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Home , Gordon Keith (producer), Greg Phillinganes, Ricky Lawson, Siedah Garrett

Center for Black Music Research at Columbia College Chicago presents Genius without Borders: A Symposium in Honor of the Genius of

It’s All About the Music: An Insider’s Look at Michael Jackson’s Art PROGRAM

September 24, 2010 With Appreciation Patricia Andrews-Keenan, The Tullulah Group, for her untiring work to secure event spon- 7:30 p.m. sors and support. Pritzker Auditorium Jacqueline Hudson for research support. Harold Washington Library Center Event Sponsor is State Farm. 400 South State Street, Chicago

Media Partners are NBC5 Chicago, WVON Radio, and The Chicago Defender.

The image of Michael Jackson is used with the permission of its owner, photographer Vandell Cobb.

Center for Black Music Research Columbia College Chicago 600 South Avenue Chicago, IL 60605 312.369.7559 312.369.8027 fax www.colum.edu/cbmr [email protected] Center for Black Music Research The Center for Black Music Research (CBMR) is the only organization of its kind. Founded in 1983, the CBMR documents and preserves information and materials related to the black music experience throughout the world. It promotes and advances scholarly knowl- edge and thought about black music and the black musical experience and about their relationship to higher education and to society at large. The CBMR Library and Archives is one of the most comprehensive collections dealing with black music of all genres and periods and is available for on-site study and for remote reference assistance. The products of the CBMR are disseminated to the scholarly community and to the general public through its conferences, publications, performances, the CBMR website, and spe- cial research initiatives—national and international conferences have been held in New Orleans, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., New York, Chicago, and Trinidad and Tobago; the CBMR publishes a scholarly journal and a newsletter, co-publishes a book series with the University of Press, and prepared the award-winning International Dictionary of Black Composers; the musical results of the CBMR’s research have been taken to public audiences via performances of its nationally acclaimed ensembles, including the Black Music Repertory Ensemble, Ensemble Kalinda Chicago, Ensemble Stop-Time, and, currently, the New Black Music Repertory Ensemble. The Center has won three three- year cycles of Rockefeller Resident Fellowships and was awarded a prestigious National Endowment for the Humanities Challenge Grant. Information about the Center and its pro- gramming can be found on the CBMR website at www.colum.edu/cbmr.

Columbia College Chicago Columbia College Chicago is an undergraduate and graduate college of more than 13,500 students whose principal commitment is to provide a comprehensive educational oppor- tunity in the arts, communications, and public information within a context of enlight- ened liberal education. Columbia’s intent is to educate students who will communicate creatively and shape the public’s perceptions of issues and events and who will author the culture of their times. Columbia is an urban institution whose students reflect the economic, racial, cultural, and educational diversity of contemporary America. Columbia conducts education in close relationship to a vital urban reality and serves an important civic purpose by active engagement in the life and culture of the city of Chicago.

CBMR Staff Monica Hairston O’Connell, Executive Linda Hunter, Administrative Assistant Director Rajinder Mago, Accountant Morris A. Phibbs, Deputy Director Janet Harper, Catalog Librarian Suzanne Flandreau, Librarian and Archivist Laurie Lee Moses, Archivist and Digital Kenneth Bilby, Director of Research Librarian Horace Maxile, Associate Director of Melanie Zeck, Research Assistant Research Peter Shultz, Webmaster

Columbia College Chicago Administration Warrick L. Carter, Ph.D., President Annice Kelly, Vice President and General Steven Kapelke, Provost and Senior Vice Counsel President Mark E. Kelly, Vice President for Student Alicia Berg, Vice President of Campus Affairs Environment Louise Love, Ph.D., Vice President for R. Michael DeSalle, Vice President of Academic Affairs Business Affairs and Chief Financial Eric V. A. Winston, Ph.D., Vice President of Officer Institutional Advancement Anne Foley, Vice President of Administration, Planning, and Research WELCOME FROM THE CBMR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The Center for Black Music Research has developed the Genius without Borders cultural series as a way to celebrate and share the influence of black American music and musicians. The series kicked off in March 2009 with a symposium in honor of the genius of . We are proud to present Michael Jackson as the genius we celebrate in the second symposium, with special papers and presentations made by some of the leading scholars in black music and cultural studies. We are honored to also feature panel discussions with some of the personalities who figured prominently in Michael Jackson’s career, spanning his formative childhood years performing with his brothers to his last pop singles, videos, and tours.

