Michael Jackson: 1950-2009; covers played on my shows June 26, 2009

Michael Jackson, a music icon (a term that everyone seems to be using), died Thursday in Los Angeles at the age of 50.  In my opinion, he had his problems in other areas, but he was a great musician.  He will be missed.

The first songs I remember hearing as a young boy were “Billie Jean” and “Beat It.”  Of course, I was able to hear many more after that.  Among them, “Bad,” “Black or White,” and the duet with his sister Janet, “Scream.”

Through jazz, I discovered other songs of his.  In 1988, David Benoit covered “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You” on his “Every Step of the Way” album.  In 1989, the late Miles Davis covered “Human Nature” on “You’re Under Arrest.”  19 years later, in 2008, Benoit would also cover “Human Nature” along with “Never Can Say Goodbye.”  I also heard “Never Can Say Goodbye” covered by Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour on “A Twist of Motown” in 2003.

A few times in my six years (to date) in radio, I played two Michael Jackson covers and one Jackson 5 cover.  Thanks to my overall playlist files in Microsoft Word, I can share the songs and the artists who covered them and what shows I played the songs on:

Miles Davis, “Human Nature” (You’re Under Arrest, 1989):

• 11/16/01, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 4/26/02, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 9/27/02, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 11/15/02, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 12/31/03, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 11/4/04, The Instrumental Invasion (WGBB)

Chuck Loeb, “Rock With You” (Listen, 1999)

• 9/27/02, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 1/30/03, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• 12/30/04, The Instrumental Invasion (WGBB)
• 6/17/07, Block 1 (6PM-9PM, 12AM-3AM, 6AM-9AM, 12PM-3PM), MCJN: Mike Chimeri Jazz Net (my Live365 Internet Radio station, May 22 to July 7, 2007)
• 7/5/07, Block 1, MCJN: Mike Chimeri Jazz Net (Live365 Internet Radio)

Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour, “Never Can Say Goodbye” (A Twist of Motown, 2003):

• 2/25/04, The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)
• Evergreen Show #5 (pre-recorded 3/3/04), The Mike Chimeri Show (WCWP)

MP3: Airchecks from shows featuring Michael Jackson covers

Outside of radio, I heard “I Want You Back” (the Jackson 5) and “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)” (the Jacksons) covered at previous Smooth Jazz for Scholars concerts.  The latter was in 2007 and the former in 2007 and 2009.