NEW INTRODUCTION TO THE 2009 RE-ISSUED EDITION

Michael Jackson was not an artist who comes along once in a decade, a generation, or a lifetime. He was an artist who comes along only once, period. I had the good fortune of meeting him when he was nine years old. Even then there was something so compelling about him that, frankly, I did not know what to make of it. How could this kid have that effect on me? It was an effect so potent that I would immediately discard my misgivings about being in business with “kid acts,” and rush to create an environment for Michael and his brothers that would nurture and expand their talent.

Even then he had a knowingness about him. He knew he was special. He could dance and sing and act like anybody—he just wanted to do it better.

He was driven by his hunger to learn, to constantly top himself, to be the best. He was the consummate student. He studied the greats and became greater. He raised the bar and then BROKE the bar. His talent and creativity thrust him AND entertainment into the stratosphere.

Moonwalk was the first time he told his story in his own words, reflecting on his life, how he thought, how he felt about things. This book is a unique opportunity to get to know the real genius of Michael and how this young kid from Gary, Indiana, propelled himself to become the biggest star in the world.

Moonwalk reveals so much of Michael’s true self, but you have to read between the lines to really understand what he was all about. I must say, though, that he did have two personalities. Offstage he was shy, soft-spoken, and childlike. But when he took that stage in front of his screaming fans, he turned into another personality; a master, a “take no prisoners” showman. For him it was kill or be killed.

Besides being a creative master of writing, singing, producing, acting, and staging, he was also a thinker. And in order to protect himself, sometimes he created mental mechanisms—personalities—onstage, offstage, in boardrooms, in his deal making, business plans, and self-promotion. Brilliant? Right! Genius? Damn right. He made it all happen. His personality may have been contradictory, but his core was always pure, beautiful, and loving.

When Michael and his brothers Jackie, Jermaine, Tito, and Marlon auditioned for me at Motown in Detroit that July day in 1968, they blew us all away with their incredible talent. Little Michael’s performance was way beyond his years. After singing and dancing like James Brown and Jackie Wilson, he sang a Smokey Robinson song called “Who’s Loving You” with the sadness and passion of a man who had been living with the blues and heartbreak his whole life. I couldn’t believe it. As great as Smokey sang it, Michael was better. I told Smokey, “Hey, man, I think he gotcha on that one.” Smokey said, “Me too.” When Michael and his brothers performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show , there was no doubt that the rest of the world agreed.

I moved them out to California and they became part of the Gordy and Motown families. Those were great times—we swam, we joked, we played games, we rehearsed. I put together a songwriting team, and we came up with four hit records for them: “I Want You Back,” “ABC,” “The Love You Save,” and “I’ll Be There.” The Jackson 5 was the only group in history to ever have their first four singles go to number one. We were thrilled—especially Michael. We had broken through a major barrier. For Michael, it was the inspiration to break all the rest. And he did.

We cast Michael with Diana Ross in a movie we produced called The Wiz and there he met legendary producer Quincy Jones. That collaboration yielded the greatest-selling album of all time, Thriller , along with Off the Wall and Bad .

By 1983 the Jacksons were no longer at Motown. However, the brothers reunited to perform on the television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever . After a high-powered, dazzling medley of their songs, Michael took the stage alone and proceeded to make pop history. From the first beat of “Billie Jean” and the toss of his hat, I was mesmerized. But when he did his iconic moonwalk, I was shocked. It was magic. He soared into orbit … and never came down.

Though it ended way too soon, Michael’s life was beautiful. Sure there were some sad times and maybe some questionable decisions on his part, but Michael Jackson accomplished everything he dreamed of. Even at nine years old, his passion was to be the greatest entertainer in the world. He was willing to work hard and do whatever it took to become what he indeed was—the undisputed “King of Pop” the world over.

What kid wouldn’t give his right arm to fulfill his wildest childhood dreams? Michael loved it all—every moment onstage, every moment in rehearsal. He loved creating what had never been done before. He loved giving all he had to his music and all he had to his fans.

I mean, Michael was awesome!Totally in charge. In fact the more I think and talk about Michael Jackson, the more I feel the “King of Pop” was not big enough for him. I think he was simply “The Greatest Entertainer That Ever Lived.”

Berry Gordy
Founder of Motown
2009

What can one say about Michael Jackson? He is one of the world’s most acclaimed entertainers, an innovative and exciting songwriter whose dancing seems to defy gravity and has been heralded by the likes of Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly.

His public is perhaps unaware of the extent of his dedication to his craft. Restless, seldom satisfied, he is a perfectionist who is constantly challenging himself

To many people Michael Jackson seems an elusive personality, but to those who work with him, he is not. This talented artist is a sensitive man, warm, funny, and full of insight. Michael’s book, Moonwalk , provides a startling glimpse of the artist at work and the artist in reflection.

—Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis

When I want to discover something, I begin by reading up everything that has been done along that line in the past—that’s what all the books in the library are for. I see what has been accomplished at great labor and expense in the past. I gather the data of many thousands of experiments as a starting point and then I make thousands more. The three essentials to achieve anything worthwhile are, first, hard work; second, stick-to-it-iveness; third, common sense.

—Thomas Edison

When the real music comes to me—the music of the spheres, the music that surpasseth understanding—that has nothing to do with me ’cause I’m just the channel. The only joy for me is for it to be given to me and transcribe it. Like a medium. Those moments are what I live for.

—John Lennon EMy5j5GaQ6ox9B/8U6y6QTjyRQPqeCSKFVUpvppTmesk8Ckn3HOluJB0QHuJ5++P