BlindGossip – This music celebrity is well past their prime, yet still seems intent on ingratiating themselves into the Michael Jackson story. They managed to score a ticket to the Michael Jackson Memorial Service. While there, they started grabbing every camera crew in sight, introducing themselves, and claimed that Michael Jackson was practically a son to them, and they were practically a parent to him.
Even more fantastically, they also claimed to have discovered Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5, and to have personally coached Michael in his unique singing and dance style. It’s hard to believe that a person so close and important to the Jacksons was not invited to any of the gatherings involving the close friends and family. Perhaps it’s because they invented the story to make themselves feel important. No, it’s not Diana Ross.
Little Richard
Chuck Berry
My top guesses based on the memorial: Gladys Knight (claimed she begged Berry Gordy to audition the Jackson 5), Dionne Warwick (She was on LKL instead of mourning with the family). I would say Berry Gordy because he has mentioned being like a father to Michael however he was integrated into the memorial and played a key role in the success of the Jackson 5. Corey Feldman? (He ridiculously donned his Micheal J garb at the memorial – very tacky and disrespectful)
agree w/ Berry Gordy
Really well thought out guesses and I agree with most of your choices except Corey Feldman who although completely tasteless is also way too young to claim any of that stuff…he wasn’t even a though in his mother’s mind when the Jackson 5 even debuted let alone got a record deal. Berry Gordy maybe, but yeah I am going with Little Richard…he seems to be one who pops up and claims credit for a lot of Black artists success.
Um, Berry Gordy was not the guess mook. Berry Gordy was part of the tribute with the family’s blessing and obviously very responsible for the Jackson 5’s success.
Yeah, scratch my Berry Gordy guess. I’d like to jump on the Little Richard Bandwagon but I need more evidence (an interview perhaps). Plus the blind is from BG so it’s riddled with clues: Diana Ross is the connection, so since she is a DIVA singer it’s probably a female music celebrity of her caliber, thus my first two guesses stand firm.
Al Sharpton
Seconded!
Thirded!
Al Sharpton is NOT a “music celebrity” LOL !!!!!
Don King
Little Richard
Jackson Heights’ own Mr Randy Watson. YAYUS!
Love it!
Sexual Chocolate everybody!
You might remember him as Joe the Policeman in the “What’s Going Down?” episode of That’s My Momma!
That boy is GOOD!
Gladys Knight was all over 20/20 claiming that she discovered the Jackson 5
“Even more fantastically, they also claimed to have discovered Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5″
If it is Gladys Knight – I guess this could be a clue – Gladys Knight and the Pips. It should probably just say the Jackson Five since they couldn’t have discovered Michael solo back then.
BEFORE Michael’s death it has been said for a while that Gladys Knight was the one who heard the boys and told Gordy about them…it’s NOT Gladys…we all know now that it sure wasn’t Diana that was for publicity…Gladys was the one who discovered them I heard it YEARS ago.
I say Smokey Robinson. He kept bringing up how he wrote some of the songs that made Michael popular.
Go to youtube and look up “Michael Jackson Private Home Movie Part 3″ – quote from Michael:
There’s Gladys Knight… She is very responsible for discovering the Jackson 5
Cicely tyson hogged the mic afterwards for a long time. I think i had on cnn
She was talking hot hot mess about his infamous sequined glove!
Joe Jackson?
haha
Darn it! I was going to say that.
)
bobby taylor and the vancouvers and or suzanne depasse
Gladys Knight
MR JONES
Gladys Knight did discover them, even michael said so in his autobiography and most people know this as well.
the whole diana ross discoverying them was a pr thing on motown part
lionel Ritchie? just a guess
Lionel’s not much older than the Jacksons, so it can’t be him.
I don’t think it was a female entertainer, but I could be wrong…definitely not Berry seeing as Michael adored him, don’t think it’s Little Richard seeing as he wouldn’t have to grab the camera….BG, can you at least hint at the gender? I’ll share my apple pie with you!
Smokey Robinson spoke at the memorial, so it would be a safe assumption that unless he blew past security- multiple times- that he was invited by the family. Same with Lionel Ritchie.
Corey Feldman was born in the 70’s, so I doubt he was in diapers discovering musical acts.
I really don’t know who it is. Any more clues, BG?
Dionne Warwick
I don’t like this blind because it’s a known fact that Gladys Knight did try to get the jackson 5 into motown first… and Dionne warwick is a long time friend of Mj.
Jesse Jackson! In between marching with MLK and writing his speeches, he was a dance and vocal coach. Oh, how soon they forget.
Debbie Allen was on several talk shows saying she was in the dance studio with Michael practicing moves with him. She didn’t come out and say she taught him to dance, but it was clear that was her intent.
She was crying like she lost a son. I never heard of Debbie Allen and MJ in a room together.
I KNOW this is Gladys Knight..She has been telling everyone, she discovered them.
She was hot back in the day, and she has not been on the scene…
Donatella Versace hahahahahaha just joking
Gladys Knight sort of did help discover them. She was the one that went to Berry Gordy about auditioning them for Motown. That’s not new. Michael even discussed it in his autobiography.
Dionne Warwick is a likely guess. She’s been struggling to remain relevant with the public at large for quite awhile.
Gladys Knight said she discovered Michael to Barbara Walters
Gladys Knight….I saw here on Walters
Gladys has had a Las Vegas show for years now and still records. Her getting to Gordy first about the act she heard isn’t new.
Dionne Warwick – money answer.
It is Dionnne Warwick. She was on Larry King last night claiming that MJ called her mom, and that she was a 2nd mom to him…
Alright Ive been debating in my head all day. Im going with Dionne Warwick – I watched the LKL interview again that she did with her son and they were talking about how Dionne’s son was played with Micheal. She did seem rather put together emotionally as oppossed to those who were close with the Jackson’s who were distraught. Again, if she was close to the Jackson’s, she would’ve been respectfully dressed in black and mourning privately at the reception following the memorial, but instead was garishly name-dropping the fallen entertainer.
need more time
I don’t think Little Richard would do that, but let’s face it: black, gay, flamboyant, wild, risqué… Little Richard was all of that when no one else was. Not publicly. He paved the way to an endless string of artists, including Michael Jackson. That guy is one genuine, underrated living and walking piece of history. He could have claimed to have “invented” Michael Jackson and many others if he decided to. I think he actually does once in a while. He can.
Frankly, it could have been any of the “celebrities” at that has-been city memorial.
have a little respect for the dead maybe? a lot of those “hasbeens” are music legends or maybe you don’t know your music history……
Hmm. I like the Dionne and Debbie guesses, but I don’t see Dionne as much of a dancer and Debbie as much of singer. Plus, Debbie is only 59- she would’ve been more like a sister to Michael than a parent. Dionne may not be that known to the younger crowd, but she is only second to Aretha Franklin in regards to success in her field, therefore still pretty well known.
Michael Jackson stated at the pre-release praty of Off The Wall that Little Rciahrd was a huge influence on him. We know that James Brown influenced Michael as well, so considering that Little Richard influenced James Brown’s artistic development, he would have to be the one (going back to the roots) that is most responsible for the development of Michael Jackson. Smokey Robinson and Ray Charles also claim that Little Richard was the start of that funky, never let up rock n roll!
Quincy Jones.
Gladys Knight. She was on almost every frickin show. My DH and I were joking that she must be going down the press line for interviews.^_^
It’s Dionne Warwick, no doubt about it. Gladys Knight still gets respect in the industry so past their prime probably wouldn’t fit her. Dionne is way past hers and she is a train wreck (Pyschic Friends, anyone?)
Aretha needs the spotlight again I am sure….