Michael Jackson’s Musicians
New York, NY
The world was shocked this week by the sudden death of Michael Jackson, who spent nearly all of his 50 years under the microscope of celebrity and earned universal recognition as one of the best performers of our era.
His influence on popular music and entertainment is so profound and far-reaching that it is inescapable. There is likely no musician on earth that was not exposed to a heavy dose of Michael Jackson sometime since his debut with the Jackson 5 in 1969.
Jackson also worked with some of the best musicians of his time. Jackson’s guitarists included Slash, Eddie Van Halen, Carlos Santana and Billy Idol’s guitarist, Steve Stevens. His long-standing relationship with Quincy Jones produced some of the most significant pop recordings of the 1980s, including Bad, Thriller, Smooth Criminal and many others.
During the Bad tour of 1987, he even hired Sheryl Crow (at that time unknown) as a backup singer. The album Off The Wall lists a credit for keyboardist David Foster (famous for his score to St. Elmo’s Fire). His later albums brought collaborations with Babyface and Notorious B.I.G.
You can peruse the sideman line-up of all of Michael Jackson’s recordings at allmusic.com. Here are links to the personnel on his top selling albums:
- Thriller – Over 100 million copies sold
- Dangerous – Winner of the 1992 Grammy for Best Engineered Non-Classical Album
- Bad – Over 30 million copies sold
- Off The Wall – Many of the tracks were written by Jackson himself
- Invincible – Over 10 million copies sold
How did Michael Jackson influence your career as a musician?
About the author
No love for TOTO? or Larry Carlton? and no mention of how Eddie Van Halen did the Thriller solo but waived his rights to getting paid at the session because he did it as a favor for Quincy Jones and didn’t think it was a big deal.
7/2/2009
Hey Riz, sounds like you know a lot about MJ’s musicians. I listed what I found on allmusic and heard through the years. I’d like to learn more as well – where do you find your info?
7/3/2009
Toto band members are key musicians who played in the album Thriller.
Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather, David Paich and Steve Porcaro (co-wrote Human Nature)played on Beat it, Human Nature, The Girl is Mine and Lady in my Life. They also played on one bonus single released in the 25th anniversary edition. Other songs include Heal the world etc… check out the credits in the cd sleeves. The sound of the eighties have basically the touch of these guys. Greg Phillinganes who later joined Toto before they split up.
Michael Mc Donald’s I keep forgettin’, George Benson’s Turn your love around and the list goes on and on…. keep searching.
Toto members were also instrumental to the most Boz Scaggs’ albums.
7/10/2009
I think one of Michael’s biggest collaborators in his adult career was engineer Bruce Swedien. I believe he even has a book coming out (set for release well before Michael’s death) about their work together. Swedien is probably someone very instrumental to Michael’s work that is not as often thought of.
Regarding your question about how Michael influenced my career as a musician, I think he did in many ways. His music and showmanship certainly have inspired me greatly. I’d say his ability and desire to think big has made an impact too as well as his commitment to our planet and philanthropy.
Also, meeting him was a very powerful experience and gave me a lot of confidence.
I wrote a tribute to Michael that you can find here if you want:
http://www.MichaelTributeSong.com
Jeffrey Paul Bobrick
Singer and Songwriter
8/7/2009
Dude – what? When you say “greatest musicians of his time”….do you realize who you are including? There is a great gulf of knowledge between great entertainer & great musician. I loved listening to Michael’s stuff, but I’ve never heard him perform with any of the greatest musicians of his time. He was good, but not near good enough to be able to hang with some of the great musicians, who were in their prime, then:) No way….when I think of names like Bud Herseth, Dale Clevenger, Luciano Pavarotti, Arnold Jacobs….I don’t even think of any name in pop entertainment. When you write, tactfully help Americans realize what they don’t know…that they don’t know what a great musician sounds like.
11/1/2009
Eric that is elitist nonsense. How can you listen to Thriller or Bad and say those are not great musicians playing on the record? Quincy Jones produced that music – is he not one of the greatest musicians of our time? I meant what I said and I stand by it.
And I do not think that all Americans don’t know what great musicians sound like. Do you mean that you alone know who is great and who isn’t, and that you are surrounded by a nation of total morons? Again, elitist nonsense.
11/1/2009
I don’t know Eric, I think limiting the definition of talented musicians to only include classical musicians is narrow minded. I have no doubt that the principal musicians of the Chicago Symphony aren’t great, but could the articulate a horn line the same way as the Brecker Brothers? Probably not, and that’s why musicians specialize in different styles.
11/1/2009
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