Michael Jackson's Children Want to 'Continue' His Work

Michael Jackson's Children Want to 'Continue' His Work

Paris Jackson (L) and Prince Michael Jackson accept the Lifetime Achievemen award for Michael Jackson onstage during the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images)

Michael Jackson is gone, but definitely not forgotten and his three kids want to ensure that his life's work lives on. The kids, Prince Michael, 14, Paris, 12, and nine-year-old Prince Michael II, who is known as Blanket, also hope to become performers.

Michael Jackson (Bauer Griffin)

 

Asked what they want to do in the future, Prince Michael said: “I guess continue what our dad was doing.”

Paris added in an interview with Good Morning America which will be broadcast tomorrow: “I’m thinking about auditioning for a play next week.”

Michael’s brother Jackie – who was a member of sibling pop group Jackson 5 alongside the King of Pop –recently revealed his family joke with the children that they need to “get busy” if they want a showbiz career. He said: "I told the kids, 'You better get busy because when we were your age we were selling out concerts.' "

Jackie also said the three children are constantly asking questions about their famous father.
He said: "They are around their father 24 hours a day. They have pictures in the bedroom. They talk about him all the time. They ask me for stories about him. They want to know more about him."

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Jackson doctor to stand trial for manslaughter

A judge on Tuesday ordered Michael Jackson's personal doctor to stand trial on involuntary manslaughter charges for allegedly killing the singer with an overdose of powerful sedatives.

Conrad Murray, who claims he was just treating the pop icon for insomnia when he died in June 2009, also had his license to practice medicine in California suspended.

The doctor will be arraigned on January 25, the Los Angeles Superior Court judge ruled after six days of hearings which heard evidence that Murray tried to cover having given Jackson an overdose of the drug propofol.

Jackson's death shocked the entertainment world and triggered intense debate over the performer's health in the run-up to the London concerts, known as the "This is It" tour.

Murray, who was born in Grenada and raised in Trinidad before he moved to the United States, could face up to four years in jail and lose his doctor's license if the case goes to full trial and he is convicted.

Prosecutors claim his defense team will argue that Jackson effectively killed himself by administering an extra dose of propofol while Murray was out of the room, although the defence have not commented on this.

Specifically they allege that Murray, 57, "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11:00 am to help Jackson sleep, and then tried to cover it up after the singer's death.

Tuesday's widely-expected ruling came shortly after a forensic expert testified Tuesday that Jackson's death was homicide, saying the singer was in generally good health when he died on June 25, 2009 at his LA mansion.

Christopher Rogers, head of forensic medicine for the Los Angeles County coroner's office, said the star died of acute intoxication with propofol, which is usually used as an anaesthetic in hospital settings.

He said he would describe Jackson's death as homicide even if, as claimed by Murray, the singer had himself administered an extra dose of propofol while the doctor was out of the room.

"Based on the quality of the medical care, I would still call this a homicide, even if the doctor did not provide the propofol to Mr Jackson," he said, on the second week of the pre-trial hearings.

Last week the pre-trial hearings heard from a series of witnesses who testified that Murray delayed calling 911, tried to conceal what drugs he had administered, and did not know how to carry out emergency resuscitation.

Paramedic Martin Blount said that when he arrived Jackson seemed to have been dead for at least 20 minutes, despite Murray's claim that he had stopped breathing a minute before they were called.

He added that Murray initially denied having given Jackson any medications, but said he saw the doctor holding a needle and spotted three bottles of the anesthetic Lidocaine on the floor.

On Friday investigator Elissa Fleak said she found 12 vials of propofol in Jackson's house after he died, while a pharmacist testified Monday that he supplied 255 vials of the drug to Murray in the two months before his death.

On Tuesday forensic expert Rogers said propofol should not be used to treat insomnia, adding that he was told "that the doctor left Mr Jackson while he was anesthetized, and this is something you would not do."

"Bad things can happen very quickly" when a patient is anaesthetized, he added.

