1

The Katherine Jackson Story

 This book is dedicated to the loving memory of
my son, Michael Jackson. These pages contain
A Vintage Pop Media Group LLC. Production
photographs from our private family collection,
20434 S. Sante Fe Ave. Long Beach, CA 90810
and are illustrated with my personal stories
about Michael from his early childhood, right up
Copyright© 2010 Vintage Pop Media LLC, and Vintage Pop Inc., All rights reserved. through his remarkable career. Over the course of
Published by Vintage Pop Media Group LLC 2010 Michael’s life, I’ve reserved my comments about
my son. Now, after his death, I have decided to
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address: Vintage Pop Media Group LLC. share my story for two reasons.
20434 S. Sante Fe Ave. Long Beach, CA 90810
Firstly, I hope this book sheds insight into
First hardcover edition June 2010.
2 the person that Michael truly was, the person
who I’ve always known him to be. Sharing my
Created by Howard Mann & Sonia Lowe
Publisher: Howard Mann c/o Vintage Pop Media Group LLC memories with Michael’s fans is my way of
Creative Director/Designer/Editor: Sonia Lowe c/o Vintage Pop Media Group LLC passing on his message and legacy in a way that
he would approve. And it is my hope that his fans
Narration: Katherine Jackson come to know ‘the real’ Michael, rather than the
person that the media portrayed him to be. Those
Co-Publishers: Michael Klipper & Robert Creel who knew my son well will attest that Michael
Copy Editors: Jim Tykoliz, Denise Holtby, Alexis Ungerer was one of the best persons you’d ever want to
Print Production/Editing: Bryan Hughes c/o Zigbot Media
meet and be around. He loved everyone; he was a
Logo/Branding: Miguel St Giovanni
Artist (Katherine Jackson Painting): Ronald S. McDowell
Special thanks to: Lowell Henry, Trent Jackson, Joe Jackson and The Estate of Michael Jackson.
good father and a very good son.
Michael was generous, kind, considerate, funny,
intelligent, warm and extremely humble. His acts
of kindness and generosity were something he
hardly spoke about; when in fact he was truly
one of the greatest philanthropists of our time.
At one point, he was active in 39 charities, and
the Guinness Book of Records recognized him for
his donations in the philanthropic world. Michael
often saw the good in people and trusted many in
the early part of his career, sometimes leading to
pain and betrayal in his life.
Most of what I’ve read or heard about Michael
in the media was not the truth - especially the
allegations of child abuse.
Evan Chandler, the father of Michael’s first
accuser, recently committed suicide. Though
I can’t comment on why, I want to believe his
conscience finally caught up with him and he
was not able to live with himself after
destroying an innocent person’s career and
breaking his spirit. Michael loved children and
he worked diligently and passionately to better
the lives of the less fortunate … the last thing he
would do is harm an innocent child.
The second reason for writing this book is to
celebrate the remarkable artist my son Michael
was, and to acknowledge the contribution he
made throughout his life to music, arts, people,
and the planet. Michael was a true artist with a
vision to heal the world through music. Being on
stage was what he loved to do, and I am happy
that he shared his gifts with his fans who he loved
3
very deeply.
Beyond our hardships, our family loved Michael
dearly, and each of us shares a special bond with
him. Through our memories, we will always
cherish Michael.
Katherine Jackson

Manufactured in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-9828000-0-3 5559

Vintage Pop Media LLC holds exclusive license to the assets of Jackson Communications Inc., which combines photos, videos, music, personal items and memorabilia assets, purchased by way
of bankruptcy liquefication before a United States court. Attempts to plagiarize, unlawfully reproduce or copy will result in prosecution.
Original MJ art: “Bubbles Chair”, “Key III”, “Happy Gate” and “We The People” (Pgs. 5,45,85 and 123) are exclusive property of Jackson-Strong Alliance and are not for reprint, duplicaton or
subsequent commercialization. All rights reserved. Jackson-Strong Alliance and the beneficiaries of the Michael Jackson Estate.
4