The core components of the symposium will include discussions and talks on Michael Jackson’s musical approaches, influences, life, and legacy. The goals of the event are to engage leading scholars of African-American and American popular music and expressive culture in scholarly inquiry and dialogue about Michael Jackson’s life and artistic strategies within the context of African- American and American history, and to explore the styles and genres in which he worked while also considering broader musicological and ethnomusicological concerns. The symposium will help expose the genius of Michael Jackson to scholars as well as to the Columbia College Chicago community and the general public, thus showing how Jackson’s contributions have reflected and influenced traits in black music and American music in a broader sense.

I and the staff of the Center for Black Music Research welcome you to this special event and to the campus of Columbia College Chicago. Thank you for joining us.

—Monica Hairston O’Connell

3 Michael Jackson Harry Weinger R&B and pop singer Michael Jackson (1958– Harry Weinger, a thirty-plus–year veteran of the entertainment 2009) may be considered the predominant pop industry, is a two-time GRAMMY-winning reissue producer, musical icon of the late-twentieth century. Most writer, and educator who is currently Vice President of A&R of his life was spent in the popular music indus- for Universal Music Enterprises, the catalog reissue arm of try, and his landmark recording Thriller (1982) Universal Music Group. Weinger has produced, mixed, written, ranks among the highest selling albums of all and edited liner notes for hundreds of reissues, compilations, time. Jackson’s career began in his childhood and music DVDs, notably the family of classic record- as part of , a group that included ings, the catalog, the Verve Music catalog, and prominent art- his older brothers Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, and ists in the world of funk, soul, and jazz. His definitive overview of the music of Marlon. They joined the Motown label during James Brown, the four-CD box set Star Time, was not only a GRAMMY-award the late 1960s and recorded the hit songs winner but was named by The New York Times “one of the Top 25 recordings Photo by Vandell Cobb “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I Want You of the 20th Century.” He produced the expanded editions of Marvin Gaye’s Back.” Jackson’s solo career also began with What’s Going On, Let’s Get It On, I Want You, and Hear My Dear packages. His the Motown label in 1972, with the albums Got To Be There and Ben. These many current projects include the final volumes in the massive documentation albums featured hits such as “Rockin’ Robin,” “Got To Be There,” and his first of every Motown single released during the company’s heyday; an overview number one hit, “Ben.” Jackson left the Motown label in the mid 1970s, signed of every James Brown single; box sets on Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, with Epic Records, and released his first mature album, , in 1979. Clifford Brown, and Stan Getz; and the unreleased Jackson 5 album Live at This critically acclaimed album was his first studio collaboration with Quincy the Forum, chronicling the group’s historic appearances at the famed Los Jones. Their second project, Thriller, cemented Michael Jackson’s position as Angeles venue; and many others. Weinger has written for Rolling Stone and one of the premier performers and pop singers of all time. A huge commercial Vibe magazine, where he was one of its original contributing writers, as well as success, the album has sold over one hundred million copies and has won the trade magazines Billboard, Cash Box, and Hits. He has also been a con- many awards. The album contained elements of pop, rock, R&B, soul, and funk, tributing author to several books and, as a consultant for feature films, he has attracting a wide range of listeners and fans. The crossover appeal was so great helped develop the soundtracks for such diverse films as Four Brothers, Liberty that he became the first African-American entertainer to secure a steady rota- Heights, and Standing in the Shadows of Motown, the acclaimed documentary tion in MTV video play. Among the chart-topping singles from that album are about Motown’s Funk Brothers band. A cum laude graduate of Ithaca College “” and “.” Album sales for Jackson’s third mature album and with a B.S. in communications, Weinger was music director of the school’s last collaboration with , (1987), were modest in comparison nationally recognized FM radio station. He is an honorary Temptation, an honor with Thriller, but it featured a host of number-one singles written by Jackson— bestowed upon him by original members Otis Williams and the late Melvin such as “Bad” and “Smooth Criminal”—that showcased Jackson’s skill as a Franklin. songwriter. His work continued throughout the 1990s and into the twenty-first century with more certified multiplatinum albums, such as Dangerous (1991), HIStory (1995), and Invincible (2001). Jackson’s humanitarian spirit is noted not only in songs that address the social challenges of our times, such as “” and “,” but also in his substantial and successful philanthropic efforts. His influence on industry professionals is profound and undeniable, as his vocal style, dance moves, music video presentation, and production technique have been emulated by many during his reign as the “King of Pop.

