While Dr. Conrad Murray’s formal charging in the death of Michael Jackson is certain to pose another emotional time for the pop superstar’s surviving family members, his three children – Prince Michael I, 12; Paris, 11; and Prince Michael II (“Blanket”), 7 – have been dealing with their grief with the help of a close-knit family and something new to them: a sense of normalcy.

“They’re doing great, thanks to the love and support they’ve gotten,”

Adam Streisand, an attorney for their grandmother and guardian Katherine Jackson, told PEOPLE in an interview before Murray’s surrender.

Seconds longtime family friend Kathy Hilton,

“They’re getting along and they have an incredible family.”

Since their father’s death last summer, the children have been living at Katherine’s Encino, Calif., estate with cousins and other relatives, growing in maturity and confidence as they play with friends and go on outings – now without wearing masks and free of the chaos that once followed their father.

“With the kids running around the house, laughing, playing, they’ve given each other a lot of joy,”

says Streisand.

The trio’s older cousins, who joined Prince and Paris on stage at the Grammys Jan. 31 when they accepted their father’s Lifetime Achievement Award (shy Blanket was deemed “too young” to take the stage that night, says Streisand), have become mentors to Michael’s kids, who remain a tight-knit group.

Helping Katherine raise the kids is their nanny Grace Rwaramba, who had stopped working for Michael before his death but returned afterward upon Katherine’s request. Some Jackson family members don’t support Rwaramba’s involvement, but a source says,

“Katherine’s made it very clear that it’s important to her that Grace is around. She knows the kids are more important to her than anything.”

Katherine and Rwaramba are working to ensure that Michael’s kids lead as normal a life as possible.

“Nothing over-the-top happens”

at home, says a family source. Instead, there are school lessons (they are tutored at the house), iChatting sessions and family dinners.

The children go to karate lessons, the library and church. And even though Katherine may be strict (Prince and Paris had to go behind her back to attended the New Moon premiere last November, says a source), she is also giving them room to grow.

“Katherine really listens to the kids,”

says Streisand.

“She wants to give them a sense of freedom when she can. She wants to encourage them.”

Being normal also means a lot less spectacle. When the children venture out in public, their faces are no longer concealed.

“They like not wearing the masks,”

the family source says of the trio.

“It’s a different experience for them.”

Another source notes that Prince and Paris have become more confident over the past several months.

“It would have been hard to imagine them going out in public or showing up at someone’s house hanging out and playing video games before [their father died],”

says the source.

“That had a lot to do with Michael, because every time he showed up there were bodyguards and [chaos]. And now, not so much. It feels much more normal and they’ve adjusted really well to that.”

And yet, their father’s influence lives on.

“Talking to Prince is like talking to Michael,”

says the family source.

“He’s so smart and mature – way beyond his age.”

Paris, meanwhile,

“wants to be a singer.”

Adds grandfather Joe,

“I was so proud of my grandchildren [at the Grammys]. But I’m always proud of them.”

Source: mjfanclub.net

On Friday, February 12, 2010 Lionel Richie sat down with talk show queen Oprah Winfrey to discuss the release of the We Are the World 25 to help benefit Haiti.

It’s been 25 years since Lionel Richie wrote “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson to help end hunger in Africa. With producer Quincy Jones on board, musicians like Stevie Wonder, Kenny Rogers, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen were eager to lend their talent to the cause. The single skyrocketed to the top of the charts, won four Grammys and raised millions to help those in need.

After the devastating Haiti earthquake, Lionel and Quincy decided it was time to bring back “We Are the World.” More than 80 of the world’s most talented singers joined the project—including Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, The Jonas Brothers, Pink, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Jay-Z, Jennifer Nettles, Jennifer Hudson and Lady Gaga.

“I’ve never seen so much excitement—Tony Bennett, Snoop Dog talking to each other. Lil Wayne, Barbra Streisand talking to each other,”

Lionel says.

“Everyone stepped up, and it’s beautiful

.
When the original single was recorded in 1985, there was a sign at the studio that read,

“Check your egos at the door.”