Early
Years
Bubbles Chair ~MJ

“You are so beautiful to me” ~ Michael Jackson

 I
always felt that Michael had talent, but I had no
idea that he would achieve the level of success
he did. Both myself and my husband Joseph
grew up with a great love for music. As a child, I
enjoyed singing with my sister, and Joe performed
in a band with his brother. Soon after we got
married, our home in Gary, Indiana was buzzing to
the harmony of country, blues and jazz, all of which
our nine children took a liking too.
Michael was born with rhythm. As a baby, it was
obvious that he loved music and dance. We had
a broken down washing machine that made a
racketing sound when set to a rinse cycle. Michael
6 would sit on top of the machine with a bottle in
his mouth, bopping and grooving to the rhythmic
racket. Even before he could say his first words, he
responded very well to sound. I knew then that the
music was in him.
Ours was a musical family. It was not unusual to
find Joseph and I singing country songs around
the house when we were newlyweds. We didn’t
have much money to entertain ourselves back
then. I remember the time our television set broke
down. We could not afford to get it fixed, so to
entertain the kids, we encouraged the family to
sing together with influences of popular musical
acts like The Temptations. With his background
in music, and my days playing clarinet in my high
school band, Joe and I always had instruments
lying around the house. Our kids were encouraged
to experiment with music at a young age.
It was Tito’s talent that got noticed first. He would
borrow the guitar to practice on while Joe worked
late shifts at the steel mill. The boys took turns
on the instruments, intuitively learning how to
compose music and vocals.
It was not long before Joseph discovered his sons’
talents and decided to form The Jackson Brothers,
with our three oldest sons, Tito, Jackie and Jermaine
on lead vocals. Marlon and Michael soon became 7
old enough to join their brothers on back-up vocals
and percussion. Joseph renamed the boys The
Jackson Five in 1964.
After realizing the talent that was brewing, my
husband reduced his shifts at the mill so he could
dedicate more time into developing the group.
Michael’s vocal range was evolving naturally
toward what is now known as the signature sound
of the group. At the time, Joseph was hesitant to let
his young son bear the weight of center stage, but
with my persuasion, he eventually allowed Michael
to assist Jermaine on lead vocals.
8 9

Left: Joe, Randy and Michael; Middle: (clockwise): Jackie, Tito, Michael, Marlon, Jermaine; Right: Michael (center) and family.
10 11

Left to Right: Michael, Marlon, Tito and Jermaine. Left to Right: Michael, Marlon, Jackie, Randy and Tito.
 W
ith Joseph’s direction, the boys practiced
three times per week and performed at
local gigs in the Gary and Chicago areas.
Joseph and I knew that once we found the right
contacts in the entertainment business, the boys
would rise to stardom. Sure enough, the group
began to get noticed and soon after, a few offers
started coming in.
One of the major labels showing interest was
Motown Records. Always a skeptical business man,
Joe initially resisted the deal, but once the terms
12 were in the best interest for the family, he eventually
collaborated with Bobby Taylor. Following that
decision, the boys found themselves in the studio,
creating their first record. We moved the family
from Indiana to California in 1968. Joseph and
the boys immediately hit the road, touring all
over the country. I stayed at home with Janet,
Latoya, Rebbie and Randy (until he eventually
joined his brothers officially in 1975).
A quiet house was a drastic change for me ... I
missed having dinner with the entire family
every night like we used to before the beginning
Left: 2300 Jackson Street, Gary, Indiana; Right: Me and my husband, Joseph, backstage at a Jackson Five Concert.
of the boys’ professional careers. I often found
myself wishing we were back in Gary so I could
spend more time with all my children. We didn’t
have much money then, but we had each other.
Early in the boys’ career, we still struggled to
make ends meet. I enjoyed sewing as a hobby,
and designed the group’s earlier costumes. As
soon as we could afford it, we hired the talented
Ruthie West to design the right outfits for the
Jackson Five’s soulful, squeaky-clean image.
Shortly after the group left Motown in 1975,
they signed with Epic Records (CBS) and worked 13
with record production duo Kenny Gamble and
Leon Huff, better known as Gamble and Huff.
The Epic deal included a variety show titled, The
Jacksons. The boys’ time soon became divided
among weekly rehearsals and the preparation of
skits and performances for television. The entire
family, including Janet, Rebbie and Latoya made
appearances on The Jacksons Variety Show.
After only one season, Joseph and the boys
decided it would be best to just focus their time
and energy on music and touring.
14 15

Left: Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Leon Huff, Kenneth Gamble, Michael and Randy
16 17

