Michael Jackson_ The Magic, the Madness, the Whole Story, 1958-2009 Part 6

'She said that when Michael was fifteen years old, a certain member of his family, someone he trusted I won't say who, even though Rebbie did decided he was old enough to have s.e.x, and that he had had to have it. This person then arranged the services of two hookers for Michael. He told them to work him over, and then locked Michael up in a room with them. Rebbie said that this incident absolutely traumatized her brother. I don't know whether or not Michael actually had s.e.x with the hookers. Rebbie didn't say.' to have it. This person then arranged the services of two hookers for Michael. He told them to work him over, and then locked Michael up in a room with them. Rebbie said that this incident absolutely traumatized her brother. I don't know whether or not Michael actually had s.e.x with the hookers. Rebbie didn't say.'

Certainly, if this story is true, such a scenario must have had a deep psychological impact on Michael, as it would on any youngster going through p.u.b.erty. After that happened, it's been said, Michael turned to prost.i.tutes, not for s.e.x but for conversation. It was as if Michael had retaliated against his brothers' actions with groupies by trying to rea.s.sure himself that women were good for more than just fun times in bed. James McField, the group's former pianist and band director, recalled, 'Sometimes maybe once, maybe twice Michael just needed to have someone to talk to and maybe once, maybe twice a woman would be introduced to him as someone very nice that he could be with, to have the company of a female. But he wouldn't have s.e.x with her, to my knowledge. As far as I know, nothing intimate would ever happen. He liked nice girls, pure girls who appeared to have no street background.'

One such 'date' remembered meeting Michael after a concert in New York. 'I was hanging around backstage, working Madison Square Garden's dressing area,' said Lillias Harris, 'when someone who introduced himself as an employee of the Jacksons came over to me and asked me if I wanted to spend an evening with Michael. "h.e.l.l, yeah," I said. He asked me how much, and I told him I would do it for free. I wanted to have s.e.x with Michael Jackson. Who wouldn't?

'He brought me back to the dressing room. Michael was there, alone. I walked in, and he told me to close the door. The first thing out of his mouth was, "Why are you a prost.i.tute?" I answered, "Because I need the money." He said to me, "Would you like to have s.e.x with me?" and I said, "Yes, of course I would." He asked me how much it would cost. I told him, "No charge." He seemed interested. So, I undid my blouse and showed him my b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He then turned his head, repulsed. "Stop. I can't have s.e.x with you," he said. "Please put them back," he added, referring to my b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

'When I asked him why, he told me, "Because I just can't." I thought he meant he couldn't get an erection, he looked so sad. Then, he said, "Can we talk about you and your life?" I didn't want to talk, that's not why I went there. So I gave him my telephone number.

' "Anytime you want to get off, you call me," I said. Michael looked at me and asked, "What does that mean, get off get off?" He was totally sincere. "It means screw, Michael," I told him. "Anytime you want to screw, call me. Get it?"

'He said, "Oh, okay. Maybe I'll call you someday. I doubt it, though." And then I left.

'He struck me as lonely and naive,' Lillias Harris concluded. 'He was a nice, mixed-up, good-looking guy who wanted female companionship. No way was he about to have s.e.x that night, though. He was scared to death. I wondered if he would ever call me. He never did.'

'Rockin' Robin' and 'Ben'

By winter of 1972, Motown had released two more solo singles by Michael Jackson, the first being 'Rockin' Robin'. While Michael twitters his way through the song, the session player bangs out the easy ditty on the piano to create a song that was irresistible. 'Rockin' Robin' became an even bigger success than 'Got to Be There'. The song peaked in the same position for Michael as the original did for the late Bobby Day, at number two.

One early record of Michael's that still brings snickers today is 'Ben.' The words of the song extol friendship, though there is no clue in the lyrics that the song is actually about a rodent. (In the film, Ben, Ben, a young boy befriends a rat named... Ben. A little-known fact is that Bing Crosby was one of the movie's producers.) Michael's voice complements the delicately orchestrated piece, with its solo guitar accompaniment; the recording is layered at all the emotional peaks with a precise string arrangement. The song obviously stood on its own, independent from the film. It became Michael's first number-one solo record, selling an amazing 1,701,475 copies. It was also nominated for an Oscar. a young boy befriends a rat named... Ben. A little-known fact is that Bing Crosby was one of the movie's producers.) Michael's voice complements the delicately orchestrated piece, with its solo guitar accompaniment; the recording is layered at all the emotional peaks with a precise string arrangement. The song obviously stood on its own, independent from the film. It became Michael's first number-one solo record, selling an amazing 1,701,475 copies. It was also nominated for an Oscar.

