Michael Jackson sign is restored at Hollywood school

For seven years, the gleaming silver letters that once proclaimed the Michael Jackson Auditorium at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood were hidden behind white plywood boards.

The boards had been placed there to hide the name of the pop singer at the behest of parents shortly after Jackson was arrested on suspicion of child molestation in 2003. Since his death last year, fans had rallied for the restoration of the sign, which they saw as a symbol of Jackson’s legacy.

Now, Jackson’s name gleams again.

Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines ordered the boards stripped away Friday "in recognition of Michael Jackson’s musical legacy and contribution to modern culture."

A school district spokesman said the decision was made in large part because Jackson had been acquitted of criminal charges in the molestation case.

On Friday night, a Facebook page calling for the restoration of the sign was overflowing with joyous comments.

"I could cry!!" one person wrote. "I wish he were here to see this!!"

On the page, devotees from places as far away as Japan and Sri Lanka posted photos of themselves holding handmade posters calling for the boards to be stripped away.

Fans had planned to show up at a school board meeting Tuesday to demand that the sign be revealed.

Jackson was briefly enrolled as a student at Gardner Street Elementary. In 1969, he and his family moved to Los Angeles from Gary, Ind., so that Jackson and his brothers could make a record with Motown.

Jackson was an 11-year-old sixth-grader at the school when the Jackson 5 released their debut album, a smash hit that foreshadowed Jackson’s record-breaking solo career. 

The Gardner auditorium was dedicated to Jackson in 1989. He attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony, where the school's choir sang "We Are the World," a tune Jackson co-wrote.

An illustration of Jackson's face was posted in the auditorium in 1989, and a picture depicting the singer surrounded by children was hung in the main office. The auditorium drawing was removed several years ago because it kept falling down. The picture in the office also was removed to make room for a new intercom system.

-- Kate Linthicum

Photo: L.A. Times file

I Love Wembley Stadium!

They showed Mike sooo much love!

(He’s listed first for a reason!  Keep reading!)

Music

Wembley Stadium became a musical venue in August 1972 with an all-star rock 'n' roll concert called the London Rock and Roll Show. It since played host to a number of concerts and events, most notably the British leg of Live Aid, which featured such acts as David Bowie, Queen, Paul McCartney, The Who, Dire Straits and U2, was held at the stadium on 13 July 1985.

Other charity concerts which took place in the stadium were the 1988 Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute concert, The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness and the NetAid charity concert.

Acts who played at Wembley Stadium include:

• Michael Jackson (fifteen times, selling over 500,000 tickets in the process)
• The Rolling Stones (twelve times)
• Madonna (nine times)
• U2 (eight times)
• Genesis (they had four sold out shows in a row in early July 1987)
• Phil Collins (five times)
• Bon Jovi (five times) (they had three sold out shows in a row from 23 June to 25 June 1995)
• Tina Turner (four times, who had two sold out concerts recorded during her Twenty Four Seven Tour for the live tour DVD in the year 2000)
• The Animals (twice, once 1965 performing three songs at the NME Poll Winners Concert and the other on December 31, 1983, during their reunion tour, which was released as "Rip It To Shreds!" in 1984)
• Bryan Adams (Bryan Adams had two sold out shows, 1992 and 1996)
• Oasis (two times, and recorded their video and album Familiar To Millions at Wembley)
• The Cure (who recorded tracks for their "Pictures of You" single)
• Guns N' Roses (In 1991 Izzy Stradlin played his last show as an official member.)
• Fleetwood Mac (They had 10 sold out shows in 1988 on their "Shake The Cage" tour)
• Queen (Played two shows on the 1986 "Magic Tour", with the concert on 12 July recorded for a live album, VHS release and DVD release)
• George Michael (twice)
• The Corrs
• Gary Numan (Performing for three sold out nights in 1981)
• Grateful Dead (Halloween shows - October 30 and 31, 1990)
• Johnny Cash (Played in 1979, recorded for the BBC in 1981 and 1986)
• The Who (18 August 1979: "The Who And Friends Roar In". Following a series of smaller warm-ups this was the band's first major concert after the death of drummer Keith Moon the previous year. An 80,000 sell-out.)
• AC/DC
• Bob Dylan
• Billy Joel
• Aerosmith
• KISS
• Jethro Tull
• Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
• Prince
• Sting
• Celine Dion
• Rage Against the Machine
• Cliff Richard
• Cornelius Mendez
• Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
• ABBA
• The Bee Gees
• Status Quo
• Elton John
• Jean Michel Jarre
• The Beach Boys
• The Eagles
• Van Halen
• INXS
• Blur
• Pink Floyd (2 nights in August 1988, World War II search lights were used outside the stadium for dramatic effect for approaching fans)
• Metallica
• Simple Minds
• Spice Girls (two times, one of which was recorded and released as a VHS/DVD)

During Michael Jackson's Bad Tour in 1988, seven sell-out concerts were staged at Wembley which included five in a row, and two at a later date. Each concert had an attendance of 72,000 people. According to the Guinness Book of World Records Jackson set a new world record with 504,000 people attending the seven total concerts. These seven concerts were highly anticipated and created huge media attention. A further six sell-out concerts followed in 1992 during his Dangerous Tour and his three shows in 1997 during his HIStory Tour brought total tickets sold to over 1.1 million. Until the demolition of the 1923 stadium, this record had not been beaten.

Foo Fighters Live At Wembley Stadium - My Hero

Michael Jackson - It's Better On The Other Side

Michael Jackson & Friends - What More Can I Give?

