Bishop Joe Simon says they are missing a big part of Michael Jackson History

July 1, 2009 - PRLog -- Many celebrities have and will be expressing their condolences to the Jackson Family and the great sense of lost that we all feel as a result of the passing of one of the greatest entertainers the world has ever produced, former R&B recording artist, Grammy Award winner and Rhythm & Blues Foundation inductee Joe Simon is among them.

"When I heard that Michael Jackson had passed I was deeply touched and saddened by the loss of life."

During our conversation I learned that he had some history with the young Michael Jackson and his brothers.

It was Joe Simon in the spring of 1968 who first introduced Michael Jackson and the Jacksons to the New York Audience and the world at the Apollo Theater as a paid act on the Joe Simon Show.

Bishop Simon says about those days at the Apollo:

"I would co-star with other top artist when they were headlining but I would have problems getting them to co-star with me when I was the headline act because no one wanted to co-star when I was headlining. They always wanted to be viewed as bigger than me."

One day in the spring of 1968, Bishop Simon says:

“I was in my office and received a telephone call from Universal Attraction Booking Agency in New York City. Universal Attractions was the biggest booking agency of the time, booking exclusively James Brown, Joe Simon, Wilson Pickett and other headlining R&B acts of that era. My agents at Universal Attraction, Larry Myers and Dolores called to say that it was only a matter of time before the "Joe Simon Show" was scheduled to be at the Apollo, which meant there were two or three days left before curtain time."

Unable to get other top artists to appear with him as a supporting act he was not concerned because he was always out to help others get their break.

"My Agents also said that they had this young group that they wanted me to see, and they asked me if I would put them on "The Joe Simon Show" at the Apollo. I was at my office promoting Joe Simon, I was a promotion man for a long time in the business, and I said to my agents, go ahead, put the kids on, I don’t have time to come down there, I don't have to see them. My agents said, no, you need to see them; you might want to sign them to your record label, Spring Records. I took a taxi over to the Apollo where the Jacksons were practicing in the basement. After looking at them and listening to them, I said they are real good, but my company is not set up to handle kids."

Teddy Young, who was Wilson Pickett’s drummer for several years, and became Joe Simon's drummer on that day and toured with him, was there on the Joe Simon Show at the Apollo when the Jacksons appeared.

According to Teddy Young:

"Recalling my engagement as Joe Simon's drummer in 1968, on the Joe Simon Show at the Apollo, The Jacksons pulled up to the Apollo in a blue and white ford van with a U haul trailer hitched on the back. Catherine (Mrs. Jackson), asked some of the members of the Joe Simon band if her children, the Jacksons could go with them to eat in between shows. They also played basketball with us across the street. They trusted Joe Simon and knew he was a professional. They knew he was not about nonsense and didn't tolerate drinking or drugs. The owner of the Apollo did not want the Jacksons on the show; he said they had no drawing power. Joe Simon insisted that they be on the "Joe Simon Show" at the Apollo.
On the show were Joe Simon, the 5 Stair Steps, the Jacksons and Sandman Sims.
While the band was playing and the curtains were still down, before Joe Simon was announced by his brother Roy to come on stage he would do a spin dance, Michael and his brothers were back stage watching him do his spin before he came out on the stage. Michael Jackson asked Joe Simon how to do that spin that he does and right there at the Apollo, Joe Simon taught Michael Jackson how to do that quick spin that he is so famous for."

Bishop Joe Simon says, "It was brought to my attention that some important people at the Apollo Theatre did not want the Jacksons to perform and I said to them with strong words that it was my show and if I say they are going to be on the show, they are going to be on the show. And the rest is history.

Mr. Hal Jackson, one of the biggest radio personalities of the time was at my show at the Apollo in the audience and on closing night he quickly hired the Jacksons to perform at the Miss Black America Teenage Pageant, which was also in 1968.”

Mr. Teddy Young says "Joe Simon is the best person I ever worked with, he did a lot of things to help a lot of people".

Bishop Joe Simon concluded by saying, "There will never be another Michael Jackson, the world has lost an amazing talent but it is a testimony to just how uncertain life is and how important it is to live the best life we can because none of us know when it will be our time to leave.
My love and prayer are with the Jackson family."

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