WEB Extras:

Eligible subscribers to the MichaelJackson.com Newsletter during the Sweepstakes Period will be entered to win. Sweepstakes open to residents over the age of majority in the 50 United States and Canada (excluding Quebec). To enter please read the rules then join the newsletter at MichaelJackson.Com.

Be sure to join and read the rules over at MichaelJackson.Com

The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait is proud to announce that Michael’s portrait is finished! We want to extend our utmost gratitude to fans all over the world who are now a permanent part of Michael’s legacy by being a dot in his portrait. If you don’t already have a dot in the portrait, you can still sign up HERE and claim one of the dots already drawn.

We will be placing a small handful of special dots in Michael’s heart as a ceremonial completion. The last two dots will be given to Millie and Gavin Murray. They are two amazing kids who went through an unspeakable tragedy years ago when the car they were riding in was firebombed after their mother, Sheila Murray, refused a group of teenagers a ride to the local courthouse. As a result, a petrol bomb was thrown into the back seat of her car, where her children were sitting. Both kids endured horrific burns. Gavin lost his left ear as it melted from the heat. (You can read more about their story HERE.)

We were made aware of this family by Dr. Patrick Treacy. They live in Ireland. Michael really wanted to visit them when he was there but he wasn’t able to and it broke his heart. Now we are trying to bring Michael to them so that they may get dots in his heart.

They are the perfect people to get the last dots in Michael’s portrait because not only are we finally connecting these particular kids with him (which we’re certain Michael would have wanted) … but we’re also bringing some joy and our collective love and strength to these kids.

We believe Michael would have wanted children who are sick, underprivileged, or have gone through major struggles, to get the final dots. Therefore, this ceremonial completion inherently promotes Michael’s humanitarian legacy.

Millie and Gavin are very excited to be honored with the last dots and they wish to receive them in person. Therefore, we need your help to make that happen. We need to raise at least $1500.00 for travel expenses to get the artist, David Ilan, and the portrait to Ireland.

We are asking fans across the world to help us raise the funds to honor these children with the final dots in Michael’s portrait. 100% of the donated money will be used to fund the effort to bring Michael to Millie and Gavin. All donations will be used specifically for travel expenses.

Who better to get the final dots in Michael’s portrait than children he himself wanted to help?

“My mission is healing, pure and simple.” – Michael Jackson

Please help us bring Michael to Millie and Gavin by giving them the final dots in Michael’s portrait.

Any amount helps. $1, $5, $10. $100.

Thank you,

The MJTP Management Team

DONATE HERE

I have added the finished portrait to our photo archive here.

Gallery Link:
Appearances and Various Performances > 2001 > [March 19] 16th Annual Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame

Gallery Link:
User Uploads > MJMup > 1970 Detroit, MI (Cobo Arena)

Gallery Link:
User Uploads > MJMup > 1970 Jim Nabors Show

Gallery Links:
Tours/Concerts > Dangerous World Tour (1992–93) > Stills
Tours/Concerts > HIStory World Tour (1996–97) > Stills

Gallery Link:
Candids > 1997 > [June 13] Lyon Louis Lumiere Institute

Gallery Link:
Appearances and Various Performances > 1993 > [May 12] World Music Awards Monte Carlo

Michael Jackson ONE – IN LAS VEGAS!!
The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil have unveiled that Michael Jackson ONE™ will open and take residency exclusively at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino this summer. Directed by Jamie King, Michael Jackson ONE will start its preview performances on May 23, 2013 and have its official premiere on June 29, 2013. This entirely new show is the second creative project to be developed between The Estate of Michael Jackson and Cirque du Soleil after the top grossing Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour, currently playing arenas in Europe as it travels the world.

The Show
Michael Jackson ONE is a state-of-the-art visual and audio experience creating a theatrical evocation of Michael’s creative genius. Guided and inspired by his music, four misfits set out on a transformative adventure. By journey’s end, they will personify Michael’s agility, courage, playfulness and love.

The Name
Michael Jackson believed that all people are unique and equal, regardless of race or culture. His message was one of unity, harmony and hope for a better world. At once evocative and enigmatic, the name Michael Jackson ONE also presents a paradox: Michael was a multifaceted artist who strove to fuse together various musical styles and art forms. It is a fitting title for a unifying journey into the world of the King of Pop, the genius, the visionary, the One.

Read More

This is a completely new show – not Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour.