Left to Right: Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Michael and Jermaine. The Jaskson Variety Show (Left to Right): Rebbie, Tito, Janet, Latoya, Michael and Randy.
 E
ven though most people saw him as musically
gifted and mature for his age, Michael was
also as gregarious as most other children. Our
neighbors, who babysat for him periodically, often
comment on how “different” Michael was and that
there was something special about him ... a certain
je ne ce quois.
I was especially proud of watching my son’s early
development into stardom, because he did a lot of
things that you wouldn’t expect a child his age to
do. For instance, at a mere six years old, Michael
was able to pick up choreography quickly. He was
18 a natural. He also surprised and impressed musical
coaches with his ability to sing in harmony without
any formal training.
Growing up, Michael invested several hours in
the studio to record both background and lead
vocals. Even at a young age his perfectionist
nature was a force driving him to commit
additional studio time to post-production editing.
He knew how he wanted the music to sound
and shared the responsibility of production.
As his mother, I felt the career pressure put upon
Michael was premature, and I’m sad to learn that
Left to Right: Jackie, Tito, Michael, Marlon, Jermaine.
Michael grew to regret most of the years he spent
working as a child. He felt like he missed out on some
aspects that he deemed as a “normal childhood”. He
was always considerably passionate about his music,
even back then. It was what he loved to do and we
supported him. Michael knew that he would not
have accomplished the level of stardom he did if it
weren’t for his commitment as a child. He remained
grateful in his accomplishments, and though I’ve
heard him complain about his sacrifices, I know
he believed strongly in his purpose: to inspire the
world with his art.
Once their popularity grew, my boys took on a 19
hectic touring schedule which involved regular
travel abroad. Not able to attend school, we hired
Mrs. Fines, a private tutor who went on tour with
the band. Michael’s best subject was Geography. He
also had a fascination with Art, History and Culture.
While his brothers would go out to celebrate, Michael
ventured out to museums and galleries, immersing
himself in the culture of the cities they visited. Both
Mrs. Fines and her husband, a pianist, formed a
bond with Michael and inspired him to appreciate
literature. When Mr. Fines passed away, he left his
prized piano as a gift for Michael.
20 21

The Jacksons Variety Show (Left to right): Michael, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Jackie. The Jackson Five (Left to right): Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Michael and Jermaine.
22 23

Left: Jackie and Michael Right: Michael in flight.

24 25

Right: The Jacksons meeting the Royal Family

 M
ichael had a generous nature about
him. And even at a young age, he had an
entrepreneurial spirit too. Every time he
received his weekly allowance, Michael spent it
on candy. He set up a little candy shop around the
back of our house, so he could give his treats away
to the neighborhood kids.
I tried to teach Michael about the world through
documentaries. One day, Michael and I watched
26 a film about the less fortunate children in Africa.
The state of their lives brought us both to tears.
Michael, sympathetic at the age of 14, turned to
me and said “One day, mother, I’m going to do
something about this.”
Several years later, he did. Michael surprised
me on a trip to New York City. We drove out to
the airport hangar I witnessed boxes of food,
goods, and emergency supplies being loaded
onto several planes lining the tarmac. I was
The Jackson Five and the US Thunderbirds in Las Vegas.
proud to know that my son followed through
on his words. He was sending aid to Africa.
His generosity didn’t stop there. Donations
to charities and years working with disabled
children from all walks of life ensued. Michael
would sometimes go out at night and randomly
give hundreds of dollars to the homeless people
he encountered. He valued money far less than he
did his goal of making a difference in peoples’ lives,
and inspiring the world to change for the better.
27
Michael was also generous with our family.
My children often threw parties for me and hired
my favorite country musician, Floyd Kramer, to
perform. I recall a few days before one of my
parties, when my daughter Janet suspiciously
asked me what my favorite color was. On the
occasion I was presented with a ribbon and told
to follow it to the other end. The ribbon led me all
the way to the parking lot, where before me, stood
a beautiful, shiny, red Rolls Royce.
28 29

Left: Michael, Randy and Marlon in Japan; Middle: Me, on the day my kids surprised me with a car; Right: Michael and Randy in Japan.
30 31

