Part 45 (1/2)

Sworn Declaration of Richard Arons, 20 June 1979. As Joseph Jackson's attorney, Arons was privy to all of Jackson's business dealings, and he described, in this fifteen-page doc.u.ment, how Joseph went about searching for a new label for his sons and how his sons reacted to leaving Motown.

I also reviewed 367 other legal doc.u.ments and correspondence relating to this case, from which I gleaned details applicable to this book.

Flashback to Early Days on the Road t.i.to, Marlon and Jackie Jackson have discussed their father's behaviour in the early days while on the road in a number of interviews. We discussed it in our interview in 1978. Michael wrote about these experiences though not in a very in-depth manner in Moonwalk Moonwalk. For evaluation purposes, I drew from my interview with Beverly Hills psychiatrist Dr Carole Lieberman on 8 January 1991. Also interviewed: Yolanda Lewis (5 June 1990), James McField (30 October 1990), Gregory Matthias (15 November 1990), Gregorio Joves (1 December 1990), Sarah Jackson (2 May 1990) and Tim Whitehead (18 November 1990). I also drew from interviews with Theresa Gonsalves, Tim Burton and Sylvester Goodnough.

Tatum O'Neal declined to be interviewed for this book. Biographical information about her and her family was culled from accounts published in Good Housekeepings, Ladies' Home Journal Good Housekeepings, Ladies' Home Journal and and Redbook Redbook. The information about Michael and Tatum at the Playboy mansion was culled from an interview with Michael Jackson in Soul Soul magazine. magazine.

The rumours about Michael Jackson and Clifton Davis were published in many publications. Michael discussed the matter with reporter Steve Ivory for Soul Soul (issue of 12 September 1977). I interviewed Clifton Davis in 1978. (issue of 12 September 1977). I interviewed Clifton Davis in 1978.

Michael and I also discussed rumours of his h.o.m.os.e.xuality in 1978. His comments about that subject are interspersed through this book.

The Wiz and Off the Wall Years I interviewed Rob Cohen, producer of The Wiz The Wiz on 14 February 1989 and again on 25 April 1989. I also interviewed the film's director, Sidney Lumet, on 22 August 1978. on 14 February 1989 and again on 25 April 1989. I also interviewed the film's director, Sidney Lumet, on 22 August 1978.

Other information was drawn from interviews with James McField, Susie Jackson and Theresa Gonsalves. Having written about The Wiz The Wiz in depth in my 1989 book, in depth in my 1989 book, Call Her Miss Ross Call Her Miss Ross, I utilized research conducted for that work in this chapter. I attended the press conference for The Wiz The Wiz at Astoria Studios in September 1977, interviewed Michael at that time and drew from an interview I conducted with Diana Ross on 19 October 1981. at Astoria Studios in September 1977, interviewed Michael at that time and drew from an interview I conducted with Diana Ross on 19 October 1981.

I drew from an interview with the Jacksons at their home in Encino in August 1978 and another interview with Michael Jackson in July 1979.

I also culled material from early published accounts of Michael's relations.h.i.+p with Quincy Jones. I interviewed Quincy Jones during a break in the recording of a Brothers Johnson alb.u.m in 1979, and some of the material regarding Off the Wall Off the Wall is culled from that interview. is culled from that interview.

Cheryl Terrell, Joh'Vonnie Jackson, and Other Subject Matter I obtained a copy of Joh'Vonnie Jackson's birth certificate, 30 August 1974.

I also obtained property information on Cheryl Terrell's Gardena, California, apartment building from World Tide Company. Residents of the apartment house were interviewed on 25 August 1990. Cheryl Terrell spoke to my private investigator, Cathy Griffin, on 29 August 1990, but declined to be formally interviewed for this book.

I obtained the Escrow Instructions from Imperial Escrow Company for the property on 6908 Peach Avenue, Van Nuys, purchased by Joseph Jackson as trustee of the Joh'Vonnie Jackson Trust, 25 January 1981, as well as a Property Profile on 6908 Peach Avenue from World Tide Company.