This time, Lionel says everyone’s egos disappeared once they were reminded why they were there.

“It lasted for about 20 minutes,”

he says.

“Once you see the kids standing on top of their homes, on top of their families—because they’re still in the rubble. … Now, the egos stop. You absolutely know what you’re supposed to do when you’re there.”

Despite the amazing talent in the room, Lionel says many of the performers were actually nervous.

“You get in there and realize the new group can’t really perform in the circle. In other words, they’re nervous,”

he says.

“We had to have three separate rooms [for soloists to record in].”

The plan, Lionel says, was for the new recording to remain a secret..

“Right after we finished the first verse, everybody’s Twittered.”

Lionel says the new performance brought back memories of working with Michael Jackson back in 1985—and shares a story he’s never told publicly.

“We’re writing the lyrics of ‘We Are the World’ the first time,”

he says.

“I’m lying on the floor, and I see out of the corner of my eye some records falling over. There’s a python.”

Lionel was rattled, but Michael was excited.

“[He says]: ‘Oh, there he is, Lionel. I found the snake,’”

he says.

“It’s an albino python that he couldn’t find in the house.”

To honor his friend, Lionel found a way to put Michael in the video.

“He had to be in it,”

he says.

“So what we did was we have Michael singing [his] exact same part with the footage, and Janet, his sister, singing along with him.

Source: mjfanclub.net

Dr. Conrad Murray has returned to Nevada to resume his medical practice and await trial, his representatives said Wednesday.

Murray was in Las Vegas making arrangements to work from another physician’s office pending an April 5 evidentiary hearing in Los Angeles, said Miranda Sevcik, spokeswoman for Murray and his lawyer, Edward Chernoff.

Chernoff vowed in a Web posting that Murray

“is going to keep practicing medicine.”

“We’re not sharing the location because the doctor’s primary concern is for his patients’ privacy,”

Sevcik said from Houston.

Murray moved his practice, Global Cardiology Associates, out of a Las Vegas office building in August, said Mary Russell, property manager for the building across Flamingo Road from Desert Springs Hospital.

Murray, a 56-year-old cardiologist, also continues to operate the medical practice in Houston that he resumed in November, Chernoff said.

Murray is licensed to practice medicine in Nevada, Texas and California, although the California Medical Board is preparing to seek removal of his license there.

The Nevada Board of Medical Examiners has no history of disciplinary action against Murray, who obtained a Nevada medical license in 1999, said Douglas Cooper, interim board executive. Murray’s license is set to expire June 30, 2011.

Cooper said he could not disclose if any new investigations involving Murray were under way.

“He has an active license in the state of Nevada,”

Cooper said.

Murray pleaded not guilty Monday in Los Angeles to an involuntary manslaughter charge carrying the possibility of up to four years in prison.

Cooper said Nevada authorities were aware that as a condition of Murray’s release on $75,000 bail, a judge in Los Angeles barred him from administering any anesthetic agent, specifically the drug propofol.

The Los Angeles coroner cited propofol as the cause of Jackson’s death, with other drugs as contributing factors.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Keith Schwartz also ordered Murray to surrender his passport, after a prosecutor suggested he might flee to his native Grenada or to Trinidad, where he has a child.

Murray was with Jackson when the 50-year-old pop singer died June 25 in a rented Bel Air mansion. Murray had been hired to look after Jackson’s health during a comeback tour. He told police he gave Jackson propofol and other sedatives to help him sleep.

Chernoff has said nothing Murray gave Jackson should have killed him.

Source: mjfanclub.net

When Zaldy Goco answered the phone last April and learned that Michael Jackson’s creative team wanted him to develop some costume ideas for the King of Pop’s long-awaited comeback concert series in London, he could scarcely believe his luck. A long time fan of the sometimes-maligned, but always-loved music legend, Zaldy set about developing an approach for creating costumes that at once hearkened back to iconic images from Jackson’s past, while also making him relevant for contemporary fashion of the day.