Michael saw the movie Ben Ben many times, sitting in the back of the theatre just waiting to hear his song and then see his credit on the screen. As a child, Michael loved rats. At one point, Katherine was horrified to find that Michael had thirty rats in a cage in his bedroom. He was pa.s.sionate about the rodents until the day he discovered that they were eating each other as rats will do. Sickened by the sight, Michael put the rat cage outdoors. many times, sitting in the back of the theatre just waiting to hear his song and then see his credit on the screen. As a child, Michael loved rats. At one point, Katherine was horrified to find that Michael had thirty rats in a cage in his bedroom. He was pa.s.sionate about the rodents until the day he discovered that they were eating each other as rats will do. Sickened by the sight, Michael put the rat cage outdoors.

In addition to his solo records, Michael started recording the group's songs separately from his brothers, putting the lead vocal on tape alone in the studio. Later, the brothers would come in and record their background vocals. Often, additional anonymous singers would be added to the mix. This was a decision made by Motown to make the recording process more expedient. All it did for Michael, though, was make him feel more singled out, and not a part of the group. He didn't like it.

In November 1972, The Jackson 5 embarked on a twelve-day European tour, which would begin with a royal command performance before Queen Elizabeth. There was actually some concern at Motown that the tour would not be a success, based on the group's flagging record sales in Europe. Unlike the situation in America, sales were down for The Jackson 5 in Europe, and especially in Britain. The group's Maybe Tomorrow Maybe Tomorrow alb.u.m, for instance, didn't even make the UK Top 50. Their single 'Sugar Daddy' also flopped in the UK. However, as a solo recording artist Michael was faring well. 'Got to Be There' and 'Rockin' Robin' sailed to the British number five and three positions, respectively. Later in the month, 'Ben' would peak at number seven and sell more than a quarter of a million copies, just in the UK. So even if the group was falling short in record sales with a British audience, it was hoped that thanks to Michael's popularity the tour would draw audiences. It did, and in a big way. As British teenagers swarmed London's Heathrow Airport to welcome the group, the ensuing mob scene was reminiscent of Beatlemania. alb.u.m, for instance, didn't even make the UK Top 50. Their single 'Sugar Daddy' also flopped in the UK. However, as a solo recording artist Michael was faring well. 'Got to Be There' and 'Rockin' Robin' sailed to the British number five and three positions, respectively. Later in the month, 'Ben' would peak at number seven and sell more than a quarter of a million copies, just in the UK. So even if the group was falling short in record sales with a British audience, it was hoped that thanks to Michael's popularity the tour would draw audiences. It did, and in a big way. As British teenagers swarmed London's Heathrow Airport to welcome the group, the ensuing mob scene was reminiscent of Beatlemania.

'Large plugs of hair were jerked from the scalp underneath Jermaine's giant Afro by souvenir hunters,' reads Motown's 22 November press release. 'Noise so intense that it drowned out the whine of jet engines drove tears to Michael's and Marlon's eyes. t.i.to was bruised and shaken by the stampede of the thundering herd. Randy nearly panicked when frenzied females devoured him with bear hugs and wet kisses. Jackie was cool but more than a little bit worried. It was sheer pandemonium. It was near chaos. It was frightening. It was JACKSONMANIA. JACKSONMANIA.'

Besides losing a shoe, Michael was almost choked to death. 'He was really frightened,' recalled Jermaine. 'They were pulling on both ends of his scarf, actually choking him. He had to put his hand up under his scarf and start screaming so that it wouldn't tighten up on his neck.'

Michael loathed such mob scenes. He recalls having to run through crowds of screaming girls with eyes covered by his hands for fear that their nails would scratch him. He remembers hiding in broom closets, hoping the throng would rush by and miss him. 'They grab your hair and pull hard and it hurts like fire,' he recalled. 'You feel as if you're going to suffocate or be dismembered.'

