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Petula Clark

Chris Cadman, author, “Michael Jackson the Maestro”

One of Michael’s all-time favourite singers was Petula Clark. Having met Michael on several occasions, Petula learned that her hit song ‘Downtown’ was a particular favourite of his.

“He plays Downtown whenever he feels like being cheered up. I don’t know why. We have never talked about it. You don’t have that conversation with Michael. But he’s always been very nice to me and generous.”

Whenever Petula was playing Los Angeles she would often pay Michael a visit, and would find herself during the day around a piano singing with him.

Michael helped financed her ‘Oxygen’ single in 1992 by booking her studio time to record the song.

At a ceremony in Petula’s honour in December 1994 for her lifelong services to the music industry, Michael wrote a special message in the programme.

“Congratulations Petula Clark for making classic pop records from “Downtown” to “Don’t Sleep in the Subway” and the music goes on… Love, Michael Jackson.”