Various members of Jackson's family have been attending the LA pre-trial hearings. On Tuesday they included sisters Janet and LaToya and his brother Randy.

Waitress was on phone to doctor of dying Jackson

A cocktail waitress recounted how she was called by Michael Jackson's personal doctor the day the pop icon died and heard a "commotion," apparently as the medic struggled with the crisis.

Sade Anding, of Houston, Texas, was one of 11 people with whom the physician, Conrad Murray, spoke by telephone in the hours leading up to Jackson's shock death on June 25, 2009.

In other testimony at hearings into whether Murray should stand trial for involuntary manslaughter, the court heard that 12 vials of the powerful sedative propofol which killed Jackson were found in a closet at his home.

The waitress said she had met Murray in a Texas steakhouse in February 2009. The pair had exchanged phone numbers, and she received a call from the doctor on the morning of the fateful day.

"He told me that he was doing well," she said, adding she had cut him off and started talking, but realized five or 10 minutes later that Murray was no longer on the phone.

"I heard a commotion... coughing, mumbling of voices," she said, adding that she was unsure if the mumbling was coming from Murray.

Anding said she stayed on the phone for about five minutes, saying it was unusual for Murray to stop responding. "I just remember saying, 'Hello? Hello? Hello? Are you there?' Are you there? Are you there?'" she said.

The waitress eventually hung up and tried to call Murray back and send him text messages, but got no reply.

Prosecutors allege that Murray, 57, negligently administered an overdose of the powerful sedative propofol to help Jackson sleep and then tried to cover it up. The doctor denies the charge of involuntary manslaughter.

Paramedics and emergency room doctors this week have said Murray initially failed to mention having administered propofol, and that Jackson appeared to have died at least 20 minutes before they arrived at his mansion.

On Thursday paramedic Martin Blount said that when he arrived Jackson seemed to have been dead for at least 20 minutes, despite Murray's claim that he had stopped breathing a minute before they were called.

Blount added that Murray initially denied having given Jackson any medications, but said he saw the doctor holding a needle and spotted three bottles of the anesthetic Lidocaine on the floor.

In new evidence Friday coroner's investigator Elissa Fleak said she found 12 vials of propofol in the wake of Jackson's death.

One was found empty on the floor near the singer's bed shortly after his death, while the other 11 were discovered four days later in a closet at his rented home.

Two had been opened and were found inside a dark-blue Costco bag, while the other nine, some of them open, were found in another bag, Fleak said.

Anding meanwhile said she heard nothing more until police contacted her. She called Murray, who apologized for involving her, and urged her to call his lawyer to be present if she met with detectives.

Los Angeles detective Dan Myers told the hearing that Murray had made or received 11 cellphone calls, totaling some 90 minutes of conversations, in the roughly five hours leading up to midday on the fateful day.

These included a 32-minute call to his medical practice in Las Vegas and an 11-minute call shortly before Murray called Jackson's personal assistant at 12:12 pm to say the singer had had a "bad reaction."

Prosecutors allege that Murray "abandoned his patient" after administering the propofol some time between 10:40 am and 11:00 am.

Murray could face up to four years in jail and lose his doctor's license if the case goes to full trial and he is convicted.

Jackson's death shocked the entertainment world and triggered intense debate over the performer's health in the run-up to the London concerts, known as the "This is It" tour.

Hole in Michael Jackson Death Timeline May Be Smoking Gun Against Dr. Conrad Murray

The prosecution commenced outlining its case against Dr. Conrad Murray during his preliminary hearing this week and suffice it to say, they're doing a good job.

From phone records to witnesses, nothing seems to line up well for the doc to beat the rap on involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

Today's bombshell could be a smoking gun as far as disproving Murray's version of events that fateful day in June 25. All courtesy of his girlfriend too.

PHONING IT IN: Did Dr. Murray dial 911 when he said he did?