Fans barricaded the entrance to the Churchill Hotel where the group stayed in London, preventing them from leaving the scene after their royal variety performance. Joseph called the police, who arrived with water hoses, which they unleashed on the fans. The next day, a nine-year-old girl threatened to use a knife on a hotel doorman unless he allowed her access to Michael's room. She was detained by the police. A Rolls-Royce limousine carrying the group sustained twelve thousand dollars' worth of damage when it was dented and scratched by young girls clawing to get to their idols. Later, as the Jacksons performed at the Talk of the Town nightclub, souvenir hunters stripped their limousine of its cushions, radio, lights, tyres...

It was this way wherever the brothers travelled on the rest of their tour, whether in Amsterdam, Brussels, Munich, Frankfurt or Paris.

Katherine Files for Divorce.

Katherine Jackson had tolerated many years of unfaithfulness from Joseph. She knew he was cheating on her. Everyone knew. Joseph had been on the road with the boys for years and having brief encounters with their groupies. Not only had her friends told her, several of Joseph's more audacious girlfriends had telephoned the house over the years to brag about their encounters with him. 'I don't want those women calling the house,' she would scream at Joseph, sometimes in front of the children. 'I'm sick of it, Joseph. Enough is enough.' The reasons for Joseph's actions didn't matter to Katherine. She wasn't even sure she wanted him to stop his philandering, as she told one friend. She simply wanted him to be more discreet. 'Do you have to play me for a fool?' she would ask him, tearfully. A terrible rage began to fulminate in her. 'Don't you dare treat me like I'm stupid,' she screamed at him. 'There's nothing worse than being made to feel this way.'

In truth, Joseph treated Katherine just as she had allowed him to treat her for as long as they'd been husband and wife. There was little reason for him to stop, as far as he was concerned. In his view, he worked hard for the Jacksons, he supported his family, he gave them a good life, so what he did on his free time was none of their concern, as long as he was present when they needed him.

In January 1973, Katherine learned that one of Joseph's girlfriends had become pregnant and had a miscarriage. At first, she couldn't believe it; it was more than she could bear. However, when she confirmed that it was true, she decided that she had no choice but to end the marriage. 'It's over,' she announced. 'My marriage is over.'

Immediately, the children sided with her; oldest daughter Rebbie, who was twenty-three, couldn't bear to be in the same room with her father. 'I don't know how my mother hung in there all those years,' she later said. 'She didn't need that heartache with everything she had to deal with, being a mother, supporting the children's performance, getting involved in the business end of things. It was too much. I encouraged her to leave him. I knew that he was damaging her spirit, that she couldn't possibly have peace of mind.'

The Jackson offspring had seen Joseph mistreat Katherine for so many years, they were happy to see her finally take a stand against him. 'I hate Joseph,' Michael said to one of the Motown staffers. 'I hate him so much for what he has done to my mother. I hate him more than I can even say.'

'But, Michael,' the Motown employee said, 'you shouldn't feel that way. After all, he's your father.'

'I wish he wasn't my father, sometimes,' said fourteen-year-old Michael. 'I wish it with all of my heart. He's the loser here,' Michael said. 'His whole thing is always about winners and losers and who wins and who loses. With this thing, he loses. Big time.'

Katherine filed for divorce in Los Angeles on 9 March 1973.

Joseph was stunned. He had been controlling and manipulating Katherine for so many years, he couldn't fathom her righting back in this manner. He also knew that he could not live without her. Plus, they had a family, growing children. He had to change her mind. Who was going to raise all of those kids?

Katherine was faced with a dilemma when she and her attorneys began filling out the required forms. She didn't have a clue as to the value or extent of her community property with Joseph. She had no idea how much her husband or her children earned annually, or what the extent was of their now vast business enterprises. She didn't even know Joseph's social security number. Therefore, she had to leave two pages of questions regarding this personal information unanswered. Her lawyer, Neil C. Newson, typed on the form, 'The information required in this declaration is currently being compiled. A separate amended financial declaration will be filed.' Katherine paid her attorney $150 and then went back to the house on Hayvenhurst. She did not move out of the house, and neither did Joseph. They just didn't speak to each other.

'When Motown heard that Katherine had filed for divorce, all h.e.l.l broke loose,' remembered one family friend. 'This could have ruined everything in terms of their family image. All of those stories about how close they were, what a loving family they were... It had the potential to be a public relations disaster. It was decided by Gordy that no one was to know that Katherine and Joseph were splitting up. It would be a closely guarded secret by the press department. Today, you couldn't keep something like that out of the press, especially with a court filing. In the early seventies, the press wasn't as intrusive as they are today. The news was never leaked. However, Katherine was badgered constantly by company officials who tried to convince her to reconcile with Joseph for the sake of her family's image.'

