Neverland was the pyramid he constructed to a lost childhood. The artifacts captured in this book return us to the Neverland he lost

Portrait photographer, Henry Leutwyler never intended to create a book. What started as a magazine assignment to photograph Michael Jackson’s iconic white glove evolved into an investigation documenting a life cut short. And whose life could be more interesting to explore than the King of Pop himself Michale Jackson.

Leutwyler visited MJ’s primary home Neverland after it had been vacant for several years, only to find the icons belongings packed and stored in crates, awaiting public auction. Inside the boxes he discovered many precious artifacts that seemed to tell a sad story of man who sacrificed his childhood to the calling of his musical gift. ‘Neverland was the pyramid he constructed to a lost childhood. The artifacts captured in this book return us to the Neverland he lost’.

The book, Neverland Lost – A Portrait of Michael Jackson by Henry Leutwyler, is available for pre-order at Amazon and currently on exhibit at the Foley Gallery in NYC through April 2.

Michael Jackson – Breaking News

Will Michael Jackson end up like Tupac, releasing more albums in death than life? It’s quite possible, since MJ has decades of unreleased material. The first posthumous album from MJ is called Michael and releases in December. Apparently this song was recorded in New Jersey in 2007, and though some doubt it’s authenticity, it does have the trademark MJ vibe. What do y’all think?

MJ is one of the reasons why I was drawn to music at an early age.  As a child growing up in the 70′s I couldn’t escape his music.  I remember realizing at some point that the man singing on “Blame it on the Boogie” was the same small child singing “ABC,” and it blew me away.

In 1979 when Off the Wall was released I remember buying the album with some cash I got for my birthday that September.  I played that record from start to finish several times a day for at least a year.  There was only one other album released that year that had the same effect on me and that was the self-entitled album by Prince.  Looking back it is easy to see why MJ & Prince became my musical heroes and biggest inspirations.

I was fortunate enough to be able to witness the magic of MJ during the summer of 1981 when the “Triumph” tour rolled through Greensboro NC.  I begged my mother to take me and on July 24, 1981 there I was.  It is easily one of my most memorable concert experiences.

As a DJ, MJ’s music is like your favorite winter coat.  You know that no matter how cold the room is you can put on that MJ record and just like that everything warms up–people are dancing, screaming, and having a great time.  That will never change.

-DJ Dredd

Please join us tonight as DJ Dredd pays tribute to Michael Jackson at the 9:30 Club in DC.

My memories of MJ are as fond as the next fans. His music was magical, even to the ears of a child. It spoke to all races and cultures. And when he died; for just a brief moment it felt as though the whole world came to a simultaneous stop to mourn a man who had touched the lives of so many – simply through his music.

But what propelled my fascination with the superstar even further was his ability to look and dress the part to such a supreme perfection. The  floods, the studded jackets, the glasses, the the sparkly socks, the glove, the band-aids on the fingers, the cast, the hair, the masks and eventually… the face. All of it gave him this bigger than life persona which ultimately made him the most successful self marketing guru in the entertainment industry.He was not only a music icon, but a fashion icon as well. And although I don’t need to say it, I’ll say it anyway. There will NEVER be another one like him in our lifetime.

Rest in peace Michael.

On June 25, 2009 I was on my way to New York for the Hip-Hop Association’s Womanhood Passage Fundraiser, a special evening acknowledging contributions of women in hip-hop. As I pulled into the city, I was lazily scrolling through my e-mails when my heart caught a fire–in all caps, the subject line read: MJ DEAD. The e-mail came from a DJ friend in Tel Aviv who first heard the news from the Los Angeles Times’ Twitter feed. Everyone on the Internets was clamoring for confirmation; we were morbidly fascinated, but clinging tooth and nail to the idea that we might still have the chance to see the living legend in concert one last time. The first Polaroid that developed in my mind was of my best friend staring emptily at her two concert tickets, a momentous occasion to fulfill a lifelong dream now rendered nothing more than two pieces of paper.

