October Legends and Americana Ending November 14th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/15/2015
Michael Jackson was already a well-known recording artist from his days with his brothers in the Jackson 5. But by the early 1980's Jackson longed to launch his own solo career. What set Michael Jackson apart from any other pop singer at the time was his talent rested not just in his voice, but in his complete mastery of all aspects of his music; from the writing, to the production and marketing of it. His solo career had begun gaining traction, first as the star of the movie "The Wiz" followed by the inclusion of his song "Someone in the Dark" on the soundtrack to the blockbuster "E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial". It would take just one hit record to open the door to complete stardom - and this contract was the key to that door. Signed on September 29, 1982, this 5 page document hammers out the nuts and bolts of what would become the biggest selling album of all-time - "Thriller". Referred to as "The Michael Jackson Album" in lieu of a name, the contract comes with the original cover page from the law firm of Ziffren, Brittenham, Gullen & Ingber signed by "super lawyer" John Branca. A nephew of Ralph Branca of the 1951 Bobby Thomson home run infamy, John Branca was the music industry’s most talented and influential attorney. Besides Michael Jackson, Branca represented an astounding 29 of the groups or musicians enshrined in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The attorney's influence over the Thriller album does not stop with this contract: when the deeply religious Michael was worried about people perceiving the video to Thriller to have Satanist themes, it was Branca who convinced the musician to go through with the epic video. That long video of course further propelled Jackson to fame and to this day remains a breakthrough moment in music video history. The condition of the 6 pages are excellent. There is some expected slight wear on the edges with staple holes present along the top edges. There are light creases from being read and folded in the upper left corners and several small, light stains throughout. None of which distracts from the signatures found on page 5. On this final page Michael and the rest of the Jackson 5: Randy, Marlon, Tito and Jackie, have signed in a stacked row on the right of the page. Then, perhaps as a declaration of his independence from the family group, Michael signs a second time in huge script letters taking up the entire width of the page. Since this was a legal document and carefully files away, the signatures are in a perfect preserved 10/10 condition. Comes with LOA from PSA/DNA.