The results were amazing and once the decision was made to make Zaldy the chief costume designer for the upcoming concerts, the process to get there involved five up close-and-personal fittings between Zaldy and Michael Jackson over a period of a several weeks, including the last fitting, just days before the singer’s sudden death.

Zaldy kindly spoke to Business of Fashion about the experience of designing for Michael Jackson and shared some photos of Jackson from the fittings, published here for the very first time.”

BoF: And now for the topic that I am sure everyone is most interested to hear about: your collaboration with Michael Jackson for the This Is It tour. How did that come about?

It was such a surprise that began with a really casual phone call from someone who was representing Michael’s choeographer, Travis Payne. It was already the end of April and the tour was starting in July, and he asked me if I was interested in making some outfits. Of course I said yes! But, I really didn’t take it all that seriously as I knew that Michael had only ever really worked with one designer in the past named Michael Bush. He had developed all of Michael’s iconic looks for Thriller and Bad. So, by no means was it definite. I thought maybe I’d get to make a couple of outfits — maybe.

It turns out that Michael had been advised to take more of a fashion look with his presentation, and he had asked to see designs from some really big names, including, I believe, John Galliano and Alexander McQueen. My impression is that he got all these packages from these different designers and then he chose who he wanted to work with.

When he got my package, they called me right away and said he that Michael was jumping up and down screaming, saying “I’ve always wanted to do this! I’ve always wanted to do this!”

They asked me to come to L.A. the next day to meet Michael and told me they wanted me to do the entire show. In the end, because Michael is so faithful, he did ask Michael Bush to work on a few of the outfits as well, which I thought was really nice especially because it was supposed to be Michael’s last tour.”

BoF: Wow, that’s pretty amazing. How would you describe what you designed for him?

This is the thing. When they first asked me to do this, they said “we need you to re-invent Michael.” And my first thought was that Michael does not need to be re-invented, especially not now. He is one of the only artists who created iconic looks and iconic images to go along with iconic songs. It’s not necessary for those looks to be reinvented — they just needed to be made more relevant for today. Nobody wants to see a Thriller jacket that it isn’t red and black. People were going to want to see those iconic images, made more relevant to the times.

So, that’s what my approach was — referencing what we knew, but bringing more technology and new techniques that Michael had never used before.”

BoF: What are your favourite looks that you designed for Michael Jackson?

They all kind have their own specialness for me. But, if you ask anyone who works with me, they will always say the We Are The World outfit, embroidered with all kinds of techniques from around the world — from African to American Indian to Japanese to Chinese. It was quite a mix, and very beautiful.

But for me, I loved the Black or White leather jacket, with three different custom plated coloured studs, which was kind of a Sumurai-referenced jacket. The finale jacket is also a favourite, especially because Michael was so excited about it. I had made what Michael called ’secret treasures’ in the shape of little teardrops that enclosed around crusts of crystal chunks.

And then of course there was the light-up outfit for Billie Jean, which was a collaboration with Philips Technology, which really, really made him the happiest. The last time I saw him was about six days before we were leaving for London, and I tried these pants on him and he was silent; completely stunned. After about thirty seconds, he said “It’s everything I’ve always wanted.

So, that was pretty special for me.”

BoF: And then, of course there was his sudden death, which must have turned things upside down for you.

I experience anti-climax after every project, but I was in disbelief. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I had been living and breathing Michael Jackson for weeks on end. When I design for a musician, I immerse myself completely in their music. It just has to play in my head the whole time.

I decided I needed to lock myself away in a hotel to get away, but even that didn’t work. Everywhere I went, people were listening to Michael Jackson. There was no escape.”

BoF: Did you have any sense that he might be unwell?

Not at all. And that is the thing that I think the movie really shows. He was quite lively, energetic and strong. And, he was super in tune to all the details. Every time I met with him, he was always catching little details. When I’d do fittings with him, he was very solid and very strong.”

BoF: Last year was quite a year for you. Doing Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson in one year is pretty big. What lies ahead for you 2010?

