Official Foundation Statement About Breaking News

Howard Weitzman, the attorney for the Michael Jackson Foundation, released an official statement regarding the recent controversy surrounding the song Breaking News. For the Foundation, nothing is more important than Michael’s music, his legacy, and his fans. When the album «Michael» was in production, it was decided to call in Teddy Riley to work on several songs, including Breaking News. The song Michael recorded with Eddie Cassio and James Porte in late 2007, while he was living with his children at the Cassio home. Riley produced Breaking News and provided it to Sony. No one had any doubt that the vocals heard on this song—which were in demo form—belonged to Michael. Although we knew that the background vocals were a mix of Michael’s voice and James Porte’s. After the song was given to Sony, three Cassio tracks were selected to be included on the album, and Breaking News was one of them. The day after the songs were chosen for the album, for the first time, the authenticity of Michael’s voice on these songs was questioned. Because of this, the Foundation’s trustees, John Branca and John McClain, immediately instructed me to investigate the original vocals of the Cassio songs. Six producers and sound engineers who had worked with Michael over the past 30 years—Bruce Swedien, Matt Forger, Stuart Brawley, Michael Prince, Dr. Freeze, and Teddy Riley—were invited to listen to the vocals on these songs. All of them listened to the instrumental-free version and all confirmed that the voice belonged to Michael. The musical director and pianist with a 20-year history of working with Michael, Gregg Phillinganes, played an instrument on one of the Cassio songs included on the album and said that it was definitely Michael’s voice. Doreen Hally, who has been the stage sound director for more than 20 years on Michael’s solo tours (including the This Is It tour) and is also seen in the film This Is It, listened to the Cassio songs and said that the lead vocals belong to Michael. All of these individuals are producers and musicians who worked with Michael on tours or in the studio for albums such as Bad, Thriller, Dangerous, Off the Wall, Invincible, History, and Blood on the Dance Floor—and all of them have again confirmed that the voice belongs to Michael. The Foundation then hired one of the most expert voice analysts in the state to listen to the instrumental-free version (a cappella) and compare it with Michael’s older unaccompanied vocals. He said that all of the album’s songs, including the Cassio songs, are Michael Jackson’s voice. Sony also hired its own voice analyst, who confirmed the same. The Cassio songs were also played for two of the music industry’s most prominent figures, who had key roles in Michael’s career, and they said that the voice belongs to Michael. Just to be absolutely sure from every angle, I contacted Jason Malekai, a young singer who had been hired—incorrectly, as some believed—to imitate Michael’s voice, and I confirmed that he has nothing to do with these songs. Given the evidence available that confirms Michael’s voice, Sony decided to release the three Cassio—Porte songs. They were convinced, without any conditions, that the singer of all these songs is Michael. But regardless of what people who worked with Michael say, and the two independent voice analysts who confirmed the songs, Michael’s fans—just like always—will make the final judgment. We respect the opinions of all fans, and as I said above, nothing is more important to the Foundation than Michael’s music, his legacy, and his fans. Fans’ efforts to reach the truth and get their voices heard are astonishing. We share in their care and concern for Michael. We will continue to stay in touch with Michael’s former collaborators, and if any new information is obtained, we will let you know. Source: eMJey / Howard Weitzman, Santa Monica, CA