MULTI-GRAMMY WINNING PRODUCER, ARRANGER, COMPOSER QUINCY JONES LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE MUSIC LEARNING APPLICATION PLAYGROUND SESSIONS

–­ Music Education Software Combines Pop Hits with Expert Lessons for All Levels
via Affordable Subscription Memberships –

–­ Play-to-Learn Interactive Music Application Launches with
New Features, Songs and Membership Model –

NEW YORK, FEB. 19, 2013 – Multi-Grammy winning Producer, Composer and Arranger Quincy Jones and co-creator Chris Vance today announced the public launch of Playground Sessions (www.PlaygroundSessions.com), the play-to-learn software application that teaches users to play piano with lessons that use fun songs popularized by the likes of Michael Jackson, Beyoncé and Justin Bieber.

Playground Sessions is a music application for download that teaches people to play the piano using popular songs, real-time feedback and video tutorials from YouTube piano sensation David Sides, whose videos have nearly 200 million views. Playground Sessions uses contemporary learning techniques and elements of gaming to keep users engaged, having fun and, most importantly, learning to play.

“A musical ‘Rosetta Stone,’ Playground Sessions holds the key for beginners to learn to play the piano and be introduced to the intricacies of music theory.” said Jones. “Music is the world’s common denominator, and there is nothing I am more passionate about than getting music and music instruction into the hands of children and adults who can benefit from its intangible magic. Playground Sessions is the ultimate technology to bring music to people of all ages who have the passion to learn it.”

In addition to new features and an Advanced level curriculum, Playground Sessions has also added nearly 70 songs and 25 video tutorials to the new public version, including Katy Perry’s “Firework,” David Guetta’s “Without You,” and Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York.”

Playground Sessions’ real-time feedback is a groundbreaking innovation in music notation, allowing players for the first time to not only hear what they are playing but also see what they are playing instantaneously. This results in students learning the music much more quickly since they can now focus on problems areas much more clearly. The technology was developed by Utah digital agency Rain, a specialist in creating rich digital experiences.

Playground Sessions’ Bootcamp tutorials are a revolutionary approach to teaching theory and were developed by NYU music instructor Alex Ness. The Bootcamp packages are designed to teach new students the relevance of music theory by tying it back to songs you know and love.

“Quincy Jones pushes us every day. Since traditional ways of learning can be hard, his vision has been to make the music fun while making the lessons effective,” said founder and CEO Chris Vance. “He drives us to make the product entertaining. To have a 27-time Grammy Award winner developing this product with us has been a joy on two levels – he knows what people want to hear and, as a result, our lessons are built around hit songs. He also knows how to play and expects what we teach to be on par with any private lesson with an instructor.”

The lessons include Rookie, Intermediate and the new Advanced level piano arrangements to match the users’ level of proficiency. While learning, students can track their progress, receive grades for accuracy so they know what areas of their playing require extra practice and tap the application’s social features to play alongside friends and students from around the world.

“We have received incredible feedback from our beta users,” said Vance. “With lessons based on fun, not to mention familiar, songs, people have been thrilled by how quickly they learn to play what used to take years of practice.”

Playground Sessions’ new membership options allow students to save on individual songs and videos and the Bootcamp series by joining on a yearly or quarterly basis, $9.99 and $14.99 per month, respectively. More advanced players can purchase lessons, songs and sheet music a la carte. In contrast, piano lessons often cost up to $100 per hour of instruction.

Playground Sessions is compatible with any MIDI or USB keyboard. For more information and to download the application, please visit www.PlaygroundSessions.com.

About Quincy Jones
Named by Time Magazine as one of the six most influential Jazz artists of the 20th Century, Quincy Jones is an impresario in the broadest and most creative sense of the word. Over six-decades Jones’ career has encompassed the roles of composer, record producer, artist, film producer, arranger, conductor, instrumentalist, TV producer, record company executive, television station owner, magazine founder, multi-media entrepreneur and humanitarian. Among the multitude of awards that he has received for his contributions are 27 Grammy Awards — and is the all-time most nominated Grammy artist with a total of 79 nominations, seven Academy Award nominations, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, and an Emmy Award. He is the recipient of the Republic of France’s Commandeur de la Legion d’ Honneur, and in 2001 he was inducted as a “Kennedy Center Honoree,” for his lifetime contributions to the culture of the country. He was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master – the nation’s highest jazz honor, and was most recently bestowed the National Medal of Arts, our nation’s highest artistic honor.

About Playground Sessions
Playground Sessions (www.PlaygroundSessions.com) is the leading application for learning to play the piano using popular songs you know and love. Perfect for all levels, Playground Sessions offers real-time feedback, popular songs, video tutorials and interactive lessons designed to make learning the piano more effective and fun. Playground Sessions was founded by Chris Vance. Quincy Jones is the company’s co-creator driving all product- and music-related elements. Based in New York, the company is owned by Vance, Jones, Zag, the brand invention arm of Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Rain, David Sides and a number of minority investors. The company was founded in 2009 and publicly launched in 2013.