Subject: Michael Jackson Date: Thu, 23 July 2009 12:33 AM To: Egregoryflany@aol.com From: reynos YOUR COMMENT: This debate is much like comparing Babe Ruth to Alex Rodriguez. Jim Brown to Walter Payton.  Joe Louis to Muhammad Ali. Wilt Chamberlain to Shaquille O'Neal. RESPONSE: Most respectfully, Mr. Gregory, I presented facts, and not for the sake of comparison, but as an absolute representation of events.  I’m aware of both the “split play” issue particular to record sales prior to the rock-and-roll period versus the change in accounting with the launch of the rock-and-roll era.  However, even after reducing Crosby’s charted hits by 50% his achievement still towers over Michael Jackson and everyone else.  My previous posting was NOT to foster a debate but, frankly, to prompt a call to action to present a more accurate assessment of Michael Jackson.  He was not the be-all and end-all of entertainment and, most certainly, he was not the greatest performer that ever lived.  Just ignore Berry Gordy’s disingenuous eulogy.  Didn’t he say the same thing about “Mr. Excitement” Jackie Wilson? For the record, to compare Michael Jackson's career to true entertainment icons is not fair because, I believe, Michael Jackson just doesn't measure up.  For example, even if we discount the "split play" sales issue, Michael Jackson’s one-dimensional career as a song-and-dance man is not a peer to the multi-dimensional careers of Crosby and Sinatra.  As you know, there’s absolutely no guarantee that a rising music star will be given the green light to launch – and more importantly – to sustain a film career. Crosby, Sinatra, and Elvis had truly explosive careers in music to justify the leap in faith to woo ($$$) Hollywood producers and film studios.  Perhaps, the single best way to validate the greatness of any performer is to see if they can rise from the ashes after the fame and fortune is taken away from them.  For example, Sinatra had both his film and music recording careers forcibly ended by decision-makers in Hollywood, but he came back through sheer tenacity and talent. When Crosby died in 1977 (at 74 years of age) he was not touring and performing to sold-out houses, but Sinatra performed to sold-out houses all around the world until he was 78. As listed by Forbes Magazine, back in the 1990s Frank Sinatra was listed as one of the top 30 highest-grossing concert acts in the world.  Crosby did not have anything like the earning power Sinatra held at 74 years of age.  Michael Jackson, like Elvis, had a career limited to the music industry, and both of them failed to deliver on a second-act. Elvis died, at 42 years of age, on August 16, 1977 fat and drugged.  Michael Jackson died, at 50 years of age, on June 25, 2009 skinny and drugged.  Frankly, it’s easy to produce a laundry list of “hot and trendy” musical acts who attempted to launch a film career but failed to evolve beyond their status as a “B” level act (Vic Damone, Dick Haymes, Madonna, Diana Ross, Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Eminem, etc.).  Michael Jackson ruined any chance he had to become even a “C” level actor as a result of his ongoing cosmetic surgery, and his publicly displayed “weirdness” which completely eliminated the likelihood of anyone actually believing-in whatever character he might play on screen.  Enough about film. What about Broadway?  In this regard, in Broadway productions such as “Mr. Wonderful,” and “Golden Boy,” and “Stop the World I Want to Get Off,” without a doubt Sammy Davis, Jr. – again – clearly outshined Michael Jackson. What about writing?  In this regard, Sammy Davis, Jr. wrote three (3) “best selling” autobiographies, wrote articles, and dabbled in screenplays.  Sammy Davis, Jr. achieved a helluva lot more to benefit the performing arts – for all people - than Michael Jackson, and its atrocious for so many people to dismiss his "legendary" career. What about musicianship?  How can anyone forget watching Sammy Davis, Jr. in concert (yes, I saw him) and on any number of variety TV programs (back in the day) competently play every instrument in a band - from piano to drums to trumpet to xylophone to guitar and more.  And how many instruments did anyone actually see Michael Jackson competently play?  You see, to force-feed crap about Michael Jackson's so-called greatness to an enlightened public is a perilous task. And dancing?  Michael was primarily a very good mimic – but not a great one, which is clearly evident if you take time to watch Michael Jackson dance with the Nicholas Brothers - they took it easy on Michael.  [Note to file: grab’n your genitals is not an indication of dancing ability but a lack of imagination for what to do with one’s hands.  Plus, GREAT dancers like Harold Nicholas, Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Sammy Davis, Jr., Eleanor Powell, Ann Miller, and Mikhail Baryshnikov don't spend 40 YEARS showing the public the same damn two-footed spin as constantly performed by Michael Jackson.]  On the other hand, Sammy Davis, Jr. could hold his own against both of the Nicholas Brothers because Sammy could do more than mimic – he could create.  For example, at the close of the televised final tribute to Sammy Davis, Jr., did you see Sammy inventively out-tap Gregory Hines?  It’s on YouTude.com. People whine about Michael Jackson not having any childhood, and some say this ultimately screwed him up. Give me a break.  Sammy Davis, Jr. started performing when he was 3, and unlike Michael Jackson, he had no brothers or sisters to play with. Again, Sammy Davis, Jr. was touring all over the United States playing vaudeville and the Black entertainment circuit at 3, and dancing in film at 7!  How’s that for a loss of childhood?  And Sammy Davis, Jr. didn’t grow-up to be perceived by millions as a freak.  Even after White soldiers pissed on him while he served in the army, even after the countless death threats for marrying a White woman, Sammy Davis, Jr. didn’t lose touch with his race or lose his ability to perform.  Yes, Michael Jackson was in a horrific accident that burned his scalp.  Okay, in his prime Sammy Davis, Jr. lost an eye, and even after having hip surgery in his early 60’s, he still came back to tap without losing a step. In summary, Michael Jackson, like Elvis Presley, screwed-up and didn't complete his career arch.  In time, perhaps, Michael Jackson could have evolved to achieve his ultimate potential and eclipse the career achievements of Sammy Davis, Jr., and Sinatra, and Elvis, and Crosby – but he didn’t.  Again, Michael Jackson failed to deliver.  So, please, again, let's keep Michael Jackson's career in its proper perspective.  After all, and with no sarcasm, I like Michael Jackson. Can’t you tell?   I welcome your feedback. Trip Reynolds trip.reynolds@yahoo.com Reynolds' Rap Thursday, 23 July, 2009 © 2001-2021 Tripoetry. All Rights Reserved. First Amendment to the United States Constitution - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.