NPR's 50 Great Voices 2010

1. Al Green

2. Aretha Franklin

3. Bing Crosby

4. Bob Marley

5. Busta Rhymes

6. David bowie

7. Dolly Parton

8. Elvis Presley

9. Gudy Garland

10. Hank Williams

11. Isaac Hayes

12. Jackie Wilson

13. Janis Joplin

14. Jonie Mitchell

15. Lauryn Hill

16. Luther Vandross

17. Notorious B.I.G.

18. Slick Rick

19. Stevie Wonder

20. Whitney Houston

21. Willie Nelson

What do the names on this list have in common?  This list is 21 of 135 names picked as the final nominees for:

NPR’s 50 Great Voices 2010

Yes, that’s right – Michael is NOT listed.  I searched.  Several times.


As I look @ this short list (of just a few names I recognized from the complete list), it leads me to believe, this nomination doesn’t just recognize “the voice,” but the artist’s “reach” & impact – worldwide – as well as the content of their songs, as they related to the “current events” taking place @ the time.


Well, with that said, whyyy then, is Michael absent?  I nominated Michael & used “Earth Song” as proof of his “voice,” showcasing his range; “content,” showcasing his song-writing abilities that expressed his heart-felt compassion for our environment – which relates to the times, then & now.  I even submitted the track in the email, as well as the lyrics.


I’m really confused.  Is it just me?


(I found out about the nominations on michaeljackson.com (SONY sponsored), so it’s not as if the nominations were a secret.)

Trials of Michael Jackson, The - by Lynton Guest

Open publication - Free publishing - More triumph

Karen Faye – A Life Intersected – August 29, 2010

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Click the photo, which will take you to Karen’s blog page.  there, you will be able to feast on her recollection of Michael & his heartfelt dilemma when it came to the celebration of birthdays :-(

Thank you Karen for sharing!

August 29, 2010 -- Happy Birthday Michael!

My Birthday wish for you, is not a wish, but a continuous prayer: I’m happy for you, that you’re finally @ peace! I pray you heard the words, "Well done, my good & faithful servant..." & that they were music to your ears! My dear Angelman remain forever happy, in the company of the Angels, around God's throne - singing & dancing w/eternal joy – you, the creation - becoming one w/your Creator!

Thank You & God Bless You Miss Katherine!

AnMarie

goodReads

An's bookshelf: to-read



More of An's books »

Michael Jackson’s “Dirty Diana” (video)

Lisa Dean, the legs in ‘Dirty Diana’, also died at age 50 in 2009

No Charges Filed Against Other Jackson Doctors

No Charges Filed Against Other Jackson Doctors

Date: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 5:09 am
By: Greg Risling, Associated Pres

LOS ANGELES (AP) — State investigators probing the death of Michael Jackson have decided not to file charges against seven doctors who treated him, authorities said Wednesday.

The doctors were part of an investigation by state Attorney General Jerry Brown's Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, spokeswoman Christine Gasparac said.

One doctor whose name was not released has been referred to the California Medical Board for prescribing drugs to a Jackson alias, she said.

Candis Cohen, a board spokeswoman, declined to confirm the action, saying complaints and investigations were not public record.

Jackson's personal doctor, Conrad Murray, has pleaded not guilty to felony involuntary manslaughter in the singer's death. Authorities say Murray provided Jackson with a mix of sedatives, including a powerful anesthetic that killed him.

Murray was not among the seven doctors involved in the state investigation.

Los Angeles police who investigated the death had asked state and federal investigators to look into the prescribing practices of doctors who previously treated the 50-year-old pop star.

The federal Drug Enforcement Agency has also stopped investigating the actions of any other Jackson doctors, agency spokeswoman Sarah Pullen said.

"I am very disappointed," said attorney Brian Oxman, who represents Michael Jackson's father Joe Jackson in a wrongful death lawsuit against Murray. "The misuse of medications by Michael Jackson in the last years of his life was excessive and to fail to bring that to the public eye is ignoring reality."

The state investigation included the search of a prescription drug database that tracks doctors who prescribe controlled substances. The database also monitors the quantity and recipients of those drugs.
---
AP Writer Thomas Watkins and AP Entertainment Writer Anthony McCartney contributed to this report.

~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**

THIS is why these doctors aren't needed to testify.  They had nothing to do w/what transpired on June 25, 2009.

Diana Ross’ Sister Denies MJ Pregnancy Claims

Diana Ross’ Sister Denies MJ Pregnancy Claims

Katherine Jackson Still Struggles To 'Cope'

My heart goes out to you, Miss Katherine.

As heavy as my heart is, over the loss of Michael, I can't begin to imagine her pain - or the pain of any parent who has to bury their child.

God bless you & keep you.

Love, AnMarie

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• Katherine Jackson -- 'I Haven't Been Doing So Well' (tmz.com)

When race-baiting backfires: The Shirley Sherrod teachable moment

The attack on the USDA's former Georgia director of Rural Development, Ms. Shirley Sherrod, by conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart is the most recent example of the dangers that come from reactionary sound-bite politics being put in the context of race.

Breitbart does not take responsibility for releasing the video clip, but he blames the media for blowing the situation out of proportion. Additionally, he admitted that he did not see the full tape until this week after he had placed the editing edited clips on the Internet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I just love this ‘penned’ phrase: “…reactionary sound-bite politics…”  This isn’t to get political on anyone, but isn’t what this gentleman did to Ms. Sherrod, the same treatment given to Michael by the media?   They took any ‘little’ thing he said or did  & blew it out of proportion;  removed things from its original context & added their two-cents to encourage a negative perception.  Isn’t this what Bashir did??!  He couldn’t destroy Michael’s soul, so instead, he set out to destroy Michael’s heart.  His ‘sound-bite’ game cost MJ his life.

But, Michael continued to love, anyway!