Left to Right: Sanford & Son’s Redd Fox, Randy and Michael. Left to Right: Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Michael and friends.
 A
doration for classic stars like Elizabeth
Taylor and Shirley Temple was something
Michael was known for. He befriended those
he respected and admired in the industry, and
although a generation apart, Michael felt like he
was able to relate to his mentors… greats like
Fred Astaire, Gregory Peck and Yul Brenner, who
were also among his closest friends. I’ll never
forget the embarrassing night I met Yul. It was
late. I was actually sleeping when I heard a knock
at the door. Michael entered with Yul following
behind to find me in bed with my sleeping cap on.
32 It wasn’t unusual for Michael to entertain his
guests at our place. To this day, our Encino home
remains a haven for family and friends. A tradition
of abundance and togetherness is still practiced.
A tight bond is shared between Michael and all
of his siblings. He got along well with Marlon
because they were closest in age, Jermaine,
because he looked up to him, and Tito, who was
a favorite among all the boys. Michael was also
close to his sisters. He and Latoya bonded when
they shared an apartment in New York while he
worked on The Wiz in 1978.
Latoya sang back up for Michael for years and
made appearances in both his “Say, Say, Say” and
“The Way You Make Me Feel” music videos. He
was always the ideal older brother to Janet and
a big fan of her music. Janet turned to Michael
as a mentor throughout her career. They simply
adored one another.
Encino California has been our family home
since 1971. In the 80’s we attempted to sell our
property and relocate to the Hollywood area,
but after months of searching, we failed to find a
suitable place. As a solution, Michael suggested 33
tearing down our old house and remodeling
my dream home right on the Encino property.
To our new 10-bedroom estate, Michael added
a candy shop, a beautiful gazebo and pool. He
even built a studio for himself above the garage
where he could practice. The new studio inspired
creativity for songs like “Billie Jean”, “Beat it” and
“Don’t stop till you get enough”. Michael lived at
home through the early part of his adulthood.
It was not until the 90’s that Michael decided to
move out on his own into the Neverland Ranch.
34 35

Left: Michael with a fan.

36 37

Left: Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, Marlon, Michael; Right: Randy, Michael, Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Jermaine.
 A
bove and beyond his tutoring, Michael
learned a lot about other cultures and the
world through his career. After the boys
returned home from months of being on tour,
Michael was always excited to share his stories
and his experiences abroad. I remember one story
in particular which took place during a Jackson
Five tour in Australia of 1974.
38 The boys were in a small town promoting one
of their albums. One day they visited a school to
meet and perform for the local kids. Joe noticed
a group of Aboriginal fans gathering at the
event with a hope to meet The Jacksons. Because
of the segregation of cultures that existed
during that time, the Aboriginal kids were not
permitted to meet the band and pose for photos.
Joseph and I tried to instill cultural values
in our children at a young age. So that they
would grow to respect and appreciate all
Joe and The Jackson Five on tour in Australia.
races. That day, Joe insisted that no fans be
discriminated against. He ensured that the
Aboriginal kids were able to meet and take photos
with the boys.
It was through such incidents, the boys grew
sensitive to cultural segregation at a young age.
Several years later, Michael returned to Australia
and to the town where the Aboriginal people
lived. Saddened and affected by their oppression, 39
Michael hoped to find the tribes and discover
ways to improve their situation.
In the meantime, the rest of the family
began to take interest in show business and
enthusiastically chipped in to help the boys
prepare for their performances. Janet, Latoya,
Randy and Rebbie were often present during
rehearsals, lending their time and also their
voices to back up the group.
40 41

The Jacksons CBS/Epic Years.

42 43

Left: Michael, Randy, Jackie, Marlon and Tito; Right: Jermaine and Michael. Right: Michael, Tito and Jackie.
44

The
Stage
Key III ~MJ

Clockwise: Jackie, Marlon, Michael, Randy and Tito.

 H
is fans and peers crowned him the king
of pop, an icon and a legend. But as big
a star as he was, I always saw Michael
Jackson as just, my son. Michael’s fame had not
occurred to me until one year when he took
me to Echo Arena in Liverpool on August 29th,
his birthday. The entire stadium was adorned
in balloons and banners with “Happy Birthday
Michael” splashed across them—to me, it was
a tremendous gesture.
46
The arena echoed with excitable chants and
screams from at least 70,000 fans. And there
were about 30,000 more anxiously waiting his
attention outside. I was surprised and amazed
by the crowd of people who were there for my
son. It really impressed me.
And somehow, through all this, Michael
managed to stay grounded. There is no doubt
The Jackson Five Victory Tour.
my son accomplished great things in his life, yet
he always strived for more. He was ambitious.
He was a dreamer.
I remember some of the highlights in Michael’s
remarkable career. He attended the Grammys
in 1983 after the release of his first solo album,
Off the Wall. Not receiving the recognition he
had hoped for that year disappointed Michael,
however he was not discouraged. Steadfast in
his goal to change the outcome, I remember 47
him saying, “Next year mother, they are going
to have to take notice.”
The following year (1984), the Thriller album
was released. Michael was nominated for 12
Grammy awards and took home eight. Today,
he still holds the record for the highest amount
of Grammys won by an individual recording
artist in a single year.
48 49

