Producer Rodney Jerkins Remembers Michael
Innovative, successful and remarkably young record producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins had the pleasure, and the honor, of collaborating with Michael on numerous recordings in the United States and in Europe spanning many years starting before he was 20.
Rodney shared some heartwarming memories with Entertainment Tonight in the months after Michael was taken from this earth.
And entertainment journalist, Pearl Jr. gleaned some insights from Rodney in an interview he gave her awhile before Michael died.
Rodney posted on his blog site in August, 2009:
Michael Jackson Instrumentals
“When the word Michael Jackson comes to mind, a variety of stereotypical images play come to mind. Thriller, Bubbles, The Moonwalk, even an eccentric man-child. But tell one thing that doesn’t ring a bell, and I would answer back “classical music!”
Now in all honesty, he did compose a moving An Ode To Free Willy and even a heart-wrenching tune about a neglected little girl in Little Susie. But who would have thought the King of Pop would settle for soothing soundscapes in Pop retirement? Who knows, this may have been it or at least one of his last Pop studio albums.
Had Michael not died, he would’ve continued with the project throughout the duration of this new chapter and then released the composition well after his new album release! But as it appears now, I’m afraid the work is incomplete in production hell (but not permanently).”
Rodney went on to describe the project that Michael was working on with classical music producer, David Michael Frank, in the months before his passing.
You, dear valued reader, can look for more on that topic in my upcoming post…