As I grazed on the bite-sized hors d’oeuvres, listening to the likes of Roxanne Shante (pre-Phd scandal), b-girl Rokafella, Beverly Bond and Monie Love, DJ Jazzy Joyce came forward to confront the black and white elephant in the room: “I almost didn’t come tonight, I was so f*cked up about [Michael Jackson's death]. But I’m glad I did.” We were there to celebrate women, but our very presence was an homage to the King of Pop. Later that night, a friend and I gossiped over Belgian drafts at a tiny Brooklyn bar. MJ was on a jukebox loop. An older Black man in all leather seemed to be crying and smiling all at once while a white, hipster couple danced playfully (and un-rhythmically) in the corner. The next day, my partner and I roamed the streets on a thrift store mission and I swear every single shop, cafe and passing car was bumping Mike at full volume. These fleeting moments remind me that we are bound by music across borders and time, no matter how far apart we feel from one another. In the words of the irreplaceable, “You are not alone.”

I was less than a year old when Michael Jackson’s Bad was released. And Thriller, which may or may not be the best-selling album of all time (I’m looking at you, Eagles), came out years before that. In fact, MJ spawned many of his greatest hits before I was even born. I sang along to “Black or White” before I had any real grasp of what race was. And, for that matter, I probably moonwalked before learning there was a satellite orbiting the earth.

He was a constant, consistent presence, and I couldn’t have imagined a world without him. So much so that I have no distinct memories of the first time I heard his music; it simply felt like he had always existed, and would always exist. I don’t claim to be a diehard MJ fanatic–just take one look at the footage of women spazzing out at his concerts. But when it comes down to it, I loved the man. And you probably did too.

In celebration of the Michael Jackson’s birthday, Couch Sessions writers are taking time to reflect on their first memories of the King of Pop. Michael would’ve turned 52 this year.

My mom was a lover of music. She bought records and later on in life I bought tapes. So naturally the big entertainment table that sat in the corner of the living room was a necessity. Embedded in one side of the table there was an AM/FM radio and the other a drawer that contained a working turntable. Every once and a while my mom would put on records and her and my uncle would do the bump. I liked watching them because I thought they were silly. I was not permitted to touch the record player for fear I would pull the drawer out too far and it would fall on me. So for my birthday my mom got me my own turntable. It stood about 4 feet and it had flashing lights and a microphone to sing along. It was perfect to play 45′s but I had a “real” album that I had to spin. Not an Alvin and the Chipmunks 45. I was super excited to play Ben, from a young Mike. To which I would sing every word as I held the album cover and swayed to the melody. I loved the arrangement and just new he wasn’t singing ’bout no rat. That is one of my earliest recollections of my love for MJ. My love was so strong in fact, that my friend Keisha received an album with Michael’s image directly on the record itself for her birthday. A true predecessor to CD’s. I was pouting and so obsessed, I mean upset that my mother did’t get me one and remained upset for the duration of at least a week.

For me Michael Jackson has never been a tangible being. He has always been a supernatural creature whom I would watch, captivated. He was forever reinventing yet remaining consistently a Michael to oooh and ahhhhh about. I can remember putting Thriller on the record player and sitting on the floor of my grandparent’s house to sing along with every ‘heeee heeee’. I would unfold the album cover with the poster size photograph of Mike laid out in his white suit and black shirt and just gaze into his eyes while the ‘funk of forty thousand years and grizzly ghouls from every tomb were closing in to sealing my doom’. I could go on and on about MJ memories and his impact on my musical tastes.

Did I mention I had the Michael Jackson doll… with the whole Thriller outfit? He and my African American Barbie were really in love.

In celebration of the Michael Jackson’s birthday, Couch Sessions writers are taking time off to reflect on their first memories of the King of Pop. Michael would’ve turned 52 this year.

My first memory of Michael Jackson goes way back to 1983 when the Thriller album was released.  I was only 7 years old at the time when I first saw the video for Billy Jean on Casey Casem’s “America’s Top 10” countdown show, but it was pretty amazing!  I remember being mystified at the sight of the sidewalk lighting up for each step that Michael took.  His dancing was spectacular and he did things I had never seen anyone do before in my “years” of experience watching music videos. Then I remember the “Thriller” video and how it was produced like a movie and as a kid that just floored me.  I would go to my friend’s house and we would sit there waiting for it to come on MTV so we could watch it again.  I feel like I have grown up with Michael Jackson’s music throughout my life and he is such an influence on artists today that we should all take a minute and listen to his music on his birthday this weekend and enjoy his awesome talents.