Left to Right: Tito, Marlon, Michael, Jackie and Randy. Left to Right: Marlon, Michael and Randy.
50 51
 W
hen Michael remodeled our Encino
home, he built a studio above our garage
and called it Jacksons Communications
Inc. (JCI). There, countless hours of rehearsing for
shows followed.
Michael did not partake in traditional exercise to
keep fit for touring, instead, his ritual involved
dancing for several hours every Sunday.
In an effort to also develop vocal endurance for
52 his choreography, Michael would sing and dance
by himself at the studio. He was intuitive in his
methodology and believed in hard work and
perseverance. His aim was to deliver a high-energy
performance, constructed with ground-breaking
choreography and special effects for every single
show he did.
Michael’s influences for dance were the great Fred
Astaire and the legendary James Brown. He referred
to the icons of his time as a reference, while also
staying abreast of modern talent to collaborate
with. Merging the old with the new was a technique
responsible for Michael’s classic, yet avant-garde
approach to performance.
My proudest “Michael Moment” was the first time
he did the moonwalk during his solo performance
of “Billie Jean” on March 25th 1983, during Motown
25. He rehearsed for that show at the JCI studio
above the garage, and kept that trick a secret.
In fact, the very first time I saw the moonwalk was
53
on stage, just like everyone else.
I have two favorite Michael Jackson songs; “Man
in the Mirror,” released in 1988, and “The Earth
Song,” released in 1995. Another one of my
favorites was the Jackson Five hit “Man of War”.
I especially liked the lyrics, “Don’t go to war no
more, study peace, ‘cause peace is what we need”.
54 55
56 57
58 59
 M
ichael loved the allure of theatre and
strived to incorporate similar stage
presentations into his performances.
He excelled at capturing and maintaining
the audience’s attention, emulating the same
showmanship and excellence of his mentor Fred
Astaire . He wanted to give the audience everything
he had ... and it didn’t stop at performance.
Michael first began sporting one white, sequined
60 glove in the early to mid 80’s. It was just one of
those things that he thought would make a good
fashion statement.
When he burned his scalp during a stage accident
in 1984, he wore his glove and waved to his fans
as he was being carried out on the stretcher. The
glove became famous after that. He also began
wearing fedoras and other types of hats when he
went out in public as a disguise, and to protect his
head after the accident. This too became one of
his signature trends.
Just like singing and dancing came naturally,
Michael was also able to write and compose music
organically. In some cases, he would write an
entire song overnight. I often heard him shuffling
around in his room because an inspiration woke
him in the middle of the night.
Michael was involved in the music composition for
“Billy Jean” and “Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough”
—often doubling as a producer to many of his
tracks. Songs like “Heal The World” and “Will You
Be There” were among Michael’s favorite to write
61
because he was able to translate his message of
peace and good will to his fans. With the help of his
brothers and sisters on percussion, he composed
both songs at home in the JCI studio. He loved to
study and dedicated time toward honing his craft.
Michael also wrote Diana Ross’s 1982 hit
“Muscles,” and his sister Rebbie’s 1984 song
“Centipede.” He also co-wrote “We Are The
World” in 1985 with Lionel Ritchie.
62 63

Left to Right: Marlon, Randy and Michael.

64 65
66 67
68 69

The Victory Tour: Marlon, Michael.

70 71

The Victory Tour: Marlon, Michael, Randy.

