Michael Jackson was in South Africa to perform for his History World Tour in 1997 and I had the enviable opportunity in meeting him. My friend at the time( now wife) Lady Grafton knew of a Baron, Baron von Engelbrecht who had an audience with the King of Pop.So thanks to her and my sad story about my poor upbringing and how meeting Micheal could bring point to my life he agreed in letting me tag along. As long as I just sat and kept quiet and didn’t get in the way.
We went through that afternoon, and just before entering into his room, we had a talking to by one of his staff members about what we could and could not say in front of the gloved one.
I remember walking into his suite and seeing him sitting there, just a few feet in front of me talking to a young boy, I later found out his name to be Winter boy( do not think this was his real name) and I remember watching him stand up took my breath away.
Before I knew what was going on, I felt my mouth move and the worst joke I had ever told come spilling from my lips (a joke that broke every Taboo we were just warned about not breaking at the door).
The moment the punchline cleared the air, there was silence.
I looked around the room and EVERYONE was looking at me, then out of nowhere came the most innocent laugh I had ever heard then or since.
With the King of pop now passed and my chance in meeting up with him next week dashed at the Christian Audigier Party. I will never know , if he thought me funny or was just too nice to tell a young man he was been foolish.Whether you loved him, hated him, grew up listening to his music or were there to witness the first time a man glided backwards across a dance floor.The world and music industry is a lesser place, and we all wish strength in these times to his children.
The King of Pop is dead, long live the King.