-Chris

I guess you could say that, Michael and I go way back like penny candies and Tahitian Treat…I grew up in a musical household my mother would play records daily –during chores, when she was entertaining friends, or just because. My very first memory of Michael involves me in a frilly dress, singing Jackson 5’s “Rockin’ Robin”, listening to my mother tell stories about how many J5 concerts she’s attended –one of her favorites was one that was a concert and a carnival at the now defunct Capital Centre. It’s also safe to say that all the useless Jackson family trivia that I know; I inherited honestly from my mother.

Michael’s voice always lulled me –wrapped me up, serenaded me and brought me joy. I remember me and my elementary school friends (mostly female) would always celebrate August 29th aka MJ’s Birthday –all of us would bring in our favorite 7” to play in class. I was the daydreamer –still am– I wanted to emulate him in certain ways; so…I cut off all my hair, got a jheri curl (lucky for me my mother was a beautician), begged her to buy me the Beat It jacket and was decked out with glove, socks and penny loafers –oh yes, honey I was styling!    Not only did my mother surprise me with all the above in the bottom of the box was a pair of tickets to the Victory Tour (Score!!!!!!!). That concert will stay in my heart forever. I danced, cried, bonded with my mom..and probably dripped some activator on the person next to me; but it was all love…ALL LOVE!!

PS. OFF THE WALL …runs circles around THRILLER!!

Michael Jackson – Pretty Young Thing (Demo) (U-Tern edit)

Usually there’s a pretty valid reason why a ‘demo’ version of a song doesn’t make the final cut of an album and therefore remains just a demo. But after hearing this demo version of Michael Jackson’s “Pretty Young Thing”, I couldn’t help but think of what a tough of decision it must of been to decided on a final edited version.

Not to take anything away from the final version – which was the sixth single off of Michael”s super- mega smash album Thriller and also featured background vocals by his sisters LaToya and Janet. Without a doubt it is a track that remains one of my favorite to this day, but when I finally heard the demo version I was instantly re-smitten  by Michael’s voice, lyrics and steeze and amazed that this treasure for the most part still remains hidden.

The demo version of “Pretty Young Thing” was co-written by Michael Jackson and a musician named Greg Phillinganes who was discovered by Stevie Wonder and has worked (and toured) with artists such as Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton (to name a few). The version you hear on Thriller was produced by James Ingram and of course Quincy Jones and it was re-done due to Michael and Quincy’s decision to find a more up-tempo beat and lyrics. A move that is understandable after hearing the demo which sounds like something that would’ve been more appropriate for Off the Wall.

‘Demo P.Y.T’ opens with a funky ‘quiet storm’- like percussion and then it gently eases into the wonderful sound of MJ’s impeccably arranged vocals. You know the MJ vocals I’m talking about. The sweet and delicate ones that give you goose bumps. The version that you can peep below includes very light editing from Vancouver DJ, U-Tern. Very light meaning he simply tweaked it to make the sound quality better. It is a gem of a song that should be included in every MJ fans playlist. Check it out in case you missed it.

I’m no Chris Brown apologist.

As my homie Benhameen put it, if either one of us were to beat up our girlfriends, we would not be performing on the BET Awards, nor will we be having fans screaming to give us a “second chance” all over Twitter.

But I digress.

In fact, I’m glad that Chris Brown is slowly getting back into the limelight, and his tribute did MJ justice, and honestly, the only person who can come close to mimicing MJ (dance wise) is Chris. MJ’s moves were copied to a tee, and in the beginning I almost thought MJ himself were still alive. But in light of the dude’s past, was this tribute appropriate? What do y’all think?

Personally, I thought the light up suits were better than anything.

Couch Sessions approved artist Aloe Blacc and indie band The Grand Scheme teamed up to make this very dope and bluesy rendition of Michael Jackson’s epic song, “Billie Jean”. Brilliantly done! RIP MJ