The biographer of Michael Jackson talks about his album

13-year-old J. Randy Taraburley was the first to meet Michael, who was 11 years old. They began a 40-year friendship. Taraburley, who wrote Michael Jackson’s biography in the book “Magic and Madness,” was invited by his foundation to listen to his new album before everyone else and share his opinion. He believes the album meets Michael Jackson’s standards: “This is an incredible album. It really shows the variety of Michael Jackson’s styles—from pop, to R&B, to hip hop, and even American folk music.” Regarding whether the voice heard on the album belongs to Michael, he says: “The foundation consulted with many of Michael’s collaborators—artists, producers, arrangers, and recording engineers. They played the tracks separately for two independent sound experts. They examined the audio and each reported their results. Both, but separately, said that the voice is without a doubt Michael’s.” “I think everyone here did their job. The family had concerns, expressed them, and they should have done the same. The foundation also had the duty to carry out the necessary checks, and it did exactly that.” “The foundation asked my opinion as well for Breaking News to confirm Michael’s voice. I was with Michael in the studio during the recording of Thriller and Bad albums, and even during the songs from the Jackson Five era. So I know his working method well. He always recorded something experimental so he could work on it more later.” “To me, the vocals on Breaking News sound rough and not polished. Not like the complete, polished vocals we know from Michael. But it’s Michael’s own voice as a work-in-progress that he hadn’t finalized.” “I also received a statement from Bruce Swedien. He was the sound engineer on Thriller and Bad albums. There is no other engineer who knows Michael’s voice as well as he does. He confirmed to me that these are Michael’s voices.” Source: eMJey / thewrap.com