'I'm finished with Joseph,' Katherine told one Motown official at a meeting to discuss the possible consequences of her decision. She looked bone-tired, recalled the lawyer. She wore a simple yet elegant black dress, pearls at her neck, a fine, diamond pin on her shoulder. Her hair was a jet black coif around her head. 'It should have nothing to do with the boys' career,' she said, firmly. They can still make records and be famous, and their parents can be divorced, and that will just have to be the end of it, I'm afraid.'

Though the Motown adviser was not convinced, her son, Michael, had made up his mind about his parents' marriage. 'As far as I'm concerned, it's over,' he told Diana Ross, according to a later recollection. 'My father has hurt my mother, and that's all I need to know. That, to me, is the end of it.'

'But people are so complicated,' Diana told Michael, hinting at the complexity of Joseph's problems. 'Who knows why they do the things they do.'

'I know why,' Michael insisted. 'It's because Joseph is a bad man, that's why. My brothers are going down the same road,' he concluded. 'I can see it, already.'

After a couple of months, Katherine withdrew her divorce papers. Joseph promised her that he would try to change, and that she should not break up the family over his past behaviour. Much to the dismay of her children, Katherine and Joseph were reconciled.

The Downslide.

Despite The Jackson 5's world-wide popularity with concert-goers, trouble was brewing where their record sales were concerned. In Europe, sales had always been uneven. However, record store performance in America had always been strong. By April 1972 though, whether from overexposure or lack of promotion, the group was losing steam. The April release of 'Little Bitty Pretty One', was a huge disappointment. Except for a seasonal release of 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town', it became the poorest-selling Jackson 5 single to date, netting only 590,629 copies, globally. Its follow-up, 'Lookin' Through the Windows', fared even worse: 581,426 copies. This was a terrible showing. (It is interesting, though, that this song marked a sudden sales resurgence in Britain a Top 10 hit that was no doubt a consequence of their recent tour.) When 'Corner of the Sky', from the Broadway musical Pippin Pippin (which Gordy had financed), sold only a disappointing 381,426 copies worldwide, Joseph became irate. (which Gordy had financed), sold only a disappointing 381,426 copies worldwide, Joseph became irate.

'What the h.e.l.l is going on?' he fumed. He began showing up at Motown, hara.s.sing the sales staff and badgering the promotion executives. The problem was that Berry Gordy was no longer personally involved in what was going on with the record company. Instead, he put in charge a man named Ewart Abner, a seasoned executive in the recording industry by the time he got to Motown. For his part, Berry now devoted most of his time to Diana Ross's film career, and to establishing Motown Productions in the movie business. Although still Motown's chairman of the board, he was interested only in filmmaking, not in record production. A star vehicle for Diana Ross called Mahogany Mahogany was in the works, a venture that would monopolize most of Berry's time. was in the works, a venture that would monopolize most of Berry's time.

At the time, Motown was capitalizing on a more socially conscious sound with Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Perhaps The Jackson 5's audience had become hungry for a hipper sound than what they got with the group's next release, 'Hallelujah Day'. It sold less than a quarter of a million discs; too bad, it was a terrific little record with leads shared by Michael, Marlon and Jackie.

In truth, Ewart Abner didn't care about The Jackson 5. He wasn't involved in signing them to the company, and he felt their best days were behind them. 'They already had their own cartoon, for Christ's sake,' he argued. 'Why spend any more money on them?' If sales figures were low and the group was losing its audience, it was the group's fault, not Motown's, he decided. With that point of view, it wasn't surprising that Joseph disliked Ewart Abner, and in an intense, pa.s.sionate way.

When an alb.u.m, Skywriter, Skywriter, was released in March and sold only 115,045 copies, it became the group's poorest-selling alb.u.m. (It didn't even reach the Top 50 in Britain.) Joseph believed that all of the records which had been failures could have been more successful if Motown had simply promoted them properly. was released in March and sold only 115,045 copies, it became the group's poorest-selling alb.u.m. (It didn't even reach the Top 50 in Britain.) Joseph believed that all of the records which had been failures could have been more successful if Motown had simply promoted them properly.