72 73
74 75
76 77
78 79
80 81
82 83
84

Happy Gate ~MJ

Friends
 O
ne of the scenes from the music video “Say
Say Say” with Sir Paul McCartney, his late
wife, Linda McCartney, and my daughter
Latoya Jackson was shot on an old ranch in 1983.
Several years later, Michael purchased the 2700
acre property which became the Neverland
Ranch. This photo was taken during their lunch
break at the Tavern Scene location in the video.
Michael was very close with Paul and Linda for
years, and often visited them at their home in the
86 United Kingdom.
Among Michael’s friends was Chicago comedian,
civil rights activist, and nutritional consultant,
Dick Gregory. Michael first met Dick in 1978
on the set of The Wiz in New York. Michael,
impressed with Dick’s extensive knowledge
on nutrition and health, was soon inspired
to become a vegetarian. After meeting Dick, I
remember my son adopting a serious health
regime, with a diet consisting of fish, chicken
and vegetables in lieu of red meat. It wasn’t
Michael on set with Latoya and Paul McCartney
long before Michael encouraged the family to
start eating healthy. Dick continued to influence
Michael’s health habits throughout his career
until he finally became a full-blown vegetarian.
Several of Michael’s friends visited him backstage
at his shows, and some like Miko Brando even
accompanied him on tour. Sammy Davis Jr. was a
dear friend and inspiration to Michael. The two
first met in Lake Tahoe. One night after his show,
Michael was admiring Sammy’s watch. Being
the generous spirit he was, Sammy instantly 87
removed the watch and gave it to Michael.
I still have that watch to this day. After wearing
it for several years, Michael gave it to me as a
keepsake. He seldom wore much jewelry himself.
Because of his experience with kind-hearted
mentors like Sammy, Michael carried on the same
generous tradition throughout his life. It was not
unusual for Michael to give his fans and friends
the things he had that they admired.
88 89

Left: Joe, Michael, Don King, Rev.Jesse Jackson. Right: Michael and Dick Gregory.
90 91

Backstage (Left to right): Wayne Newton and Michael; Sammy Davis Jr.; “Sugar” Ray Leonard and Michael; Miko Brando and Quincy Jones.
92 93

Backstage the Victory Tour: Eddie Van Halen and Michael and Randy. (right photo)
94 95

Left: The three T’s, a family friend, and Michael; Right: Emmanuel Lewis, Latoya and Michael.
96 97

Left to Right: Michael, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Marlon. Right: Diana Ross and Michael.
98 99

Left: Mr T. and the Three T’s; Center: The Three T’s and Diana Ross; Right: Lionel Richie, Steve Rubell and friend, Michael, Debbie Allen.
100 101

Michael and artist Brett-Livingstone Strong, creating art pieces for the White House Commemoration book for the Bicentennial of the Presidency. Left To Right: Marlon, Randy, Tito, Michael, Don King.
102

Just
Boy ~MJ

Michael
 I
always told Michael, “you only get out of life,
what you put into it.” I think those words
stayed with him. Michael always knew what
he wanted to do and how far he wanted to go.
He believed in hard work, a positive attitude and
perseverance. No matter what he set out to do in his
career, he wouldn’t settle to just be “good”... it had
to be his best. He worked tenaciously, for as long
as it took until he was satisfied with the outcome.
His efforts did not stop there either. Above and
beyond his tenacity was his vision.
Michael would often write notes to himself.
104 Sometimes he would scribble down a target date
for his album to top the charts on his mirror, so he
would see it every day as a reminder. He would then
work and strategize toward actualizing his goal.
Equally as ambitious, Michael always set very
high professional targets for himself to surpass.
He strived to be the best in his field, and to give
everything he had to achieve his dream. For
example, before the success of the Thriller album,
Michael was vocal about his intention to create
the highest selling record of all time. He was a
visionary and specific in his ambition.
Michael receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Anyone who worked with Michael can attest
that he simply would not settle for anything less
than perfection. At only seven years old when
he started, Michael learned everything he knew
about the entertainment industry through sheer
experience. He often used his intuition as a tool
to make business and creative decisions, which
in time proved to be very lucrative for him. As
he grew older, he hoped to dedicate less time to
business and more toward his art. Most of his
business dealings were left in the hands of his
associates. Being as trusting as he was, Michael
became disheartened to learn that several
employees and associates betrayed him, and yet it 105
was not in his nature to prosecute them.
Michael received a lot of negative feedback and
media backlash when he bought The Beatles
catalog. Long before he had any children of his
own, Michael came to me and said, “our family
will never have to worry about money anymore
because of this business decision.” People
commented that he overpaid for the catalogue,
but Michael knew his investment would grow. He
was right. He was always looking ahead.
106 107
108 109
 M
ost of Michael’s clothes and costumes
were custom made. He had his own
personal style and worked very closely
with several designers on his wardrobe for his
tours, events, and award shows. He would even
provide sketches of the garment to be made.
Though approached several times to produce a
fashion label of his own, he simply didn’t express
an interest in such projects.
Clothing was more of a personal and creative
110 expression for Michael. His signature color was
red. But when Michael was offstage, his sense of
style was extremely understated. It was like night
and day. Regardless, quite a few of his fans and
peers emulated his fashion sensibility. Michael
saw that imitation of his style and image to be a
form of flattery.
Animals were as plentiful as family around our
home. There was a giraffe Michael called Jabar,
after basketball player, Karim Abdul Jabar. Michael
Left to Right: Bubbles, Michael and a family friend.
also had a Llama named, Lola, as in Lola Falona, a
well-known actress. He had two deer, Prince and
Princess. And a snake named Muscles. Michael
kept all the animals in a sanctuary he built on the
Encino property, all except one that is.
For years, Michael pleaded for a pet monkey.
Naturally, I refused, until one day he brought a
baby chimp named Bubbles home. Bubbles was
different from the other animals we fostered. With
a child-like demeanor, he motioned with his arms
for us to pick him up. His intelligence was apparent 111
in the way he played games and taunted the dogs
we kept around the yard. Bubbles lived and slept
in Michael’s room; he was very much a part of the
family. You’d never even know there were any
animals on the property because Michael kept the
area they lived on in immaculate condition.
A staff of over 200 ensured that same precedent
was maintained at NeverLand Ranch’s animal
sanctuary years later.
112 113