It’s funny because I kept seeing the two of them side-by-side in stories or hearing their names mentioned in the same story. And then, all of a sudden I was working with both of them. But right now, I’m pretty excited to get back into the Scissor Sisters, who are launching their third album. But also, last year was a big music year, and I’m thinking of leaning back towards fashion again.”

BoF: So there could be a Zaldy label again?

There could be. Right now I am working on a gown for the Met Ball. So, let’s see. I’m working on a couple of things.”

Want to See Even More Photos of the costumes Zaldy designed for Michael Jackson?

Concert suits for Michael Jackson

Concert Jacket for Michael Jackson

Shoes For Michael Jackson

Additional Concert Jackets for Michael Jackson

Source: mjfanclub.net

Peter Andre has recorded a version of Michael Jackson’s ‘She’s Out Of My Life’ for his new album.

The song – a top three hit for Jackson in 1980 – is one of five classic ballads Andre has covered for Unconditional Love Songs, due for release on Rhino on February 1.

The remainder of the 16-track compilation comprises the singer’s favorite romantic tracks from his previous LPs, including the hit singles ‘Lonely’ and ‘The Right Way’.

“I have always wanted to cover an MJ song and this particular song is so simply done and says so much about the artist,”

Andre said in a press release.

“It’s lyrically beautiful and is so thought-provoking.”

Andre’s last studio album Revelation debuted and peaked at number three on the UK albums chart in September. It has since been certified platinum.

Source: mjfanclub.net

According to Roger Friedman,  Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie are planning a massive 25th anniversary re-recording of “We Are the World.”

The timing couldn’t be better, sadly enough.

The duo is summoning lots and lots of talent from Grammy weekend to stay an extra night — Monday Feb. 1 — and come to the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles. There, they will celebrate a quarter century since Ken Kragen, Richie and Michael Jackson organized the original “We Are the World” with Quincy.

This time the artists invited include Usher, Natalie Cole, and John Legend. But you can bet that more names will be added shortly and that all the Grammy nominees and participants will be asked to come as well. Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich will produce the event, which will then be turned into a video and single just like it was in 1985. Don’t be surprised if Wyclef Jean joins in, along with Sting, Fergie, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and other distinctive voices.

It’s hoped that as in 1985, everyone will

“leave their egos at the door.”

Originally, this anniversary celebration was to be held on Jan. 28. But when the Haiti earthquake happened, sources tell me, the whole deal changed. Now proceeds will go to Haiti relief. In 1985, “We Are the World,” which begat Live Aid, raised money for Africa relief.

Plans are still sketchy, but one thing’s for sure: In some way, the song’s co-author Michael Jackson will be invoked. AEG is co-producing this event. They’re also putting together a 3D tribute to Michael for the Grammy show from elements Jackson was going to use for his tour. Jackson recorded “We Are the World” for what became “This Is It.” Surely he’ll be included here as well, which will make the whole project even more poignant.

Stay tuned. PS: Quincy Jones is about to release what has been described to me as a landmark new album that he’s made with contemporary R&B and hip hop artists. He was responsible for the original “We Are the World” and will guide the new one. He is not a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in case you were wondering.

Source: mjfanclub.net

GRAMMY winners Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Smokey Robinson, Carrie Underwood, and Usher will join together, along with the voice of Michael Jackson, in a moving tribute to Jackson at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Jan. 31. This very special GRAMMY Moment will feature the never-before-seen 3-D mini-movie for “Earth Song” that was created by Jackson as the centerpiece of his much-anticipated This Is It tour, but was never seen by the public prior to this GRAMMY performance.

The 3-D film was created to support the performance of “Earth Song,” an original composition and a No. 1 hit for Jackson. The song has a strong theme about the future of the planet, and Jackson saw it as a unique opportunity to deliver a message to millions of people who would have seen him on tour.

“It was one of the most important portions of the concert tour to Michael and when Michael saw the film for the first time at his last rehearsal, there were tears in his eyes,”

according to Ken Ehrlich, GRAMMY co-Executive Producer and longtime Jackson associate, who was also at the rehearsal that night.