There was a reprieve in the downward slide when producer Hal Davis put together a terrific track for the Jackson boys called 'Get It Together'. The production was tight; the music, background vocals and Michael's maturing lead all blended nicely on this performance, a departure from the sweeter, pop music styles previously a.s.sociated with the group. Released in August 1973, it sold over 700,000 copies. Though not a million-seller, it encouraged Joseph in his belief that his sons still had an audience. To his way of thinking, The Jackson 5 was not finished. If anything, he he was finished... with Motown. was finished... with Motown.

Jermaine Falls for the Boss's Daughter.

In early 1973, while Katherine and Joseph were distracted by the discord in their marriage, their son Jermaine was falling in love... with Berry Gordy's daughter. He had been dating Hazel Gordy for several months and, at just eighteen, seemed about to follow Rebbie's and t.i.to's lead by using matrimony to extricate himself from the Jackson homestead.

It was clear to the brothers that Hazel had become an important and influential presence in his life. For example, at a rehearsal in March, the group had been attempting to solve a problem in ch.o.r.eography with Suzanne dePa.s.se. After a decision had been made about how best to handle the situation, the brothers were in agreement. However Hazel, who had begun attending all practice sessions, pulled Jermaine aside and whispered something in his ear. Jermaine listened, nodded absently, and walked back to his brothers. 'I think we oughta change this step,' he announced, dutifully.

'But why?' Michael protested, according to a witness's memory. 'It's perfect as it is.'

'Because Hazel has a better idea. Look, Mike, you stand here,' he said positioning his brother. 'And t.i.to here, Marlon there, and Jackie over there.' Jermaine then demonstrated Hazel's 'great idea' which, upon execution, made Jermaine more prominent in the presentation. When Suzanne realized what had happened, she shot Hazel a look. Hazel smiled innocently. Since Hazel was Berry's daughter, Suzanne had no choice but to agree with her suggestion. 'Looks fine, guys,' she said. 'Let's keep it.'

'Well, I hate it,' Michael announced, looking at Jermaine. 'C'mon, Jermaine,' he said, 'I thought we agreed.'

Jermaine looked away.

The other brothers tried to ignore what had happened. 'It ain't that important,' t.i.to decided.

'Well, I think it is is important,' Michael concluded. 'But you guys can do whatever you want.' He then looked over to Jermaine, who now was in another conference with Hazel, shook his head and rolled his eyes. important,' Michael concluded. 'But you guys can do whatever you want.' He then looked over to Jermaine, who now was in another conference with Hazel, shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Jermaine had been attracted to Hazel when they first met in 1969, but not in the same way in which she fancied him. After a short time, Hazel told Jermaine she was in love with him; he made it clear that he was not sure he could return her affection. He was a teenage idol, a star, and could have his pick of dozens of willing young women. This kind of idolatry was heady stuff for a young man like Jermaine. It made the idea of settling down with one woman seem confining, no matter who she might be.

'Jermaine likes girls too much to get married,' Michael had said. 'I think he'll be in his thirties before he does anything like that.'

However, Hazel was a young, idealistic girl who wanted more than anything to marry and have a family. Not only had her father been divorced three times, she had witnessed his tumultuous, heart-wrenching affair with Diana Ross. Though young, Hazel believed that true love was elusive, she remained a romantic. 'I can truthfully say that since I fell in love with Jermaine I have never even thought about any other man,' she said.

Delores Robertson, who was a friend of Hazel's at the time, recalled, 'Berry Gordy had been lavishing Hazel, his only daughter, with gifts for as long as she could remember. She told him that she was in love with one of The Jackson 5 and she wanted him for her own. Her feelings for Jermaine were so strong, she was afraid to let him slip through her fingers for fear that no one like him would ever come along again. She was jealous when she would see Jermaine with female fans. "Michael can have fans, but you can't," she used to tell him. Berry made sure she usually got what she wanted. Now she wanted Jermaine. Berry got to know Jermaine and, even though he felt there might be a problem with Joseph, believed that Jermaine was right for Hazel. When Jermaine asked Berry for her hand, he said, yes.'

Though Berry thought Joseph might be a stumbling block to any union between his daughter and Jermaine, that wasn't the case, at least not at first. Hazel actually found an unexpected ally in Joseph, who might not have insisted on a pre-nuptial agreement anyway (as he had with t.i.to's wife). He was certain that marriage between his son and the boss's daughter would ensure job security for the Jackson clan at Motown, especially since he was having a difficult time of late in even getting Berry on the telephone. He did all he could to help the youngsters, even referring to her as 'my Hazel' and saying that he loved her.

