were asked by the MJFC Family to participate in the show by submitting their favourite songs and their stories. Not only from Germany but also from countries like Egypt and New Zealand mails arrived at hr1 and of course they were full of praise for the King of Pop.

One team member of the JAM Fan Club (MJFC-Germany), Bianca, even had the chance to do a phone interview and to tell her MJ story.

Click Here to download Bianca’s interview (MP3 Format - German) on the JAM web site.

Within a few days, JAM is planning a more detailed report on the radio show. An update will follow! Special thanks to JAM for the report and the mp3 download.

And special thanks to the fans worldwide who participated! You can make a change…

Source: hr1, MJFC-Germany (Jam)

Singer and producer will.i.am, who has been working in the studio with Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey and many others, gave an interview to the BBC. He will star in the new Wolverine film alongside Hugh Jackman and was asked whether he enjoyed the filming:

It just doesn’t seem real for some reason. Maybe it’s because I’m sleepy.

Even working with Michael Jackson seemed real, even though it was, you know, surreal, but the Wolverine thing seems like a big dream.

Then he was asked when the public will get to hear the songs he recorded with Michael Jackson:

The new stuff? Um, I don’t know… Can you switch that tape recorder off…

And in a quickfire interview, where he had just 2 mins to answer as many questions as possible, he also had to answer 2 questions on Michael Jackson:

Q: What`s the first thing you ever said to Michael Jackson?

wll.i.am: Who is this?

Q: And what was the first thing he said to you?

wll.i.am: It`s Michael. […]

Q: Michael Jackson or Justin Timberlake?

wll.i.am: What am I doing?

Q: Producing.

wll.i.am: Michael Jackson.

Click Here to see a video of that quickfire interview.

Source: BBC News

According to court papers filed on April 14, 2008, Michael Jackson has dropped a lawsuit against the accounting firm of Bernstein, Fox, Whitman, Goldman and Sloan. The papers did not state whether a settlement has been reached or whether the lawsuit was dropped for another reason. His lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment.

Back in December 2006, Michael Jackson, through his production company MJJ Productions Inc., had sued the accounting firm alleging negligence and breach of fiduciary duty. The firm was accused of not paying workers’ compensation payments on his behalf in 2004 and 2005 and was late paying taxes he owed, in addition to hiring people and entering into contracts without his authorization.

The accounting firm counter-sued Michael Jackson the day after he filed his court papers, claiming he owed nearly $1 million in unpaid bills. That action was dismissed.

Source: Reuters

Next Saturday, Michael Jackson will be the topic of a special show on German radio station hr1 (Hessischer Rundfunk 1). And all fans can participate by submitting 5 song requests and their MJ stories to each song.

The text on the radio station’s web site reads a follows:

Top or flop? What do you think about Michael Jackson? Which of his songs do you like?

Mail your opinion to HR1 moderator Tommy Stärker. Your favourite song and your story about Michael Jackson. Attention - deadline is on Friday, May 2, 2008 at 2 pm.

You can hear the highlights on the topic Michael Jackson on Saturday, May 3 - starting at 6 pm in the hr1-Musikbox (6-8 pm).

Click Here To get to the respective hr1 page and to submit your song requests.

Source: hr1, MJFC-Germany (Jam)