WATCH JANET JACKSON ON LKL THURSDAY NIGHT!!

Filed under: Larry King Live • Michael Jackson

Los Angeles, California (CNN) - When Dr. Conrad Murray returns to a Los Angeles court Monday afternoon, he is likely to be hounded by dozens of Michael Jackson fans angry about the pop star's death.

Monday's hearing is expected to be quick. It will set a date for the preliminary hearing in the involuntary manslaughter case against Murray, his lawyer said.

The judge has indicated the preliminary hearing will be in October and is expected to last more than a week.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, was from an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthesia used to put surgical patients to sleep.

Murray, hired as Jackson's personal doctor while the singer rehearsed for his comeback concerts, admits giving him propofol as a sleep aid. But Murray's lawyer said the amount was much smaller than what was found in Jackson's body during the autopsy.

"The fact [of the way] that he died was a mystery a year ago, and still is," Houston attorney Ed Chernoff told CNN in an exclusive interview recently.

Members of Jackson's family have attended each hearing since Murray's arrest in February.

When brother Jermaine Jackson left the last hearing in June, he indicated some of them were not satisfied with the case against Murray.

"Dr. Murray's the fall guy," Jermaine Jackson said after the hearing. "This is bulls**t."

(READ MORE)

Filed under: Michael Jackson

Via MTV.com

The good folks at “Glee” have already given us doses of pop icons Madonna and Lady Gaga, and Britney Spears is up next in season 2.So, many would argue it’s only fair that the following episode dedication go to the man who invented pop in the first place. You heard me: the next big name in music to get the “Glee” treatment could be … Michael Jackson.

“That would be pretty cool,” Matthew Morrison (aka Will Schuester) exclaimed, addressing the rumors that an MJ episode is being planned. “He is probably the best and most iconic performer in the history of music,” he added.

(READ MORE from MTV.com)

Filed under: Michael Jackson

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -  Songs that didn't make the cut on Michael Jackson albums while he was alive and some forgotten recordings left behind on computer hard drives will be on an album released this fall, sources familiar with the project say.

Jackie Jackson, one of the singer's older brothers, has been working in a studio to help prepare the album, which will include 10 previously unheard songs, according to Jackson estate spokesman Jim Bates.

Jackson's estate and Sony Music announced in March that his next album of unreleased music will go on sale in November. Music producer Rodney Jerkins, who co-produced Jackson's 2001 album "Invincible," has been working with Sony to put together the new album, a source familiar with the project said.  The source asked not to be identified because he was not authorized by the record label to disclose details.

John McClain, one of the two men named in Jackson's will to be executors of his estate, is also working on the album with Jackie Jackson, Bates said.  McClain owns a recording studio in Hollywood.

Jackson was known to rent out Los Angeles recording studios for weeks at a time for creative sessions, sometimes alone and sometimes with other well-known artists.

A producer told CNN that he was surprised to find a large cache of forgotten Michael Jackson music files stored on a hard drive at a Hollywood studio in the months after Jackson's June 25, 2009, death.  When he turned the recording device on to start a session, he heard Jackson singing "Hot Fun in the Summertime."  The 1969 hit by Sly & the Family Stone is part of an extensive music catalogue that Jackson bought.  The producer said he made a backup copy of the 40 gigabytes of Jackson music and turned it over to one of the Jackson estate administrators.  He asked not to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Another computer hard drive with music was found in Jackson's rented mansion in the days after his death, Bates said.  A Jackson family member later handed the hard drive over to the estate administrators, he said. It was not clear if any of that music will be included in the upcoming project, but Sony's Columbia Records has a contract with Jackson's estate for 10 albums of unreleased material over the next seven years.

TAKE OUR POLL: WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MJ ALBUM?

Filed under: Michael Jackson

Via HuffingtonPost.com

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The former home of the King of Pop could become California's latest state park under an idea being floated by a California state lawmaker.

Assemblyman Mike Davis said Tuesday that he believes it's worth studying whether the California Department of Parks and Recreation should take over the Neverland Ranch in Santa Barbara County.

The Los Angeles legislator said fans from around the world would visit Michael Jackson's former estate.

Jackson's 2,500-acre estate once housed amusement park rides and a zoo with tigers and snakes, but many of the estate's attractions were dismantled or sold after his death in 2009.

Colony Capital LLC, a Santa Barbara-based private equity firm, took control of Neverland in a venture with Jackson after he nearly lost the estate to foreclosure. Jackson signed over control of the estate to Colony Capital for $35 million in 2008.

That company now co-owns the estate with the Jackson family. Colony spokesman Owen Blicksilver declined to comment on the proposal.

The success of the proposal is uncertain in a state where the budget deficit stands at $19 billion. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger previously proposed selling the state's landmark buildings to raise cash to cover the shortfall.

"Given that we have an economic shortfall ... I suspect it would be difficult for the State Parks Department to purchase the property alone," Davis said. He would propose a public-private partnership.

Davis said the plan remains only an idea at the moment and that he might introduce a bill or resolution on the matter after lawmakers return from their monthlong recess in August.