Had Joseph given the matter more thought, he might have been more concerned about the recent turn of events. When Berry's sister, Anna, was married to Motown singer Marvin Gaye, the alliance never gave Marvin special privileges at the company. In fact, according to Marvin, it only served to complicate his life and career because Anna acted as a spy for her brother during times of conflict. Marvin was rarely able to make a move that Berry didn't know about in advance. Also, Marvin said that he always felt a strong conflict of interest whenever he and Berry battled, which was often.

Many other Motown artists felt as Marvin did, that Jermaine was about to be groomed by Berry to become a major star just as Diana Ross had been lifted from The Supremes to superstar status; that Jermaine's two solo releases for the company, 'That's How Love Goes' and 'Daddy's Home', had been successful, and he did have the potential to be one of the company's biggest stars. Actually, some critics cited strong similarities between Jermaine's vocal style and Marvin Gaye's. The truth is that Jermaine had his own sound, and it was a good one, too, full-bodied and always an interesting contrast to Michael's high-pitch on the many songs the two shared at Motown. (Actually, the reason Jermaine started singing leads at the company was that the group's producer, Deke Richards, was hospitalized with a slipped disk. He didn't want Fonce Mizell and Freddie Perren, to work with Michael without him, so he told them to write something for Jermaine. That song was 'I Found That Girl', the flip side of 'The Love You Save'.)

PART THREE.

Jermaine's and Hazel's Wedding.

In November 1973, Katherine and Joseph had another serious argument; distraught, she left town, leaving her family in a state of confusion and bewilderment. 'The children were devastated, Michael in particular,' recalled Joyce Jillson, a friend of Katherine's at the time. 'He wanted to go with her. "If you're leaving, so am I," he told her. "I'm not going to let you go without me." Michael didn't want to find himself in that house with his brothers and sisters and father, unless Katherine was present as a buffer. To Michael, she was his only link to sanity. But now even she had become unpredictable. It was unlike her to disrupt the family, but she just couldn't take it another second. She told Michael to stay behind and a.s.sured him that she would return. He cried. "Why can't Joseph go?" he kept asking. "He's the one who should be going."' the one who should be going."'

When Katherine heard through friends that the press had become aware of problems in her marriage, she became concerned. She wanted Jermaine's upcoming wedding, not her separation from Joseph, to be the focus of media attention. Therefore, she returned home just days before the wedding. Sensing in Joseph injured pride rather than true contrition, she wasn't sure how long she would stay with him now, but she knew she'd have to be at his side at Jermaine's wedding. She felt an obligation to her son, to her family.

Jermaine's wedding to Hazel Gordy on 15 December 1973 was an expensive, ostentatious affair. 'If my kid is going to get married,' Berry had said, 'she's going to marry in style. Sky's the limit,' he insisted. The wedding would cost him about a quarter of a million dollars, a lot for the times. Berry's money would create a winter wonderland at the exclusive Beverly Hills Hotel for the festivities. Artificial snow-covered pine trees, 175 white doves in white cages, and thousands of white camellias, chrysanthemums and carnations decorated the rooms in which the wedding, reception and luncheon took place. One hundred guests were invited to the ceremony; five hundred-plus to the after-gatherings.

Ebony called it 'the wedding of the century'. Guests were overheard comparing it to the royal wedding in London when Princess Anne had married Captain Mark Phillips a little more than a month earlier. Abe Lastfogel, a William Morris founder, called it 'the most lavish merger I've ever seen'. To ensure that the media would report the details correctly, Motown handed out publicity releases to the invited reporters. called it 'the wedding of the century'. Guests were overheard comparing it to the royal wedding in London when Princess Anne had married Captain Mark Phillips a little more than a month earlier. Abe Lastfogel, a William Morris founder, called it 'the most lavish merger I've ever seen'. To ensure that the media would report the details correctly, Motown handed out publicity releases to the invited reporters.

Sixteen-year-old Marlon was the best man. Fifteen-year-old Michael, along with brothers Jackie (twenty-two), t.i.to (twenty), and Randy (eleven), were ushers. Michael's duties that day were not complicated: escort the guests to their seats before the ceremony, and escort one of the bridesmaids out of the chapel after it. However, people close to the Jackson family have indicated that Michael felt preoccupied on this day. Jermaine, who had always been his favourite big brother, was getting married and, in his view, it was going to make a difference in the way things were run.