4 9 Genius without Borders Series Ricky Lawson is best known as the drummer for such artists as Genius without Borders is a unique new cultural series developed by the Michael Jackson, , , , The Yellow Center for Black Music Research (CBMR). It will emphasize and contribute to Jackets, , , , Lionel Chicago’s history as a black music capital and redefine the history of American Richie, , Quincy Jones, , and many oth- black music for a new generation. Each Genius without Borders event will focus ers. Lawson is also one of the most respected songwriters, pro- on a different artist, genre, or institution of note—past or present—providing ducers, and arrangers in the music industry. A founding member programming that will be exciting and educational to a broad and diverse audi- of the Yellow Jackets, Lawson received two GRAMMY nomina- ence. Future programs could cover topics and artists such as Chess Records, tions and a GRAMMY award in 1986 for writing the hit song “And You Know Celia Cruz, Chicago hip hop, or others. For more information on Genius without That” on the album Shades. Lawson performed on Whitney Houston’s multi- Borders activities, please visit www.colum.edu/cbmr. million seller “I Will Always Love You” from The Bodyguard soundtrack, which was recently labeled the number-one selling soundtrack of all time. He also Follow the Symposium Online performed on ’s “Sweet Love,” James Ingrams’ “I Don’t Have the Althea Legaspi and Ronnie Reese will live blog the events. Heart,” and ’s “.” Lawson co-wrote and co- produced ’ hit “Uh-Uh” and the Fat Burger hit “Good News.” Follow the CBMR on Twitter at cbmrccc. Track and join the conversation using Other writing and/or co-producing credits include tracks for Only You, Star Trek the hashtag #gwb2010. 5, Barney’s Great Adventure—The Movie, as well as Helen Baylor’s “There’s No Greater Love” and “When You Believe” performed by Whitney Houston and Own a Unique Michael Jackson Photograph for the soundtrack to the Prince of Egypt. Lawson is a highly ver- Make a bid for a single-issue original photograph of Michael Jackson. Other pro- satile drummer, having developed expertise in jazz, country and western, pop, fessional photographers working the same event may have taken similar photo- R&B, funk, and Latin rhythms—a versatility that allows him to perform with a graphs, but this particular image by Columbia College alumnus Vandell Cobb, in wide spectrum of artists. whose private collection the negative will remain, is unique and has never been published. Final live bids will be received during the symposium at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 25. The winning bidder will be announced at that time. Greg Phillinganes is one of the world’s most prolific keyboard artists. A native and music veteran for over thirty years, Vandell Cobb he began his career in 1975 with Stevie Wonder as part of his After graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 1975, Vandell Cobb worked band, Wonderlove. Since leaving Stevie in 1979, Phillinganes for thirty-one years for Johnson Publishing Company as a staff photographer for went on to record, perform, tour, or write with a staggering array Ebony and Jet magazines. His photographs have been used on numerous maga- of GRAMMY-award winning artists, including Quincy Jones, Alicia zine covers and in feature stories; his subjects have included U.S. presidents Keys, , , Ne-Yo, , from Reagan to Obama, world leaders such as South Africa President Nelson , Anita Baker, , , George Harrison, Ray Mandela and Hamas leader Khaled Mashal, haute couture collections in Paris Charles, Michael Jackson, and many others. In addition to being music director and Rome, and sports and entertainment fi gures such as Muhammad Ali, Mi- for Lionel Richie’s and Michael Jackson’s first solo tours, Phillinganes served chael Jordan, Earth, Wind and Fire, Oprah Winfrey, Mary J. Blige, , as music director for Michael Jackson’s thirtieth-anniversary special at Madison Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. Square Garden, Quincy Jones’ VIBE television show, the sixtieth EMMY Awards, and the first-annual GRAMMY Nominations Live Concert, along with a wide Additional Symposium Speakers and Panelists range of special events. A GRAMMY nominee himself, Phillinganes has been a Jacob Austen, Larry Blasingaine, Bonnie Brooks, Daphne Brooks, Wilton Crump, cornerstone in hundreds of GRAMMY Award winning albums, including Stevie Amansu Eason, Clinton Ghent, Gordon Keith, Raquel L. Monroe, Mark Anthony Wonder’s and Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Phillinganes Neal, Stephanie Shonekan, and Gregory Tate. is now touring with Herbie Hancock as part of the Imagine Project tour, with stops in the , Canada, and Europe.

