Part 19 (1/2)

'You're kidding, right?' the reporter asked.

'Nope.' Michael started singing the song, 'Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens...' while he skipped down the hall, accompanied by four security men. As he left the auditorium with Brooke and Emmanuel, fifty people were elbowed out of his way by his guards including Tatum O'Neal and her four friends. 'I'll introduce you to him later,' she promised them, again. As Michael's Rolls-Royce sped away from the auditorium, he rolled down the window and leaned out, both arms raised in triumph, clutching and waving a Grammy in one hand. 'All right!' he yelled out. 'All right right!'

Michael Jackson had become one of the most sought-after celebrities in Hollywood, always invited to a mult.i.tude of A-list parties. Often he needed an escort and, uncomfortable in his new role as a social b.u.t.terfly, he sought someone safe and older. Liza Minnelli was one of his favourites, partly because Michael had always been fascinated by the mystique of her mother, Judy Garland, but also because Liza had grown up in Hollywood, knew her way around, and was able to keep Michael comfortable and relaxed.

Besides, in 1984 it was Liza, not Michael, who received the coveted invitation to the 10 April party hosted by famed literary agent, Irving 'Swifty' Lazar. Held every year right after the Academy Awards, the event had once been so prestigious that even big-name stars considered it an honour to be invited. Celebrities often instructed their publicists to hound 'Swifty' for months in advance for an invitation. In 1984, the party was held at the Bistro in Beverly Hills. Guests included Orson Welles, Cary Grant, Jacqueline Bisset and Linda Evans.

It was obvious that no matter how famous Michael had become, in his heart he was just another star-struck fan. Judging from the expression on his face, his success didn't diminish his awe, but it did allow him to observe his idols up close. In return, the celebs fell all over themselves for a chance to meet Michael, a guy who had made only one movie (and that one a flop!).

Michael never strayed from Liza's side. Wearing one of his blue glitter military outfits, dark aviator shades, and the requisite rhinestoned glove, Michael looked around the room and probably couldn't help noticing that everyone was gawking at him. For her part, Liza strolled about proudly with Michael on her arm, as if to say, Yes, I'm I'm with Michael Jackson. What do you think of with Michael Jackson. What do you think of that? that?

'Let me have a scotch and Coca-Cola,' Liza instructed the waiter. 'And Mr Jackson will have the same.'

'Oh, no,' Michael protested. 'I'll have a...' He hesitated. 'I'll have an orange juice, please.'

'Oh, of course he will,' Liza said. 'And so will I. With scotch scotch.' She laughed merrily.

The waiter walked away. 'Yoo-hoo,' Michael meekly called out after him. 'No scotch in mine.'

Joan Collins sauntered over to the couple. 'Michael, my dear boy, how truly wonderful to see you.' She embraced him warmly and winked at Liza, as if sharing a joke with her. Michael looked confused.

'Quick, stand right next to him; let's get a picture.' A woman shoved her husband next to Michael. 'This is for our daughter, Natasha,' the man sheepishly explained. Michael, who has no doubt heard a similar line a thousand times before, nodded patiently.

'Oh, by the way, my name is Michael Caine,' said the actor after the photo was taken. The two shook hands as Caine's wife, Shakira, snapped another picture of them.

Joan Collins turned to a friend. 'You know, I must get the name of his plastic surgeon,' she said. 'I simply adore adore his nose, don't you?' his nose, don't you?'

Johnny Carson, seated with his girlfriend Alexis Ma.s.s, took in the scene and walked over to Michael just as his orange juice was being served to him.

'Nice to see you, Michael,' Carson said with a firm handshake.

Michael seemed dazed. 'I... uh, gee, nice to see you again too, Mr Carson.'

'Call me John.'

'Oh, okay. Call me Mike.'

Liza Minnelli grabbed Michael's hand. 'Now look, Johnny, he's my my date,' she told Carson with a big smile. date,' she told Carson with a big smile.

'Wow! What a nice guy that Johnny Carson is,' Michael was overheard saying as Liza dragged him away.

'Oh, yes, he's a dear,' she agreed. 'Now we're going to call my father.'

'We are?'

Liza then led Michael off to a payphone.

After Liza dialled the number, she began doing a soft-shoe dance routine and started singing, 'Forget your troubles, c'mon get happy,' she sang. She was feeling...good.

Michael laughed. 'I love being around you, you know that?' he told her.

'Shhh,' Liza said. Her father answered the phone. 'Daddy, listen, I want you to meet Michael Jackson.'

'Who?' was apparently the question back to her.

'Why, he's a wonderful wonderful singer and one of my singer and one of my best best friends,' she explained. 'Now just say h.e.l.lo.' A pause. 'Oh, Daddy, just say h.e.l.lo. Now, friends,' she explained. 'Now just say h.e.l.lo.' A pause. 'Oh, Daddy, just say h.e.l.lo. Now, c'mon c'mon'

She handed the phone to Michael. 'No, I can't,' Michael protested, his hand over the mouthpiece.

'Oh, but you must must' Liza insisted.

'But he's my idol.' Michael had always enjoyed director Vincente Minnelli's films.

'Well, then say h.e.l.lo h.e.l.lo.' Liza punched him on the arm playfully. 'He doesn't bite.'

Michael took his hand off the mouthpiece. 'h.e.l.lo, Mr Minnelli,' he whispered. He listened for five seconds, his eyes darting left and right. With a giggle, he handed the phone back to Liza. 'G.o.d, he's so nice nice,' Michael gushed.

Liza got back on the phone. 'Now listen, Daddy. Put on your velvet jacket. We'll be over in twenty minutes.'

Pause.

'Yes, I'm bringing him him over over there there.'

A pause.

'Never mind what he's wearing.'

Another pause.

'Okay, he's wearing one sequined glove, all right? Now, are you satisfied?'

Michael doubled over, laughing.

'Okay, then fine. Goodbye.'

As Liza and Michael pushed through the crowd and out the door to the waiting limousine, Jimmy Stewart was overheard saying, 'Well, there they go, Dorothy's little girl... and the Wiz.'

Almost twenty years later, 'the Wiz' would be part of the star-studded wedding party when 'Dorothy's little girl' married for a fourth time, in New York. Michael was best man and Elizabeth Taylor the matron of honour when, in March 2002, Liza wed David Gest in a well-publicized, star-studded extravaganza. Unfortunately, the union would end after sixteen tumultuous months.

'Believe me, trouble's ahead'

The upcoming Victory tour promised forty concert dates and, at least as far as Michael was concerned, forty million opportunities for something to go wrong as long as Don King was in the picture. Michael felt that he needed someone to protect his interests. John Branca was an excellent attorney, but now he needed a hands-on manager since Weisner and DeMann were gone and Joseph was no longer managing him.

As it happened, Motown had just released a collection of songs by Michael that he had recorded in the early seventies. The alb.u.m was called Farewell My Summer Love 1984 Farewell My Summer Love 1984, a misleading t.i.tle since the songs were recorded more than ten years earlier. The record only sold about a hundred thousand copies, a minuscule number considering the thirty-three million copies of Thriller Thriller that had by then been moved in record stores. Michael believed that Motown was trying to cash in on his fame, and he didn't like it. 'It's not fair,' he said. 'I had no control over that music. I don't even like some of those songs. I need someone to stop things like that from happening in the future.' that had by then been moved in record stores. Michael believed that Motown was trying to cash in on his fame, and he didn't like it. 'It's not fair,' he said. 'I had no control over that music. I don't even like some of those songs. I need someone to stop things like that from happening in the future.'