Dec.
20, 2000: Michael Attends Charity Concert In New York
City
On
Tuesday, December 19, 2000 a gorgeous looking
Michael Jackson made a surprise appearance at
WKTU's "Miracle On 34th Street" concert at New York's Madison Square Garden
and sent thousands of concertgoers into hysterics
As
part of the grand finale, all performers lined
up across the stage and the orchestra started
The Jacksons' hit "Shake Your Body [Down To
The Ground]".
Michael
came out from the wings to wild applause and cheering.
Unfortunately, for the crowd, he didn't perform, telling
the audience that he had laryngitis, but he did wish
everyone happy holidays.
Surprise presenter Whitney Houston jumped up and down
and hugged Michael.
Before he left the stage, he promised the packed house, "The best is yet to come!"
The Charity concert feat. performances by Whitney Houston,
Marc Anthony, Destiny's Child, Ricky Martin, Christina
Aguilera, Brian McKnight, Melanie C, 98 Degrees, Lara
Fabian, Gloria Gaynor, Deniece Williams, Jon Secada...Toni
Braxton served as emcee for the event.
[source: www.nydailynews.com,]
Dec.
13, 2000: Michael To Be Inducted Into Rock & Roll Hall
Of Fame
Great
honor for Michael Jackson: On March 19, 2001 he will
be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame
as a Solo Artist. An Induction into the Rock & Roll
Hall Of Fame is considered one of the highest honors
in the music business!!
Rolling Stone Online reported:
While Paul Simon and Michael Jackson had previously
found their way into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, via
Simon & Garfunkel and the Jackson 5 respectively, next
year both men will receive their second induction, this
time as solo performers, Rolling Stone publisher Jann
Wenner announced Tuesday. Simon and Jackson are joined
by an array of Seventies musicians from art-rock [Steely
Dan] to hard rock [Aerosmith] to drama rock [Queen].
Fifties rock pioneer Ritchie Valens, the King of Soul
Solomon Burke and doo wop legends the Flamingos round
out the list of performers that comprise the Rock Hall's
class of 2001.
Michael was already inducted along with the rest of
the Jackson 5 in 1997.
Entertainment Wire [New York] carried an immediate statement
made by a thrilled Jackson:
"I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great
honor. I could not ask to be in better company than
the list of fellow inductees. Each and every one is
a master from whom I have learned. My sincere thanks
to the rock and roll historians and experts who have
chosen me."
The sixteenth annual induction ceremony for the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame is set for March 19, 2001 at the
Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. VH1 will air
the ceremony on March 21, 2001.
Musicians become eligible for induction twenty-five
years after the release of their first album, and sidemen
become eligible twenty-five years after the commencement
of their career.
Congratulations, Michael, you truly deserve it!!!!
[source: www.rollingstone.com,
Entertainment Wire, www.neverland-valley.com]
Dec.
07, 2000: My Childhood, My Sabbath, My Freedom...
The following
article has been taken from Dotmusic:
Michael Jackson has scheduled March 27, 2001 as the
release date for his first completely new album in almost
ten years, dotmusic can exclusively reveal. The
album, which follows the compilations "Blood On The
Dance Floor" and "HIStory", will consist of entirely
new material, becoming the first full-length Jackson
release since "Dangerous" in 1991.
According to dotmusic sources, the album will take a
noticeable R&B slant, with a host of big name producers
and musicians expected to be involved.
Rodney Jerkins, Terry Riley and R Kelly are all believed
to have assisted on desk duties, while Lauryn Hill,
Boyz II Men, Babyface, Will Smith, R.Kelly, Wyclef Jean
and Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot have all been mentioned
as collaborators.
The album will be made available on a record six
formats including CD Super Audio and DVD Audio Album
and much of it was recently played back to Sony Music
executives in New York.
Jackson explained that those in attendance for the exclusive
playback were walking on air from what they heard.
Dec.
05, 2000: Michael's Speech At The Angel Ball...
On Thursday,
Nov. 30, 2000 Michael Jackson was honored with an Angel
of Hope Award at the Angel Ball held in New York. Below
the transcript of Michael's introduction as well as
his great speech:
N'Sync Members Lance and J.C. introduce Michael:
Thank you. It's great to be here. Actually I'd say
it's pretty incredible. And incredible describes our
next honoree. This is the part were we are supposed
to tell you about the career of our guest of honour,
but if you don't know who he is, what planet are you
from? He's not only one of the greatest artists of age,
a star for the ages is what he really is. His Thriller
album is the greatest selling album in the history of
the world. And his song 'We Are The World' sold 800,000
copies in 3 days. His records actually set records.
As members of a new generation of pop artists we stand
before him with the deepest sense of gratitude and humility.
He's influenced our musical choices but more importantly
he has influenced our personal choices.
