The exclusive and shocking true story surrounding the controversial release of the first posthumous Michael Jackson album.
Wanna Be Kickstartin' Something?
For the past three years we have been diligently researching the controversy that surrounded the first posthumous Michael Jackson album, Michael, released by Epic Records and The Estate of Michael Jackson in December 2010.
Our mission with the A Truth Untold Kickstarter campaign is to raise the funds required to complete the research and publish the extensive findings of the investigation as an exclusive tell-all book detailing the shocking true story of what really happened.
For those of you not familiar with the issue we've been investigating and writing about, in November 2010 a song called Breaking News was streamed on the Official Michael Jackson website, michaeljackson.com, by Epic Records (Sony Music).
The song caused an uproar of controversy among the Jackson family, The Estate, the record label, producers, musicians and Michael's fans, with questions being raised over the authenticity of the vocals. The question was: Is it really Michael Jackson singing? The Estate of Michael Jackson and Epic Records said yes, but the Jackson family and many of Michael's fans from all around the world said no!
Even though the questions hadn't subsided, the song was officially released on the posthumous Michael Jackson album titled Michael in December 2010. To this day, questions remain regarding the authenticity of the vocals on Breaking News, as well as two other songs on the album; Keep Your Head Up and Monster.
To put this into perspective: Michael Jackson is the most successful recording artist in the history of popular music. And although controversy constantly plagued his personal life for decades, one thing stood above it all - his artistry. Michael Jackson dedicated 40 years of his life to building an incomparable repertoire of pop perfection guaranteed to stand the test of time, bringing joy to generation upon generation. However, since being posthumously tampered with, it's that very legendary library of music that has now become the source of the controversy it was once immune to.
"Someone is hiding the truth. When will this mystery unfold?"
A successfully funded campaign will allow this mystery to unfold, and for the whole truth to finally be told. With three years of research already under our belt, we have laid the groundwork for a fascinating and shocking book thanks to the unprecedented access we've been given through dozens of interviews conducted. However, there are still missing pieces.
In order to thoroughly document the case in it's entirety as well as publish our book, we need support. That's where YOU come in! We ask that all of Michael Jackson's fans, music lovers and truth seekers join with us as we raise our voice in a quest for the truth, once and for all!
Your pledge is greatly appreciated and will play a vital role in making this campaign a success. We also need your help in spreading the message. Whether it's through blogs and social networks like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram or good old fashion word-of-mouth, we need your help in making sure the truth is heard loud and clear!
"There's nothing that can't be done, if we raise our voice as one. They gotta hear it from ME. They gotta hear if from YOU. They gotta hear it from US!"
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Rewards
As with all Kickstarter campaigns, your generosity won't go unrewarded. Check out a comprehensive wrap up of what's being offered in return for your support!
$10 - Join the community
Thank you for supporting our quest for the truth. For just $10 you will become a valued part of the A TRUTH UNTOLD Kickstarter community. Here you'll gain access to the backers-only comment page on which you can communicate directly with others who have backed our project. You'll also be able to interact with the A TRUTH UNTOLD team and receive real-time updates delivered directly to your email inbox, keeping you in the loop regarding the campaign. If we are successfully funded you'll continue to receive updates as we endeavor to complete the research and bring the book to fruition.
$20 - Digital copy of the book
For $20 you'll receive a digital copy of the book. To show our appreciation for your generosity, you'll receive the book before anyone else, a full one month prior to its official retail release + all items featured in the previous tier.
$50 - Softcover copy of the book
For $50 you'll receive a softcover copy of the physical book. To show our appreciation for your generosity, you'll receive the book before anyone else, a full one month prior to its official retail release. You'll also receive an A TRUTH UNTOLD bookmark + all items featured in the previous tier.
$100 - Hardcover copy of the book (limited-edition)
For $100 you'll receive a LIMITED-EDITION hardcover copy of the physical book packed with exclusive, unreleased photos! Your copy of the book will be personally signed by the author. To show our appreciation for your generosity, you'll receive the book before anyone else, a full one month prior to its official retail release + all items featured in the previous tier, minus the soft cover copy as it's replaced by the signed hardcover. There are ONLY 250 AVAILABLE so get in quick!