 Hole in Michael Jackson Death Timeline May Be Smoking Gun Against Dr. Conrad Murray

A girlfriend of Dr. Conrad Murray at the time of Jackson's death established that he waited around 25 minutes to call for help after noticing a lifeless MJ.

Sade Anding, who was in Houston the day MJ died, says she got a call from Murray at around 12:30 p.m. Phone records show it was actually 11:51 a.m.

That difference is big, because the 911 call wasn't made until 12:21 p.m.

If Conrad Murray did indeed realize MJ was in distress at 11:55 a.m., there was a long delay in sounding the alarm. It looks like he did realize it that early, too.

Sade says Conrad Murray was asking her how she was doing and she talked about her day. She spoke for a little bit, then realized Conrad Murray wasn't on the phone.

Sade then said she heard commotion, as if the phone was in his pocket, and heard "coughing and voices." Sade estimates the call lasted five minutes.

The other fun fact resulting from this? That Murray was likely two-timing Nicole Alvarez, who investigators have said was also his girlfriend at the time!

Conrad Murray's defense team is more or less sitting the preliminary hearing out. There's no way a judge will throw the case out, so a jury trial awaits next.

They've elected not to play their hand until then in a bit of a strategic move, letting the prosecution lay out its evidence now virtually unabated. (THG)

So far, the evidence has been compelling. Stay tuned.

Discovery cancels Michael Jackson autopsy TV show

The Discovery television network on Friday said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson's body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star's estate.

The show, "Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson," had been set to air in several countries of western Europe and in the United Kingdom on Jan. 13.

"Given the commencement of legal proceedings beginning next week, and at the request of Michael Jackson's estate, the scheduled broadcast of the medical documentary related to Michael Jackson's official autopsy has been postponed indefinitely," Discovery Networks International said in a statement.

A Discovery (DISCA.O) spokesman declined comment beyond the statement. Co-executors of the estate responded in their own statement saying they were "pleased" with the decision.

The "Thriller" singer died suddenly of a prescription drug overdose on June 25, 2009, age 50, only weeks before beginning a series of comeback concerts. An autopsy by Los Angeles officials showed Jackson died chiefly of an overdose of the powerful anesthetic propofol that he used as a sleep aid.

Discovery's show, which was not scheduled to air in the United States, was an unofficial, fictional account of what the autopsy must have been like and its results.

But Jackson fans worldwide protested in an online petition launched earlier this month, and the co-executors of his estate sent a letter this week to Discovery Networks calling the program "insensitive" and "in shockingly bad taste."

A print advertisement for the program shows a body covered by a sheet, with one hand poking out wearing the singer's well-known sequined glove.

Following Discovery's decision, McClain and Branca released a statement saying, "we are hopeful that this show will never run in any market in the future."

"While Discovery cited legal proceedings and our request as the reasons for its decision, none of this would have happened had it not been for the incredible passion displayed by countless Michael Jackson fans worldwide who knew they stood as one and that their voices could not be ignored," the statement said.

Jackson's physician at the time of his death, Dr. Conrad Murray, has admitted giving the singer propofol, which is often used in surgery, and Murray has been charged by authorities with involuntary manslaughter in Jackson's death.

Murray has pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing to determine if enough evidence exists to make him stand trial begins in Los Angeles on Jan. 4.

Michael Jackson Killed Himself: Dr. Conrad’s Newest Plea

 Michael Jackson Killed Himself: Dr. Conrad’s Newest Plea

Michael Jackson killed himself according to Dr. Conrad Murray. A trial is about to begin over the involuntary manslaughter of the singer and Conrad’s lawyers will use the defense that Michael took his own life.

During yesterday’s initial hearing Dr. Conrad Murray’s team of lawyers put forth their defense and suggested that Michael administered the lethal dose of Propofol himself.

Defence lawyer J. Michael Flanagan said his client gave the singer just 25 milligrams of Propofol – much less than was found in his system and that a fingerprint found on a broken syringe on the bedroom floor has not been identified.