Filed under: Michael Jackson

by Gil Kaufman
via mtv.com

Chris Brown wasn't the only one getting misty-eyed at Sunday night's BET Awards during his tribute to Michael Jackson. The King of Pop's older brother, Jermaine, told "Extra" that he was also overcome with emotion during the dance routine, in which Brown paid homage to some of MJ's most famous moves and then attempted to sing "Man in the Mirror" before being overcome with emotion and weeping onstage.

"To see [Chris'] performance, it was very emotional for me, because it was an acceptance from his fans from what has happened to him and also paying tribute to my brother," Jermaine said. "It was just a spectacular moment."

Fans and critics have been split on the performance, which some saw as the bursting of an emotional dam for the singer, making his first major public appearance since he pleaded guilty to felony assault in his assault of former girlfriend Rihanna last June. Others speculated that Brown may have manufactured the tears to gain sympathy from fans who abandoned him in the wake of the Rihanna attack.

(READ MORE)

Filed under: Chris Brown • Michael Jackson • Music

by Brandi Fowler
via eonline.com

Auctioneers expected Michael Jackson's famous Victory Tour glove to be a top seller at their event.

But, they didn't imagine a fan would dole out nearly $200,000 for it. 

Such was the case, however, at Julien's Auctions Music Icons port sale in Las Vegas last week, when a fan purchased the late legend's Swarovski crystal-coated glove for $190,000, and garnered a standing ovation from attendees. 

Prior to the big bid, it was thought that Jackson's signature white glove would sell for $20,000-$30,000. 

But, the King of Pop's sparkly accessory wasn't the only item to bring big bucks on the auction block.

Other big ticket items included a Michael Jackson "Beat It" jacket that sold for $132,000 and stage loafers worn by the star that sold for $90,000.

In honor of the anniversary of the music icon's death, crowds showed up in record numbers to Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Thursday and Friday, bidding on items from Jackson's 1984 tour as well as other MJ memorabilia.

Filed under: Michael Jackson

by Rochell Thomas
via mtv.com

When Jamie Foxx, Ne-Yo and New Edition were performing tributes to Michael Jackson during last year's BET Awards show, Chris Brown was nowhere to be found, even though many felt he was an obvious choice to honor the fallen legend. Brown's assault on Rihanna several months earlier presumably kept him out of the show.

 On Sunday night (June 27), Brown finally got his chance to publicly honor the man he idolized - and while his dancing was flawless, when the time came for him to sing, he simply fell apart.

After being introduced by Jermaine Jackson, Brown beautifully channeled Michael as he danced to "Remember the Time," "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." Yet when he grabbed a mic to sing "Man in the Mirror," he choked up, visibly weeping.

"I'm gonna make a change for once in my ..." Brown's voice trailed off. He was out of breath and sounded hoarse. Tears stained his cheeks as he paced the stage, holding the microphone by his side. "This ... wind is blowing my ... Who am I to..." He clearly knew the lyrics but they failed to come out.

Brown faded in and out of the song, closing his eyes, grimacing, trying to soldier on. Whether it was the emotion of the moment or the past 16 months, Brown struggled and failed to find his voice, even though the pre-recorded backing vocals played on.

(READ MORE)

Filed under: Chris Brown • Michael Jackson

On the one-year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death, Jermaine Jackson joins Larry in is first interview at the pop icon’s final resting place.

A look at the investigation into his death,
his kids and his legacy!

We want to hear from you!

Do you rememember where you were when you heard Michael Jackson died?

Filed under: Larry King Live • Michael Jackson

(CNN) JUST IN: Michael Jackson's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Dr. Conrad Murray on Friday, the anniversary of the pop star's death, Joe Jackson's lawyer said.

The suit alleges that Murray gave paramedics and doctors false information about the "polypharmacy" of drugs Michael Jackson had been given and hindered efforts to revive him in an ambulance and at UCLA Medical Center, according to a copy of the suit obtained by CNN.

The suit said "other parties responsible for Michael Jackson's death" would be added, but that the plaintiff "has not yet gathered sufficient information regarding their potential liability or responsibility."

A complaint filed by Joe Jackson with the California medical board this month also named AEG, the company that was producing his son's comeback concerts.

Murray was hired to serve as Jackson's personal doctor two months before the London debut of the concerts were set.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthesia that Murray has acknowledged the pop star used to help him sleep.

Joe Jackson attorney Brian Oxman obtained a court order earlier this year giving him medical records from UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.

The suit also alleges that Murray delayed calling for paramedics for over an hour after he found Jackson not breathing minutes after he injected him with propofol to help him fall asleep. The suit contends Murray used the time to hide evidence of drugs he had been giving Jackson.

When the ambulance carrying Michael Jackson from his home arrived at the emergency room at 1:13 p.m., he was identified as "Soule Shaun," the suit said. He had "no pulse, blood pressure, spontaneous respiration or heartbeat," it said.

Murray, who had taken over control of resuscitation efforts from paramedics, said nothing to emergency room doctors about the propofol or "other drugs" he had given Michael Jackson earlier in the day, it said.

(READ MORE)

Filed under: Michael Jackson