byline goes here

Jackson performs Dec. 1, 1984, on the opening night of his Victory Tour at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.Lennox McLendon/AP

 

Marie here, with some thoughts about MJ ...

You know what they say about best laid plans. Every now and again, we have the next day's program sown up and put to bed. This was the case yesterday, when news broke about the death of Michael Jackson. All of a sudden, I was using my blackberry and my cell phone at the same time, trying to keep up with the flurry of calls and email updates. I must admit that most of the calls were from family and friends, expressing their shock and dismay. It was one of those "where were you when" moments. It became clear that the show we planned simply would not do.

Michael Jackson was not just any pop legend. As a colleague put it "he changed the cultural fabric by bringing music and people together across race." He is embedded in our social consciousness and today's program examines the man and the music.

We rounded up black pop culture scholar Mark Anthony Neal and Bryan Monroe, the former editorial director of Ebony magazine who interviewed Jackson for the 25th anniversary of the release of Thriller. We also caught up with R&B singer Howard Hewett, a longtime friend of Jackson's who performed with the star on several hits from the Thriller album and legendary producer Kenny Gamble, who produced The Jacksons.

Michael Jackson had an incredible fan base in Africa, so we decided to check in with NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton in Dakar, Senegal. Of course, the Barbershop guys were chomping at the bit to talk about the legend. And in a rare moment of brazen self-revelation, I decided to share my memories in a commentary. Keep your lighters up, and we'll talk more on Monday.

- Marie Nelson, Tell Me More Executive Producer

2:08 - June 26, 2009

What is this?

Share