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"Playgirl" Magazine Interview

Date confirmed in Chris Cadman’s “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro” (article summary/quotes)

It’s hard to determine whether Shindler spoke directly with Michael for this interview as both her and his father Joe are quoted. The basis of the one page article is about the beginning years when the Jackson 5 began, with Michael talking about their first paying gigs at Mr Lucky’s and entering the local talent shows.

When it gets round to the story about Diana Ross discovering The Jackson 5, Michael put that notion to bed by stating:

“Nobody discovered the Jacksons except their mother and father”

Michael said that it was all part of the plan to promote them at Motown.

“We were an established professional act long before we ever signed with Motown.”

The physical demands for the film The Wiz came as a huge surprise to Michael, with rehearsals and hours at a time in make-up. He enjoyed working with Diana Ross and remembers a funny thing happening for one scene:

“The funniest thing that happened was when we were doing a scene on the roof top. Diana was supposed to faint and I had to pick her up. But she was too heavy. I kept puffing away until I finally made it.”