Jackson Expands Tribute Bash

Michael Jackson has added an additional date and more stars to the already jam-packed roster of performers for his September concert at New York's Madison Square Garden. Jackson announced the first date, September 7th, back in April, and has now added an additional show, September 10th, to celebrate his thirty years as a solo artist.

An anniversary concert, tribute concert, reunion and album preview, the two-night stint promises to be all that and more. A 300-member gospel choir, a 200-member children's choir and a forty-member dance ensemble will be part of both performances as Jackson sings many of his major hits as a solo artist. But glory days with the Jackson 5 will not be forgotten, when brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine and Randy join Michael onstage for the first time in twenty years. The Jacksons will perform a medley of their Motown and Epic Records hits as well as sing a Jackson 5 classic with 'N Sync.

Other acts hitting the stage on September 7th to pay tribute to Jackson include: Marc Anthony, Ray Charles, Deborah Cox, Gloria Estefan, Billy Gilman, Whitney Houston, James Ingram, Quincy Jones & The Legends Of Jazz including Al Jarreau, Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, Les McCann, David "Fathead" Newman, Jimmy Smith, Clark Terry, Cassandra Wilson, Mya, Jill Scott, Shaggy featuring Ricardo "Rikrok" Ducent & Rayvon, Britney Spears, Tamia, 3T, Usher and surprise guests.

On September 10th some of the same names return: Marc Anthony, Al Jarreau, Jill Scott, Usher and Mya. They will be joined by Mary J. Blige, Deborah Cox, Missy Elliott, Gloria Gaynor, Gladys Knight, Lil' Romeo, Ricky Martin, 98 Degrees, Diana Ross, Luther Vandross, Dionne Warwick and more surprise guests.

Finally, the performances will mark Jackson's first mainland concerts in eleven years and will coincide with the fall release of his first album in five years, Invincible from which he will debut a new single.

Tickets for the shows go on sale July 26th and range from $45 to $500.

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Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »

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