I guess all they are hoping to create is doubt. But to think that Michael Jackson killed himself? I’m not so sure the jury will believe that.

If Dr Murray is charged with involuntary manslaughter, he will face up to four years in prison.

Michael Jackson Album Sales: Not Invincible

 Michael Jackson Album Sales: Not Invincible

Michael Jackson's posthumous new album, Michael, sold 228,000 copies in the U.S. and hundreds of thousands more abroad in its first week.

The domestic haul lagged only Taylor Swift's Speak Now (259,000) and Susan Boyle's The Gift (254,000). Not Invincible, but very formidable.

While perhaps a bit of a letdown by MJ standards, the "new" material was unreleased for a reason, and his sales trounced Crystal Bowersox.

Not surprisingly, the late King of Pop's label notes that he "shipped platinum" in 14 different territories, meaning a million or more units were sent to those areas.

That's different from his sales, which weren't nearly that high, but it's indicative of the interest his camp feels Michael will generate over the coming months.

MJ hit #1 Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Sweden. He was #3 and #4 in Japan and the UK, respectively, but sold more than 100,000 copies in each.

The moral of the story? While will.i.am and Ne-Yo don't approve of the album, and the Thriller days are long gone ... the man is still pretty darn legendary.




Breaking News

Jackson's mansion to turn into music school

King of pop Michael Jackson's house Neverland Ranch might turn into a music school for teenagers soon.
The mansion owners want to turn the building into a fame school for teenaged musicians, where children from all walks of life could learn to write and perform music, reports thesun.co.uk.

"It's an interesting idea and we'd be open to it," said a spokesman for Jackson's estate.

The mansion is owned by a private real estate firm Colony Capital that is looking into using Jackson's name to promote the venture.

However, Santa Barbara County officials are yet to sign the project.

MJ’s Father Re-files Wrongful Death Complaint

Joe Jackson, the father of Michael Jackson, re-filed the wrongful death complaint against the doctor who had caused his son’s. In addition, a certain Las Vegas pharmacy was included to the lawsuit, wherein documentation shows that it had sold the doctor a strong anesthetic which was blamed for Michael’s death.

The lawsuit attempts to find unspecified damages against the physician named, Conrad Murray. The doctor has pleaded not guilty to the criminal case to involuntary murder the singer last June 2009.

At first, Joe Jackson filed the case against Dr. Murray in a federal court during his son’s first death anniversary. But then, one judge declined to hear the case and said that it should be conducted in state court, where it was now re-filed.

The complaint names Applied Pharmacy services as well, when the records reveal that Murray bought the anesthetic propofol on the month before the death of Michael Jackson. The company is charged of selling Dr. Murray a large volume of anesthetic, which is usually done in the hospital setting.

Michael Jackson: First Posthumous Album 'Hold My Hand' Released

Michael Jackson's 'Hold My Hand' was officially released yesterday; this is the first posthumous single of the singer.

The song features R and B singer Akon, he has recorded the song with Jackson in Las Vegas way back in 2007, however, it didn't see the light because Michael felt it was not ready for the release. Akon, however, feels differently about the song as he went back to the studio to master it up for the release.

But where Michael Jackson is there, controversy has to follow, so while Sony and Epic has planned to release about half dozen of Michael's unreleased tapes in the years to come, the Jackson family has voiced their displeasure about the release. Even singer Will.I.Am has termed the release as "disrespectful".

But whatever the Jackson family and other singers believe this release to be, ethical or unethical, the album Michael is all set to give 'Take That's Christmas' number a run for the numero uno spot in the charts. The first of the six posthumous albums is all set to hit the stores on December 14, and pre ordering can be done online through Sony's website.

But before that Michael's fans can hear this 'Hold My Hand' ballad on Michael Jackson's official website and it has been touted to be one of the famous ballads of Michael Jackson. In the meantime, also one of Michael's videos has hit the net, the song "One more Chance" that was recorded in 2003 is making the waves and TMZ has confirmed that the video is for real.