I obtained a copy of the Trust Corporation established for Joh'Vonnie Jackson on 23 February 1981.

I also procured a Property Profile supplied by Fidelity National t.i.tle. The profile includes a copy of the Individual Quitclaim Deed signed by Katherine Jackson releasing any of her interest in the property to Joseph Jackson, and the Quitclaim Deed executed on 20 January 1980, and signed by Joseph Jackson, turning the same property over to the Joh'Vonnie Jackson Trust.

Joh'Vonnie Jackson posed for our photographer; the photo appears in this book.

I drew from my and Cathy Griffin's interviews with Marcus Phillips (3 June 1990), Tim Whitehead and Stanley Ross (1 November 1990) and Jerome Howard.

Paula Reuben interviewed Carol L. Kerster in June 1990.

I also drew from Charles Sanders's story of Jermaine and Hazel Jackson in Ebony Ebony in August 1981. in August 1981.

Gina Sprague v. Joseph and Katherine Jackson, Randy Jackson and Janet Jackson Gina Sprague was interviewed for this book on 16, 18 and 21 September 1990.

Susie Jackson was interviewed on 21 September 1990.

I obtained a copy of the police report (DR. number 80-749111) filed by Gina Sprague on 16 October 1980.

Other details of Gina Sprague's lawsuit against Joseph Jackson, Katherine Jackson, Randy Jackson and Janet Jackson, a minor, were culled from the following doc.u.ments filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County, all file number C383387: Complaint for Personal Injuries, a.s.sault and Battery, Conspiracy, 21 September 1981.

Sworn Declaration of Gina Sprague, 20 September 1981.

Sworn Declaration of Gina Sprague, 21 September 1981.

Sworn Declaration of Joseph Jackson and Katherine Jackson, 22 September 1981.

Answer to Complaint for Personal Injuries, a.s.sault and Battery, Conspiracy, 5 March 1982.

Notice of Motion for Order Granting Leave to Amend Complaint, 16 November 1982.

Sworn Declaration of Michael S. Fields. Fields was Gina Sprague's attorney.

Amended Complaint, 11 January 1983. This ten-page complaint graphically depicted details of what Sprague alleged happened the day she was attacked.

Fifty-two other court doc.u.ments relating to the Sprague v. Jackson Sprague v. Jackson case were also used as source material. case were also used as source material.

I also obtained legal doc.u.ments filed by Joyce McCrae, an employee of Joseph Jackson's, on 16 June 1981: Complaint for Declaratory Relief, Part.i.tion, Money Due on Demand to Establish Deed Absolute as Mortgage and Judicial Foreclosure, and Joseph W. Jackson v. Joyce McCrae Joseph W. Jackson v. Joyce McCrae, 16 June 1981, case number C371220. Both were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Los Angeles County. Though I decided not to write about this particular suit which involved a condominium jointly owned by Jackson and McCrae I utilized the doc.u.ments to learn more of Jackson's relations.h.i.+p with McCrae and Gina Sprague. In this lawsuit, McCrae claimed, 'I was asked to testify at a hearing held at the Los Angeles City Attorney's office regarding a.s.sault charges filed against Joseph Jackson's wife by Ms Gina Sprague. When I informed Joseph Jackson that I had been asked to testify, Joseph Jackson told me that he wanted me to stay out of the matter. I did testify at the hearing on 17 December 1980. I am now informed and believe and allege that my employment was wrongfully terminated by Joseph Jackson in retaliation for the testimony I gave at that hearing regarding his relations.h.i.+p with Gina Sprague...'

The Early Eighties I obtained the Grant Deed filed in Los Angeles County on 20 February 1981, in which Thomas Laughridge and Billie Laughridge granted to Michael Jackson unit nine at 5420 Lindley Avenue, Encino.