8 5 .PROGRAM PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES

Welcome and General Remarks Ed Eckstein Monica Hairston O’Connell, Executive Director, Center for Black Music Research The son of legendary vocalist, bandleader, and matinee idol Billy Eckstine, Ed Eckstein has had a varied and extensive career in the music business. He joined Quincy Jones’s budding media Special Panel Presentation operation in 1974 and spent nearly eleven years as a key It’s All About the Music: An Insider’s Look at Michael Jackson’s Art executive member of Jones’s production empire, serving in a Moderated by Ed Eckstein, former president, Mercury Records, and co-producer variety of positions on projects by , Michael of the Rhythm and Blues Project Jackson, George Benson, Rufus & , , , the soundtracks to Roots and the film adaptation of The Wiz, Featured Panelists and Quincy’s classic recordings. In 1985, Eckstein joined Clive Davis’s Arista Siedah Garrett Records as vice president of A&R, where he contributed creatively to projects Ricky Lawson by Whitney Houston, Kenny G., Aretha Franklin, , Expose, and Greg Phillinganes Jermaine Stewart. In 1986, he began a decade-plus-long tenure with Polygram Harry Weinger Records. His initial signings there included Vanessa Williams; Tony, Toni, Toné; Robin Harris; and Brian McKnight. In 1990, when he signed on with Mercury Records, Eckstein became the first African American to be appointed president of a major non-black-owned recording company. He is currently co-producing with Moon Dog Films an eight-hour documentary television series, tentatively titled The Rhythm & Blues Project, on the history of R&B and soul music from post World War II.

Siedah Garrett Siedah Garrett, a singer, songwriter, and performer, has written for a diverse selection of recording artists from Aretha Franklin to Al Jarreau, from The Korrs to Vanessa Williams, and from to Amy Grant. Garrett’s songs are featured on hit albums such as Quincy Jones’ and Paula Abdul’s . She is probably best known for co- writing Michael Jackson’s worldwide hit, “Man in the Mirror.” She was the featured duet vocalist with Jackson on the hit single “I Just Can’t ” and has sung with a wide array of acts including Johnnie Mathis, Patti Austin, Quincy Jones, the Pointer Sisters, The Commodores, , Chaka Khan, and others. As a member of London’s acclaimed neo- funk band Brand New Heavies, Garrett co-wrote over half of the group’s album Shelter, which sold over a million copies in the United Kingdom. Her most recent work has been focused on writing, producing, and performing her new self-titled album Siedah.

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