Left: Michael and Magician Doug Henning; Center: Me, with Michael, Marlon and friends backstage;
 I
f Michael were around today, I know he would
be trying a new career in directing films. He
was studying privately with a California State
Professor who also offered his time to teach
Michael’s oldest son, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson
the art of film direction.
Most people are not aware of the origins of
Michael’s sons’ names, which was actually derived
114 from his grandfather. When Michael was younger
he spent time with my father, Prince, in Indiana.
Michael’s sons, Prince Michael Joseph Jackson,
and Prince Michael Jackson (Blanket) were named
after him.
Long before Neverland, Michael built a candy shop
and play area right on our Encino property. The
store was always filled with ice cream and treats.
All his nieces, nephews and neighborhood kids
Left: Michael, my father and I; Middle: Michael,Jermain, My father Prince, Marlon, Jackie and Latoya; Right: Myself, Michael and Joseph.
would come to the house to play. I remember
enjoying quite a few indulgences myself as
well, though I was always frustrated because
Michael, being the picky eater he was, always
resisted temptation to eat candy himself. He was
happy just giving it away seeing the smiles on the
children’s little faces.
Michael was a big kid himself, and on family visits
he often spent his time playing hide and seek 115
with his cousins. It seems like he sought out to
compensate for the childhood he felt he never had.
Enjoying magic as he often did, Michael was
always a fan of fantasy and wonderment. He
admired several magicians over the years and
incorporated elements of this into his shows.
He was also a movie buff, especially fantasy and
science-fiction.
116 117

Left: Me and Michael visiting family; Center: Michael, Joseph, Randy, Jackie and family; Right: Our family celebrating a special occasion.
118 119

Left: Janet, Michael and family; Right: Randy, Michael and family.
120 121

Left: Janet, Michael, Marlon, Joe and Jackie (at Janet’s graduation); Right: Michael, Joe and Randy. Left: Michael (a friend), Latoya, Me; Right: Michael, Bubbles and friends.
122

We The People ~MJ

The
Fans
 I
f there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s how
much my son adored his fans. I’ll never forget
the years when Michael was facing trial. Every
morning we would leave the ranch together to
head into court. Without fail, fans would gather
around the gate of the ranch showing their
support with signs, gifts and prayers.
It touched Michael and I to see bible verses blown
up on signs with loving words of encouragement
for him to stay strong during the difficult time he
124 was facing. It was the strength he needed. There
were huge crowds of people following his every
move. It really did not faze him as it might have
most people. One rule he enforced among his
security staff was to “always be good to his fans.”
When Michael lived at home, there were several
people hanging around the gate of our home on
any given day. Every once in a while, a fan
would find a way into the yard to see Michael.
Sometimes, they would even find a way into the
house. Whenever this happened, Michael always
remained calm, pleasant and polite. He was
grateful to his fans and acknowledged he would
never be who he was if it were not for their love
and support.
I’ve been close to my son throughout his life.
Our bond grew once his brothers left home,
and strengthened while we endured the trials
in 90’s. I knew Michael needed me as much as
he needed his fans then, so we did not leave
his side.
Making music is when Michael felt most in his
element. He made a lot of intuitive decisions and
really trusted and believed in himself. He really
125
was a big thinker, a dreamer and somehow held
on to a belief that he could never fail as long as he
put love into his work.
Michael was a happy-go-lucky kind of person.
I didn’t have to teach my son lessons about being
humble during his lifelong fame; it seemed to
come naturally to him. I remember telling Michael
as a boy that performing on stage was a job, and
that it did not make him better than anyone else.
It’s possible that my message resonated; even
still, his humility often amazed me.
126 127

