Note: If viewing Michael Jackson Ultimate Archive on archive.org (Wayback Machine), please view the latest snapshot of this page for the most up-to-date information and media.

"Right On!" Magazine Interview

“Right On!” magazine, “Through the Years with Michael Jackson!” (1981)

“I learned a lot of my stage moves from watching Sammy Davis, Jr. I got to know Bill Cosby pretty well working with him on the two TV specials we did and I always catch his show. I like classical music and soft listening music. I often sit and listen to the sounds of Johnny Mathis and Ray Charles, but most of the time, I listen to Three Dog Night.

“It’s not too hard learning how to play the piano; you just have to put your mind to it.

“When I recorded ‘Ben’, I thought it was funny when I found out it was about a rat. It was sort of nice, too.

“Once at school, one of the boys I’d previously played a practical joke on placed a pail of water over the door. When I came into the room, down it came on me. I didn’t get mad though, he was just getting me back. The only thing to do was take off my shirt and let it dry.”