Jackson autopsy results delayed indefinitely

The final autopsy results in Michael Jackson's death has been delayed indefinitely, the Los Angeles County coroner has said.

The announcement has come amid reports that police investigators are trying to determine the interplay between the pop star's personal physician Dr Conrad Murray and other medical professionals who treated Jackson in final months leading up to his death, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Assistant Chief Ed Winter of the coroner's office said that he could not say when the cause of death would be announced.

The law enforcement officials had earlier said the toxicology results, which are expected to make clear what killed Jackson, would be made public next week.

The investigators are allowed to remove emails, letters and notes between Conrad Murray, Jackson's dermatologist Arnold Klein, rheumatologist Allan Metzger, Jackson's nutritionist Cherilyn Lee dentist Mark Tadrissi, anesthesiologist Randy Rosen and ear-nose-and-throat specialist David Slavit.

Concert promoter AEG Live, who were due to stage Jackson's 50 comeback shows in London, employed Slavit to perform a medical on Jackson ahead of the shows, to enable them to get insurance.

The report stated that the searches at Murray's office have also been made to find information about Propofol, the drug widely attributed to be the cause of Jackson's death.

Michael Jackson's ghost in Neverland?

Michael Jackson's fans created a frenzy after possibly sighting the ghost of the pop legend at his Neverland ranch recently.

An eerie shadow resembling Jackson's figure appeared on a wall in the singer's former home during a live television programme last week, reports thesun.co.uk. If reports are to be believed, the shadow walked across the corridor and even moved quickly from left to right before disappearing.

The sighting reportedly took place during CNN's special show " Inside Neverland ", where Larry King was in conversation with Jackson's brother Jermaine.

While shooting, the crew of the show takes viewers on a tour of the ranch and when the camera enters a long hallway, the shadowy figure appears at its far end.

Neither the presenter nor the cameraman noticed the shadow, but after it was posted on video sharing website YouTube, fans started pinpointing the shadow.

Jackson passed away June 25 after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Los Angeles home.

Britney was advised to quit singing by Michael Jackson

A few weeks before his death, Michael Jackson reportedly advised Britney Spears to retire from the music industry to focus on life with her family.The late 'Thriller' star - who died of a suspected cardiac arrest on June 25 - reportedly telephoned the 'Toxic' hitmaker and warned her not to 'end up' like him."Michael told her, 'Don't end up like me.' His warning was eerie, like he was trying to tell Britney he was going to die," Contactmusic quoted a friend of Britney as saying.The source told Britain's Look magazine, "I think Michael's warning sent shivers down Britney's spine. He was emphatic in warning her she should leave showbusiness in order to maintain her sanity. He thought she should retire after the 'Circus' tour so she could focus on the things that mattered - her sons and family. Britney must have taken Michael's words to heart as she promised him she would at least take a long break after she finished the tour," the source added.Jackson and Spears had remained friends since they famously performed 'The Way You Make Me Feel' together at Michael's 30th anniversary celebration concert in New York's Madison Square Garden in 2001.

Michael Jackson Funeral Set for July 7 at Staples Center

The Michael Jackson funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. Sources tell me that AEG Live, which owns Staples and next-door neighbor Nokia Theatre, will use both facilities and the surrounding plaza.

There’s no official confirmation yet, but I’m told all systems are go.

Insiders also say that AEG will put gigantic screens outside the facilities for the thousands who will not get inside. No word yet on how ticketing will be handled.

In order to do this, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, scheduled to begin its run at Staples on July 8, had to be persuaded to postpone moving into Staples by several hours.

Insert your own circus joke here.

Somehow it seems appropriate. It will be a day for the Greatest Show on Earth to follow The Biggest Funeral in History. Jackson would love this, that’s for sure.

