Now is the time for the Jackson 3.
Tito, Marlon and Jackie Jackson are heading up “The Michael Jackson Tribute Live Concert” set for Yoyogi National Stadium in central Tokyo on Dec. 13-14. Joining the Jacksons-cubed, who are going forth in this venture without brothers Randy and Jermaine, is Japanese R&B singer Al. The show is to feature several Japanese recording stars along with U.S. performers Macy Gray and Judith Hill.
A similar tribute to Jackson was held in Cardiff, Wales, on Oct. 8, less than a week after “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” debuted in Montreal. That show featured a lot more star oomph, as Beyonce and Christina Aguilera performed. According to Billboard.Biz, the Japan tribute shows were an idea that surfaced as Al, who spent much of her upbringing in Los Angeles, was interviewing the Jackson family for a documentary for the Japanese cable station Music On! TV.
You might not know of Al, but to paraphrase the great Tom Waits, she’s big in Japan.
“Right now, we’re in rehearsals,” Jackie Jackson said during Saturday’s red-carpet walk before the “Immortal” premiere at Mandalay Bay Events Center. “We’ve been rehearsing our butts off, pretty much. In fact, we left rehearsals just to come here. … It’s a great show we’re putting together.”
Jackie, who lives in Las Vegas, was asked if a version of this new Jackson act might find its way to the Strip. There has been some chatter in town for several months about the brothers attempting to bring a retro-style show to a Vegas showroom.
“Hopefully, we will bring it to Las Vegas,” Jackson said. “We’re getting a lot of people talking to us about it, a lot of people.”
Tito Jackson (he’s the Jackson brother who favors a bowler these days) said the focus is first on building the show overseas.
“We’re basically working on taking the show over to the Asian market, and it's going to be put together to go all over the world,” he said. “If we can come to Las Vegas, let it be. We’ll have it here.”
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWithTheDish.
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