“This very special GRAMMY Moment will feature some of our most respected GRAMMY recipients, all of whom have a great love for Michael,”

added Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy.

“This segment promises to be an emotional highlight of this year’s show, and is sure to join the unique list of amazing performances for which the GRAMMY Awards have become renowned.”

This special segment also represents another GRAMMY technical breakthrough in that it will be the first time a major awards show broadcasts in 3-D. The GRAMMY Awards also were the first awards show to broadcast in high definition and 5.1 surround sound (2003).

So that viewers can enjoy this unique 3-D TV experience at home, CBS and Target have partnered to provide millions of free 3-D GRAMMY Glasses. From Sunday, Jan. 24 through Sunday, Jan. 31, Target stores nationwide will exclusively offer these 3-D GRAMMY Glasses so that fans have the opportunity to see the film that was very personal to Jackson. Additionally, the audience at Staples Center will share the 3-D experience, wearing the same glasses as those being worn by viewers at home.

This GRAMMY tribute to Michael Jackson joins previously announced performances by nominees Beyoncé, the Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, the Dave Matthews Band, Green Day, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga, Maxwell, Pink, Taylor Swift, and the Zac Brown Band.

The 52nd GRAMMY Awards will take place live on Sunday, Jan. 31 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and will be broadcast in HDTV and 5.1 Surround Sound on the CBS Television Network from 8–11:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The show also will be supported on radio via Westwood One worldwide, and covered online at GRAMMY.com and CBS.com, and on YouTube.

The 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards are produced by John Cossette Productions and AEG Ehrlich Ventures for The Recording Academy. Ken Ehrlich and John Cossette are executive producers, Louis J. Horvitz is director.

Source: mjfanclub.net

Kenny Ortega went through hundreds of hours of rehearsal footage putting together Michael Jackson’s This Is It, a tribute to Jackson for his fans, but he says it was a labor of love. It was also a way of helping with the healing process after the death of his close friend. The film, which will be released on DVD on January 26th, exceeded expectations at the box office and earned a nomination in the Best Documentary category at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. On the red carpet before the show, Ortega shared his memories of working with Michael Jackson and what set him apart as an entertainer in a video interview.

Source: mjfanclub.net

American Cinema Editors, the industry’s leading organization of motion picture editors, has nominated Brandon Key, of Tustin, CA, for a 60th annual ACE Eddie Award. The announcement was made Jan. 12.

Key’s “Best Edited Documentary” nomination, for his work on the critically acclaimed Michael Jackson film “This Is It,” is shared by co-editors Tim Patterson, Don Brochu and Kevin Stitt.

Winners will be announced by ACE on Feb. 14.

Shortly after the world learned of the death of the legendary King of Pop, Key, a long-time Jackson fan, received a frantic call from Patterson, a friend and collaborator of 15 years, to help cobble together what had been raw rehearsal footage of Jackson’s ill-fated international tour into a full-length documentary for an ASAP theatrical release.

Quite unexpectedly, Key and his cohorts found themselves laboring over piles of video footage 12 hours a day, seven days a week last summer in a frantic effort to create a posthumous Jackson film tribute for a fast-approaching October release. “This Is It” opened last fall to huge audiences and critical praise.

“I just never dreamed,”

Key stated,

“that I’d be thrust into helping create what would become one of the biggest movies of the year — and the highest-grossing concert film of all time.”

That accomplished, Key and Patterson have gone on to edit and shoot additional content for the DVD, which is expected to ship this month.

“This Is It” has grossed over $250 million since its debut.

Source: mjfanclub.net

Australian singer Peter Andre is going to dedicate part of his tour to Michael Jackson.  Andre is currently in rehersals for the new tour that will begin in February.

Of the tour plans, Andre said,

“I don’t want to give too much away, but there will be a section of my show dedicated to Michael Jackson.  I’m working with a chroeographer who did some of the late singer’s videos and Britney Spears’ last tour, so I’m in capable hands.  Now I just need to build up my stamina!”

Source: mjfanclub.net

Source: mjfanclub.net