Earlier speculation had the funeral being held everywhere from Neverland to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Jackson ex-wife shows interest in custody of kids

The future of Michael Jackson's children was thrown into question Thursday when his ex-wife emerged and won a delay in a custody hearing while she decides whether she wants to raise her two offspring.
It was the first legal move from Deborah Rowe since the entertainer's death. Jackson's will asks for his mother, Katherine, to get permanent custody of all three of his children.
Rowe, who met Jackson as a receptionist in the office of his dermatologist, has characterized their relationship as strictly for the purpose of birthing Jackson children. She is the mother of his two oldest children and received $8.5 million in their divorce, according to court records. His youngest child was conceived with a surrogate.

She has spent very little time with her son Michael Joseph Jr., known as Prince Michael, 12; and daughter Paris Michael Katherine, 11. But Rowe also has opposed the idea of Katherine Jackson getting custody of her children when it came up in the past.
Rowe's attorney, Eric M. George, said Thursday she had not decided whether to seek custody.

Superior Court Judge Mitchell Beckloff rescheduled a guardianship hearing for July 13 at the request of attorneys for Rowe and for Katherine Jackson, 79, who has temporary guardianship of her son's children.
The identity of the surrogate mother of the singer's youngest child, 7-year-old son Prince Michael II, has never been revealed.

Jackson's public memorial was set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, according to a press release from the office of the Jackson family's publicist.
Randy Phillips, chief executive of AEG Live, which owns the Staples Center and was Jackson's promoter, said tickets would be free. He was not sure how they would be distributed.

Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine said plans for the memorial are clearly moving forward, but he wished there had been more time to work out the logistics for such a huge event. "If you can imagine 100,000 people show up and you have 20,000 capacity (at the Staples Center), there is not sufficient room. Now you have a crowd-control problem," he said. With the July Fourth holiday weekend "it's the worst time ... to work something out." He also said he's concerned about the cost of police overtime for the cash-strapped city.

Jackson's brother Jermaine told Larry King during Thursday's broadcast of CNN's "Larry King Live," that there will be a private ceremony for family and some special guests before the public memorial, according to show transcripts.
He added the family wants to have other memorials around the United States.
Another court hearing will proceed as planned Monday on who will take temporary control of Jackson's estate. He left all his assets to the Michael Jackson Family Trust.

A person familiar with the details of the trust said it would be shared between his mother, who gets 40 percent, his three children, who together get 40 percent, and charities for children, which would receive 20 percent. The charities will be determined later by the trust.
The person was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity.

Authorities also were investigating allegations that the 50-year-old Jackson had been consuming painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants.
California Attorney General Jerry Brown said his office was helping Los Angeles police investigate the possible involvement of prescription drugs in Jackson's death.
His Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement is searching a state database that tracks doctors who prescribe controlled substances, how much and to whom.

The federal Drug Enforcement Administration also has joined the investigation. The Los Angeles Police Department asked the DEA to help, a law enforcement official in Washington told the AP on condition of anonymity because of the investigation's sensitivity.
In an interview on NBC's "Today" show, Jermaine Jackson said he would be "hurt" if toxicology reports showed his younger brother abused prescription drugs.

"In this business, the pressures and things that you go through, you never know what one turns to," he said.

FIRSTS AND RECORDS OF JACKSON

Record for most Grammys won in one year, with eight in 1984.

First solo artist to generate four top ten hits on the Billboard charts on one album with "Off the Wall."

First artist to generate seven top ten hits (USA) on one album with "Thriller."

Only artist in history to generate five #1 hits (USA) from one album with "Bad."

His 1982 album "Thriller" is the biggest selling album of all time, with confirmed sales of over 47 million copies worldwide.

His 1991 album "Dangerous" is second to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with over 20 million copies sold worldwide.

His 1987 album "BAD" is third to "Thriller" as the biggest selling album of all time, with 20 million copies sold worldwide.

He was voted the 35th Greatest Artist of all time in Rock 'n' Roll by Rolling Stone.

His album "History: Past, Present and Future - Book I" has sold 16 million copies worldwide making it the biggest selling multiple-disc album of all time.