Michael Jackson Tribute Part 2

Michael Jackson The King Of Pop Tribute Concert by TSwang
August 29th 2009
126 Niles Ave
South Bend, In 46601
The East Race Water Park
A tribute to the King of Pop
Birthday concert meant to celebrate Jackson

By HOWARD DUKES
Tribune Staff Writer

Anthony Gullens was 12 years old when he started trying to dance like Michael Jackson.

Back then, I was kind of imitating him here and there, Gullens, who is organizing a birthday tribute to the late singer, says.

The event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at Seitz Park.

I would do certain moves, he says, but then I started to separate a little bit and do my own thing as I got older.

Since then, Gullens has become an independent recording artist who goes by the stage name of T Swang. Gullens' style fuses R&B, hip-hop, neo-soul and pop. He has released a CD, We Gets Down, and is preparing to release another.

Gullens says that his musical influences are an eclectic mix, but his inspiration comes from such 1960s-era soul performers as Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Jackie Wilson.

Jackson, Gullens says, had one thing in common with those performers.

He was definitely a showman and innovator, and I put those words together because he showed you on that stage how it's supposed to be done, he says. You bring your all to the stage. He learned that from (watching) Jackie Wilson and James Brown. When they hit that stage — when Aretha Franklin hit that stage — they didn't play.

Gullens learned that same lesson when he watched Jackson perfect and popularize the dance called The Moonwalk on a TV special honoring Motown's 25th Anniversary in 1983.

That performance inspired a generation of rappers, rockers, singers and dancers, Gullens says.

Over the years, Gullens developed his own style, but Jackson remains his primary musical influence.

Gullens says he has been thinking about organizing a Michael Jackson tribute show for several years, but the efforts never came together.

The King of Pop's death on June 25 gave Gullens' efforts more urgency, and so the artist decided to invite musicians to perform at an event honoring Jackson on what would have been his 51st birthday.

I decided that instead of making it a memorial type of deal that we are going to make (the show) more like musicians getting together (to perform for) the community, he says.

Gullens says that the lineup is still being finalized, but the performers will include R&B bands, hip-hop groups and vocalists performing both original songs and covers of Jackson's hits from his time as a member of the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist.

Some of the people are talking about revamping their (original) songs and doing them as a kind of cover tribute song, Gullens says.

His performance will include covers of Jackson tunes. He also will use computer technology to perform a duet with Jackson that will be similar to the duet of the song Unforgettable that Natalie Cole performed with her father, Nat King Cole, 26 years after his death in 1965.

Gullens says there are plans for a Chicago-based Michael Jackson impersonator to perform at the concert.

They say that this guy looks just like him, Gullens says. I can't wait to see that.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• TSwang
• Tswana
• R&B
• Pop
• Soul
• Hip Hop
• Neo Soul
• New Jack Swing
• Drake
• Jeremeriah
• Janet Jackson
• The Jacksons
• Joe Jackson
• Prince
• Hoax
• Mirah Carrie
• Dance
• Roger Troutman
• Zapp

[tswang2]

Thanks to all your comments and support I a have surpassed the 2000 hit mark. I love you all for your support.

[coolmix44]

Keep it popin . T swang. I'll holla at you soon. DB

[tswang2]

get at me when you can!

[Lynette33]

Great Job! Loved the MJ moves! I was there with my daughter from 12:30-3:30, had to leave early, we missed the mj performances..... It was nice to come to the park and hear his music blaring that day. Thank you for putting together the tribute for him, he is missed greatly.....

[tswang2]

Thank you so much! We will be having a Thriller Halloween Costume Party coming in October. We are currently looking for a building to host it in!

[tswang2]

I Need comments....

[mjfaith1]

he sounds like mj a lil

[jloca11]

he did my song I TREATEDDD U BADDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[RTjman]

Yo! I was glad to be there, wish i could have made it earlier tho!!!