I also obtained the Individual Quitclaim Deed filed in Los Angeles County on 26 May 1981, by Michael Jackson, granting 25 per cent of the property to his mother, Katherine Jackson.

I referred to Robert Hilburn's Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times feature, 'The Jacksons Hail and Farewell', 13 September 1981. feature, 'The Jacksons Hail and Farewell', 13 September 1981.

I also referred to the Billboard Billboard magazine special on Michael Jackson (21 July 1984) and Steven Demorest's article on Michael Jackson in magazine special on Michael Jackson (21 July 1984) and Steven Demorest's article on Michael Jackson in Melody Maker Melody Maker (see bibliography). (see bibliography).

The interview I conducted with Michael Jackson through his sister Janet, took place on 3 October 1981, at the Jackson family's home in Encino.

Katherine Jackson v. Joseph Jackson (II) Details of Katherine Jackson's second action to divorce Joseph Jackson were culled from the following doc.u.ments filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, County of Los Angeles, all case number D076606: Application for Order and Supporting Declaration of Katherine Jackson, 19 August 1972. This form appears to have been filled out by Mrs Jackson personally. She typed the information used in this book regarding her charge that Joseph Jackson spent 'in excess of $50,000' on 'a young woman' and that he had 'purchased for her parcels of real property from our community funds.'

Katherine Jackson's Request for Dissolution of Marriage, 12 November 1982.

Katherine Jackson's Sworn Declaration, 16 April 1983.

Joseph Jackson's Sworn Declaration, 18 April 1983.

Sworn Declaration of George M. Goffin in support of Motion to Compel Answers to Interrogatories, 8 April 1983. Goffin was one of Katherine Jackson's attorneys.

Notice to Produce Doc.u.ments, 10 May 1983.

Sworn Declaration of Minda F. Barnes, 15 June 1983. Barnes was another of Mrs Jackson's attorneys. This doc.u.ment details Mrs Jackson's difficulty in obtaining financial information from Joseph Jackson.

A five-page letter from George M. Goffin, Esq., to Arnold Ka.s.sot, Esq., dated 20 April 1983, was particularly revealing; from it were culled details of the Jackson family's income and wealth.

A twenty-page declaration of George M. Goffin, 15 June 1983, was vital to the research of this book since it described the manner of the purchases of the Hayvenhurst property, the Peach Street property, the Jackson Street property and the Lindley Avenue property. It also explained Michael Jackson's financial partic.i.p.ation in the purchase of Hayvenhurst and the Lindley Avenue condominium.

Exhibit B, Schedule of Community Property a.s.sets, 15 June 1983, was also invaluable to the research of this book in that this exhibit contained a complete list of all of Joseph and Katherine Jackson's financial a.s.sets and liabilities, as well as the dates of all of their acquisitions, and the costs of purchase of all of their properties and Michael Jackson's involvement in those purchases.

The Sworn Declaration of George M. Goffin in Support of Motion for Withdrawal as Attorney of Record, 1 November 1983, detailed Goffin's attempts to continue with the divorce action in the case of Katherine Jackson v. Joseph Jackson Katherine Jackson v. Joseph Jackson and Mrs Jackson's unavailability to him. It explained the possible reasons why she had changed her mind about the divorce. and Mrs Jackson's unavailability to him. It explained the possible reasons why she had changed her mind about the divorce.

Twenty other doc.u.ments pertaining to this divorce action were also reviewed.

Some of the late Enid Jackson's comments were culled from an interview conducted with her on 7 November 1990.

Thriller and Victory Tour Years I obtained a thirty-page Sworn Declaration by Michael Jackson in Carlin Music Corporation v. Michael Jackson Carlin Music Corporation v. Michael Jackson, case number C347206, 28 February 1983. In it, Michael explained why he was angry not only with his father but also with Ron Weisner and Freddy DeMann. Jackson also explained his publis.h.i.+ng goals, his future plans at CBS Records, and John Branca's new involvement in his career. The doc.u.ment is signed by Jackson in huge, scrawling letters.