'At first Michael had thought it wouldn't matter,' said one close family friend. 't.i.to was married and The Jackson 5 had continued as before. His wife never had anything to do with group business or politics. But Jermaine was marrying Hazel, the boss's daughter, a lady who had strong opinions and got her own way. As the wedding day got closer and closer, Michael noticed that Jermaine was looking at things differently through Hazel's eyes. He was becoming less Michael's best friend and more Hazel's man. Michael would feel the loss keenly. He and Jermaine were so close, he felt he was losing his best friend.'

In truth, Joseph had also become disenchanted with Hazel when he realized how much influence she had on Jermaine. He felt that she could be manipulative and, therefore, might interfere with group dynamics. Also, she had her dad's ear. There was no telling how things would work out, and Joseph couldn't help but be concerned.

At the reception, in the hotel's Lanai Room, show-business luminaries such as Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Lola Falana, Diahann Carroll and Billy Dee Williams mingled with other notables such as Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther. Katherine forced herself to act as if nothing was wrong, even though she was so unhappy. No matter how hard she tried to conceal it, her sadness was apparent. As soon as the photographers finished taking pictures of her and Joseph, she would pull away from him. At one point a concerned Michael asked her if she would like a gla.s.s of punch. Katherine shook her head absentmindedly as she gazed over her son's head at Joseph. 'I don't feel like dancing, honey,' she said. Michael watched, his eyes full of warmth for her, as Katherine turned away and walked into the crowd. To even the most casual observer, she seemed very alone.

It wasn't long before Diana Ross became the centre of attention, posing and preening for photographers as only she can. 'I brought him to Mr Gordy's attention,' she said, pulling Michael into the frame, 'and now look where he is today. Everybody Everybody wants to have their picture taken with this cutie,' she said. 'It's amazing.' Diana squeezed Michael tightly, as if he were a trophy. A mixture of love and pride illuminated her face. 'And just look at his little suit,' she said, tugging at Michael's lapel. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face. wants to have their picture taken with this cutie,' she said. 'It's amazing.' Diana squeezed Michael tightly, as if he were a trophy. A mixture of love and pride illuminated her face. 'And just look at his little suit,' she said, tugging at Michael's lapel. A flicker of annoyance crossed his face.

'You're awfully grateful to Miss Ross, aren't you, kid,' a reporter asked Michael, 'for discovering you?'

'Uh... yeah,' Michael said. He must have wondered how long he was going to have to live with the fabrication that Diana Ross had 'discovered' him.

'Oh, isn't he sweet?' Diana cooed. 'You see, how it happened was, I was in Gary, Indiana, and I saw this group perform, and I said to myself...'

Las Vegas.

Joseph Jackson was always compet.i.tive. However, he seemed even more so after Jermaine's wedding, as if his son's new alliance with Berry Gordy had caused Joseph to consider himself a 'David' determined to slug it out with Motown's 'Goliath'. To make more of an impression on the entertainment industry, Joseph formed his own record company, Ivory Tower International Records, and signed a female quartet from Ashtabula, Ohio, called M.D.L.T. Willis. The company and the group would not go far, which only served to reaffirm Berry's feeling that Joseph was well-meaning, but inept.

However, one goal Joseph had that seemed to not occur to Berry, or to his right-hand man at Motown, Ewart Abner, was to break his sons out of the teen-idol mould and into a more secure niche. He realized that the careers of most teen idols last about two years before newer stars come along to replace them. Joseph wanted to change The Jackson 5's public image before it was too late.

Joseph and Berry disagreed about the state of The Jackson 5's career. Joseph thought it was in trouble, citing the recent string of poorly selling records. However, Berry felt that the group was still popular, and he cited their latest record 'Dancing Machine', a rhythmic production by Hal Davis.

As the onslaught of dis...o...b..gan to h.o.m.ogenize the pop-R&B scene, The Jackson 5 managed, with 'Dancing Machine', to maintain their originality while capitalizing on the new trend. A high-spirited Michael bantered the lyrics above his brothers' strong choral chants, all to an infectious beat. In the pop-music world, the Jackson brothers were clearly holding their own alongside the likes of The Temptations, The Spinners and The Four Tops, who were no longer idols, but peers. The Jackson 5 were many years ahead of their time and on to the electric sound of the eighties the style of 'Dancing Machine' is similar to a sound that, a dozen years later, would be known as 'techno-pop'.