No artist does as much to make the world a better
place, and no other celebrity is more humble about his
good work. What else can I say about him, he's bad,
he's a thriller, and he's here. The greatest living
recording artist in the world, number one superstar.
King of Pop. On behalf of the G & P Foundation it's
a great honour to present the Angel of Hope Award to
Mr Michael Jackson.
[While Michael walks up on stage he receives a standing
ovation, the music to "We Are The World" is played]
Michael: Wow, it's incredible. I'm extremely honoured and
moved by this gracious award and first and foremost
I would like to thank our hostess and my date tonight,
Denise, [giggles and smiles sheepishly, the crowd
giggles and whistles] who with her beautiful spirit
and abundant kindness has quickly found a special place
in my heart. My close friend Rabbi Shmuley Boteach introduced
me to Denise and I'm very grateful. Thank you Shmuley,
thank you so much for making this evening possible for
me and for all the important and meaningful projects
that we have begun together. Shmuley is also responsible
for bringing me together with some of my special guests
this evening, Nobel prize winner, Professor Elie Wiesel
and childrens' expert, Dr Stanley Greenspan. Thank you
for joining me on this special night.
I'm honoured Mr President to receive this award in
your presence and I wanna thank you all for years of
dedication and service that you rendered to the American
people. You have been an incredible president and I
love you. [Audience are cheering and applauding
loudly] And of course N'Sync. [audience applauds]
It's great to meet you guys and it's an honour to
receive this award, not only did you make all the girls
scream, [audience laughs] but I was also thrilled
to learn that you are continuing the tradition that
I also believe in, in using your accomplishments to
help others with your own charitable foundation. [audience
applauds]
Cancer is the number one killer of children. And
it is only when we join together on evenings like this,
that we can summon the courage and determination to
stop it from ever robbing another child of the precious
gift of life or a parent of the joy of watching their
child grow. God bless you all for all the love and support
you have offered this evening and I love you all very
much. Thank you. [audience applauds]
[Michael talks with Lance and J.C. and you can hear
him say "Nice to meet you too" and then kisses
Denise on the check. Everybody walks off the stage]
Dec.
03, 2000: Michael Attends Wedding Ceremony Of Tommy
Mottola
On
Saturday, Dec. 02, 2000 Michael Jackson took a
front row seat at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New
York for the wedding of Sony boss Tommy Mottola
and Thalia Sodi. He did not attend the party after
the wedding ceremony.
Some of the 1'200 invited friends included Donna
Summer, Gloria Estefan, Rosie O'Donnell, Marc
Anthony, Emilio Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Robert
De Niro, Saul Kerzner, Danny DeVito, Joe Pesci,
Ricky Martin, Bruce Springsteen, Julio Iglesias,
Tony Bennett, to name but a few.
Dec.
01, 2000: Michael Receives Angel Of Hope Award
A
again gorgeous looking Michael Jackson shows up
at the Angel Ball Honors in New York. The following
has been taken from Reuters:
On Nov. 30, 2000 President Clinton, singer Michael
Jackson and Jordan's Queen Noor were honored on
Thursday for their work to fight cancer at a star-studded
black-tie dinner to raise $4 million for a cancer
foundation.
The president and wife, Sen.-elect Hillary Rodham
Clinton, received an award from the New York-based
G&P Foundation, which funds research into leukemia,
lymphoma and related cancers.
"It won't be long now," Clinton
told some 1'800 Hollywood stars and members of
New York society crowded into a Manhattan hotel
ballroom for the event, saying he expected a cure
for the disease to be found.
Talk show host Larry King emceed the gala, which
was scheduled to include performances by singers
Natalie Cole, Patti LaBelle and Marc Anthony as
well as appearances by actors Jane Seymour, Gabriel
Byrne and Joan Collins.
Clinton, seated between Queen Noor and actor Robert
DeNiro, did not stay for most of the show, leaving
early to fly home to Washington with his wife.
The G&P foundation was created by song writer
and Democratic Party donor Denise Rich to honor
her daughter, Gabrielle Rich Aouad, who died of
leukemia at the age of 27. It is named for Gabrielle
and her husband, Philip Aouad.
As she helped to present the Clintons with their
award, Rich also handed the president a gleaming
saxophone.
"Thank you, Denise," Clinton
said. "I'll have a little more time to
play it in a week or two," he added,
referring to the end of his eight years in the
White House on Jan. 20.
Jackson, wearing a peach colored shirt, a lilac
vest and a yellow tie, gave Clinton a warm tribute.
"You've been an incredible president and
I love you," the pop star said, pointing
at Clinton.
A foundation spokeswoman said the dinner aimed
to raise $4 million from about 1'800 guests, who
were expected to include a wide array of Hollywood
stars including Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell, Kim
Basinger, Alec Baldwin and Julianne Moore.
Former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and former Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who did not attend the
dinner, were also honored for their work on behalf
of cancer patients.