Premium Reward
$900 - Once-in-a-lifetime studio experience
We are excited, honored and humbled to announce our Premium Reward to Michael's fans, music lovers and the public.
By pledging $900 toward our Kickstarter campaign you will gain an all-access pass to a truly spectacular one-time only event as two of Michael Jackson's former collaborators, Michael Prince and Cory Rooney, will be exclusively hosting backers of this Kickstarter campaign in a Los Angeles recording studio for this ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME experience!
You will get to personally interact with Prince and Rooney and be given unprecedented insight into Michael Jackson's legendary recording process. You'll spend hours hearing never-before-told stories and asking all the questions you've been dying to ask... with MANY unforgettable surprises sprinkled in! Tentative date: February 8, 2014 in Los Angeles.
About Michael Prince & Cory Rooney
Michael Prince was one of Michael Jackson's most trusted engineers for 14 years, from 1995 right up until his passing in 2009. His first gig with the King of Pop was the infamously ill-fated Michael Jackson: One Night Only TV special that was to take place on Saturday, December 9, 1995 at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. The special was set to include a host of exclusive performances of brand new songs from the recently-released HIStory album as well as a range of Jackson's greatest hits. It was scheduled to be broadcast by HBO on Sunday, December 10. Unfortunately, Jackson fainted during rehearsals on December 6. He was then taken to the hospital and the show was eventually cancelled.
This was Prince's introduction to the world of Michael Jackson. From there he would work with the King of Pop on a variety of live performances, including the HIStory World Tour from July 1996 to October 1997, and the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration concerts at Madison Square Garden in September 2001.
Prince worked intimately in the studio with Jackson for years on end - mostly with their collaborative partner, musician and arranger Brad Buxer. Together they recorded countless songs, demos and ideas - many of which remain unreleased and unheard by the public to this day.
Prince's most recent collaborations with Jackson were perhaps to be two of the most significant of his career. Prince was again working in the studio with Jackson on what would have been his next set of brand new music (including songs I Was The Loser, Hollywood Tonight and Best of Joy). The other project; Jackson's record-breaking This Is It residency to take place at London's O2 Arena. Unfortunately, like the HBO special in 1995, neither of them were able to be fully realized with Jackson sudden passing on June 25th, 2009.
Cory Rooney is a multi-faceted music industry veteran. He has written, produced, and developed hit songs and careers for artists including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Destiny's Child and many more. Over the course of his on-going career, he has amassed numerous platinum records, with sales of his music in excess of 100 million units.
Rooney has been just as successful in a suit as he has been in the studio. The success of his early 90s hits as a songwriter and producer caught the attention of Sony Music, who signed him first as a producer, then as the Vice President of A&R at Epic Records, in 1994. Two years later he moved on to become Vice President of A&R at Crave Records. Then, in 1998, after excelling in his A&R role at Crave Records, Rooney was scouted back to the Epic family - this time as Senior Vice President of Sony Music Entertainment.
Between 1999 and 2001, Rooney oversaw the production of Michael Jackson's Invincible album, and was instrumental in nurturing the collaboration between Michael Jackson and Rodney Jerkins.
After a February 1999 listening session, in which Michael Jackson debuted just one song (Break of Dawn, produced by Dr.Freeze) for the Epic Records executives, Rooney was given the opportunity of a lifetime; To produce a track for the King of Pop. Rooney got to work immediately, creating a song called She Was Lovin' Me.
“Michael heard it on the Friday, and I promise you by that Monday he was in New York”, recalls Rooney. “He called my house and he said, ‘I’m ready. I’m prepared. I’m ready to sing the song.’ And he was ready. I was blown away.” Despite already being an accomplished producer, songwriter and record executive, the opportunity to work with the King of Pop was a humbling honor for Rooney. “I had already had so much success in my career with Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Mary J. Blige and Destiny's Child – then all of a sudden you’ve got Michael Jackson calling you and saying, ‘I love your song.’ I couldn’t believe it.”
Rooney and Jackson worked on the song at The Hit Factory in New York City for almost a month - between March and April 1999. “Anyone who has heard that song says it’s one of the best songs they’ve heard from Michael in the last ten years of his career,” says Rooney – and they’re right. It’s the King of Pop rocking out at his best. However, the song was not selected for the Invincible album, and remains unreleased to this day.