Left: Frank DeLeo, Michael and Body Guards waving to fans.

129
130 131

The boys greeting fans backstage.

132 133
134 135
136 137

Left: Michael backstage with fans.

 M
ichael lived an extraordinary life and
was very grateful to be able to do exactly
what he loved through his art. But both
my son and I will agree that his fame did not come
without a price. It was both a blessing and a curse.
I’m not one to speculate on what could be done
differently if we could do it all over again. I don’t
138 think I could ask for anything more in life than a
son like Michael.
Regardless of what people may think, Michael
was an extraordinary human being, son and a
father. A person who set every foundation with
good intentions and with the hope to inspire
others through unprescendented displays of love
and humanity. The world knew him, but then
again, they didn’t. My son knew his fans were
behind him until the end. In return, he gave love,
talent, hope and inspiration back to the world
through his music. I don’t believe Michael would
have wanted his life to have gone any other way.
The loss of my son is an overwhelming grief I can
never elaborate through words. I share my stories
with Michael’s children and his fans because I 139
know he would want them to know how much
they really meant to him.
Fifty is too young to die. Despite the tribulations
he faced, I believe he still managed to live as
joyously as he truly deserved. I believe my son
Michael fulfilled his life purpose.
 Michael Jackson 141

1958 – 2009

“Dear Mother! I love you. Your son Michael!”

Editor & Publisher’s Note

When we heard that Michael Jackson died on June 25th 2009, we wouldn’t wager that months later we’d meet his mother. Nor
that she would be granting us full admission and a front row seat to the story of her son’s life. Yet, there we was … in awe of
the untethered access into her home (and heart), as she opened up for the creation of Never Can Say Good Bye—The Katherine
Jackson Story.

Like so many others, the news of the King of Pop’s death struck a chord. When Vintage Pop Media Group acquired 16,000 never-
before-released photos, videos and personal Jackson memorabilia, the (first) question was “what are we going to do with a
bunch of Michael Jackson’s stuff?” The answer was simply to go to his family with what we had, and ask Katherine to share the
untold story of Michael Jackson, from the woman who raised him.

The day we met, Katherine invited us to her place in Encino, California. Prelude to the Neverland years, this was the house
Michael called home during the early part of his existence. Displacing the old habit of keeping the media off her turf,
Katherine allowed us in to listen to her story and to create a family-album-style book for MJ fans. A privilege we could not
take for granted.

In our first conversation, she was poised, polite and politically correct; a product of a lifetime with prying tabloid media. Fast
forward a few weeks, she let her guard down and conversation ran deeper.

Now that she’s lost her son, Katherine needed to clear the air. This would be her chance to preserve Michaels legacy—in a
way no one else could—while delivering a tribute for his fans and children. The process was organic, we sifted throughout
thousands of Jackson family photos and stories about Michael seemed to just flow.

An increasing comfort level eventually unlocked a few uncensored and private moments into her family’s lives. Reliving that
day on June 25th, when she received the phone call summoning her to the hospital where Michael was admitted, brought us
both to tears. Sitting across from her, she seemed no different than any mother remembering her son… only this son happens
to be one of the most influential recording artists of our time. Yet, in that moment the king of pop’s matriarch remained
solemn. Sweet. Normal.

Though we hadn’t ever met Michael Jackson, I certainly gained valuable insight into the person he was, through the eyes of
the woman who raised him. This book, we hope, becomes a celebrated tribute to Michael’s remarkable life – the son, the artist
and the man. Though he may be gone, MJ lives forever in our hearts.

Sonia Lowe, Creative Director/Editor

& Howard Mann, Publisher
End
The