Joseph Jackson, patriarch of the first family of pop music, is one of those people who would be well-advised to just “go someplace and sit down.” Seems every time you turn around he’s making some ridiculous, publicity-grabbing statements.
The latest involve his estranged wife, Katherine.
Joe Jackson had the audacity to say, “If she’d done what I asked, Michael would be here today.”
He wanted her to live with their son because of his drug addiction, but Mrs. Jackson felt that would have been an invasion of Michael’s privacy.
“We argued about that several times,” Mr. Jackson added.
Mind you, this is the same Joe Jackson who, according to reliable published reports, receives money from Katherine Jackson since Michael left him out of his will.
Of course, Mr. Jackson has since tried to do damage control, no doubt because of the backlash from Michael Jackson’s fans — and anyone with common sense and compassion.
NOW ON to something more pleasant. On July 27, “Back to Me,” the new album by Fantasia, her first since 2006, will be released. Interestingly, the title was suggested by Steve Harvey.
“It describes perfectly where I am in my life right now,” said Fantasia, who looks so nice on the album cover (see above). “It’s time to go back to how things used to be. I want to focus everyone’s attention back to my music.”
And by the time you read this, Keith Sweat’s new one, titled “Ridin’ Solo,” should be out.
Great quote from multi-talented Sting, when asked if the Police would reunite again since the group’s reunion tour was so successful.
“I’m not a great lover of nostalgia,” he said. “I get bored easily. Some people find that certain chemistry and stay with it for the rest of their lives. That’s not good or bad. It just isn’t me.”
Time flies: It’s been 20 years since the release of Mariah Carey’s first album.
ERYKAH BADU is one of those people who understands that being an artist means creating art that emanates from deep within — no matter what anyone else is doing. And being overly concerned about radio or public acceptance is always a hindrance.
“As an artist it is my job to be honest,” explained Badu. “Power comes from within. I consider Erykah Badu to be a brand that need not be compromised. I translate that to all the fruits of my labor. Once I’ve done a piece of performance art, I step away from it. How it is interpreted is up to the world…in the spirit of Nina Simone.”
BET was right to choose to honor Prince with its 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. The BET Awards ceremony will take place on June 27 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
The previous honorees were the O’Jays (2009), Al Green (2008), Diana Ross (2007), Chaka Khan (2006), Gladys Knight (2005), the Isley Brothers (2004), James Brown (2003), Earth, Wind & Fire (2002) and Whitney Houston (2001).
It’s nice that “The Karate Kid,” starring Jaden Smith, is doing so well. But why did his character, Dre Parker, described as “pensive and fatherless,” have to be from Detroit?
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that actor-singer-minister Clifton Davis wrote “Never Can Say Goodbye,” one of the Jackson 5’s biggest hits. I love the line that goes, “It’s that same old dizzy hang-up, I can’t do with you or without.” And in “Here I Am Again” country music legend Loretta Lynn expressed a similar dilemma: “Here I am, here we are, the story’s gettin’ old. I know I can’t hold on to you, but worse than that, I can’t let go.”
A lot of people have been there.
MEMORIES: “Distant Lover” (Marvin Gaye), “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe” (Barry White), “Love Machine” (the Miracles), “If You Leave Me Now” (Chicago), “Boogie Oogie Oogie” (A Taste of Honey), “Good Times” (Chic), “On My Own” (Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald), “All Night Long (All Night)” (Lionel Richie), “Love is Here and Now You’re Gone” (the Supremes), “Family Affair” (Sly & the Family Stone), “Good Lovin’” (the Clovers), “That’s the Way I Feel About Cha” (Bobby Womack).
BLESSINGS to Claude Young, Carol Spann, Antoinette Vinson, Gene Vinson, Henry Tyler, Laura Dawson, Wanda Horton, Claudette Robinson, R.J. Watkins, Bob Kerse and Dave Bing.
WORDS OF THE WEEK: “It’s not who you are that holds you back. It’s who you think you are not.”
Let the music play!
(Steve Holsey can be reached at [email protected] and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 488202.)
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