The Jacksons 2004

[updated in 2009 with added chapters]
 
 
15. Touring The US


  In the meantime in the USA they began to report more details about our foreign tours, and there has come time again to go across America so that our fans did not think, that we have forgot about them.

   So in July, 1973 we have gone on tour across America that ended in September in Honolulu. Then we promoted 2 new albums of Jackson 5, and Jackie has released his first solo album. When there has come 1974, the group has taken part in the Rose Bowl Parade and has performed in Sonny and Cher show. In couple of days there was one more performance on TV, this time for CBS. Then we were on tour abroad, stopped to perform in Chicago and Los Angeles, and again to Europe. Than home again - performances in several TV shows.

   In May of this year television performance of Jackson 5 on channel ABC in the program "Free to be … you and me" has received the premium "Emmy" as the best TV show for children. In June Stevie Wonder's album was released in which the group participated in. Other concerts and shows in Las Vegas have begun then .

   You can imagine to yourselves, how many forces were needed for all of that, besides we didn't do any breaks. On the contrary, we already prepared for the following American tour. Pittsburgh followed New Jersey, State Fair in Trenton, then Richmond, Buffalo and finally New York.

   In New York we performed in Madison Square Garden. Fans all the night long besieged our hotel and indefatigably shouted: " We love you, Jackson 5. We love you ". Michael threw autographs from the window, fans sent air kisses to my sons .

   When there came the time to go on a concert, we hardly could get out of the hotel. My sons stood on a stage in front of 20 thousands of shouting fans. Next day New York Times has written, that Jackson 5 were magnificent. They praised up to the skies.

   For real the tour began only after New York, we had 65 concerts without a single break. It was a real achievement.

   After our concert the storm in the south has burst. I did not want to get on in the plane at all, children too were afraid to do it, when they saw my reaction. But then we've been told, that the pilot will start only when the bad weather will pass. So we have ascended aboard. Each of my sons has received a small gift from the airline - a ripe melon which they have put under the seats.

   A little later a storm got easier, and the machine has started. But it shook and shook as abnormal. Some passengers shouted of horror, and even stewardesses looked scared. I still never flew in such storm and thought: " My God, if I will leave from here alive and safe, I will never get on the plane if there will be the slightest signs of a rain ".

   Unexpectedly the sky has brightened up also turbulence has decreased. I have made sure, that melons are well stacked and have not suffered, and have asked the stewardess to cut one. A man that was sitting near to me has asked, whether it is impossible for him to have a slice. " Well certainly ", I have answered him and have given the instruction to the stewardess, to cut off to each passenger who wants, on a slice. When we at last have landed and were in safety, there were no clods in the sky, and from ours 5 melons remained nothing.

   By the way about safety: during the American tour the problem which never arose abroad has appeared. We began to receive threats.

   For example, once we have received a message, that there was a bomb in the hall , just when my children were on a stage. Certainly, I wanted to take them away as soon as possible and place them in a safe place. Therefore someone with a calm voice has declared in the microphone, that now there will be a small interval (if we would tell, that there was a bomb under the stage, there would be panic and people would squeeze each other to death).

   Boys have got down from stage, and the security service has engaged in searches of the bomb. But they have found nothing. .Some has probably joked.

   Such or similar incidents happened so frequently, that we soon got used to them, but I also in future continued to watch, that my sons did not risk in vain.

   All concerts in America were a success, and our American fans are true to us till now. We depend on the fans - without them we would not sell any record. But on the other hand, if my children were not such good artists, they wouldn't have so many true fans.

   Music is the universal language connecting all the people, it helps to establish love and peace.