As p.u.b.erty set in, Michael's voice changed. Gone was the p.u.b.escent shrill popularized on 'I Want You Back', 'ABC', and 'The Love You Save'. It was replaced by a clearer, more refined tone, as heard on 'Dancing Machine'.

'Dancing Machine' would eventually hit number two on the Billboard Billboard charts and sell 2,170,327 copies, the most single sales for the group since 'Never Can Say Goodbye'. Therefore, as far as Berry was concerned, all was well in the Jackson 5's world. Most of those sales, though, were in America. In Europe, the song was not as successful, and in Britain it didn't even make the Top 50! (Future single and alb.u.m releases in the UK would have such poor sales that they're not even worth mentioning further.) But Joseph didn't like such spotty sales; it was becoming impossible to predict when Motown would get behind the group and when it would not be supportive of the act. Joseph wasn't happy about any of it. charts and sell 2,170,327 copies, the most single sales for the group since 'Never Can Say Goodbye'. Therefore, as far as Berry was concerned, all was well in the Jackson 5's world. Most of those sales, though, were in America. In Europe, the song was not as successful, and in Britain it didn't even make the Top 50! (Future single and alb.u.m releases in the UK would have such poor sales that they're not even worth mentioning further.) But Joseph didn't like such spotty sales; it was becoming impossible to predict when Motown would get behind the group and when it would not be supportive of the act. Joseph wasn't happy about any of it.

In the winter of 1974 during a family meeting, Joseph made the announcement, 'Boys, we're gonna play Las Vegas.'

'But Vegas is the thing you do when you don't have hits,' Jackie said, 'when you don't have a choice.'

'The brothers thought hangin' out in the hotels with white people would be no fun,' Michael recalled later. 'But I wanted to play Las Vegas. To me, Las Vegas was part of show-business tradition. At that meeting, our father told us two things: first, he said he was trying to show the world that we were every bit as good as The Osmonds; then he told us about Sammy Davis and what he went through so that guys like us could play Las Vegas.'

Joseph explained to his sons that in 1945 when Sammy Davis, Jr., his father, Sammy, and his uncle, Will Mastin, were booked into the El Rancho Vegas hotel in Las Vegas for five hundred dollars a week. At the time, Las Vegas was the new show-business Mecca. However, even though the Davis act was invited to appear in the El Rancho showroom, they were not permitted to stay at that hotel because they were black. Rather, they had to check into a boarding house with the black porters and dishwashers who worked at the hotels. This was not unusual. Even a major star like Billy Eckstine, who was also working in Las Vegas at the same time, could not stay at the hotel at which he appeared. The showrooms and casinos were also off-limits to black patrons; blacks could entertain but not gamble or socialize with whites.

In years to come, Sammy Davis, Jr., would break through these barriers by virtue of his talent and persistence and, also, a little help from Frank Sinatra, who used his influence to open certain doors for his pal, Sammy. Sammy went from being a member of the Will Mastin Trio to being a solo star, paid over $175,000 a week in Las Vegas. By using his celebrity power and refusing to take no for an answer, 'Mr Show Business' was instrumental in de-segregating the town so that blacks could not only appear but also vacation and have fun there. By attending city hotel board meetings and working within within the political system instead of against it, Davis also made it possible in the late fifties for more blacks to be hired at the Sands, where he performed. When Sammy died in May 1990, the Las Vegas strip went dark for ten minutes in his memory. the political system instead of against it, Davis also made it possible in the late fifties for more blacks to be hired at the Sands, where he performed. When Sammy died in May 1990, the Las Vegas strip went dark for ten minutes in his memory.

'I wanted more than anything to be a part of that great tradition,' Michael said years later when recalling his first Las Vegas engagement. He had been a Sammy Davis admirer since the age of ten. 'To me, it was important. It was a giant step.'

When it was finally confirmed that the Jackson 5 would open in Las Vegas in April at the MGM Grand, the newest and most prestigious hotel in the city, the Motown bra.s.s was unimpressed. 'If you decide to do this thing, you'll be doing it on your own,' Ewart Abner told Joseph. 'Motown won't be involved. These kids aren't ready for Las Vegas.' Later, Berry telephoned Joseph, personally, 'You're makin' the biggest mistake of their career,' he said.