Kiwi music leaders pay tribute to Jackson

SUNDAY STAR-TIMES

TOP PERFORMER: Sir Howard Morrison said the Jackson's impact on the performance industry was near unmatched.

TRUE GIFT: Sony Music boss Paul Ellis have paid tribute to Michael Jackson, describing him as a musical genius.

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Sir Howard Morrison and Sony Music boss Paul Ellis have paid tribute to Michael Jackson, describing him as a musical genius.

Ellis, a former New Zealand Idol judge, said it was "an incredibly sad day for music worldwide".

"We'll never see the likes of this sort of person again, ever. He was a musical genius."

Mr Ellis worked with Jackson while working in the United States as the senior director for A & R Sony/ATV Publishing America.

With Sony/ATV and Jackson co-owning the Beatles entire catalogue, Ellis was required to meet with Jackson twice a year "to plan all the stuff we had signed from around the world".

Sony was also responsible for looking after him when he performed in Auckland in 1996, he said.

Jackson knew the lyrics to all the great songs from the 1920s right through to today, he said.

"This is the thing I knew from working with him," Mr Ellis said.

"He was a walking, human jukebox."

But when it came to describing Jackson, Mr Ellis stumbled. "He was...I don't think normal would be a good way to describe him, but just incredibly talented," he said.

"He didn't have a normal life, how could you when, since the age of six, you've been incredibly famous.

Mr Ellis said his death was "incredibly sad" and "devastating"

Legendary Kiwi entertainer Sir Howard Morrison, who met Jackson when he toured New Zealand in 1996, called his death a "great shock".

Sir Howard said the Jackson's impact on the performance industry was near unmatched.

"He would quite possibly be the best ever," he said.

"I would certainly rank him with my favourite, and that's Sammy Davis Junior, and his death... has left everybody traumatised."

He said his death had reminded him of the impact Elvis' death.

"You can't put him in a little pocket and explain how good he is ... the man is a genius in dance form, in choreography, voice, arrangements and dedication," he said, adding that his Jackson's support staff said he was a tough task master who demanded perfection.

"For me I think he has received, with the reaction that's happening now, the ultimate of accolades and he's touched a lot of people but more importantly he's been touched in return and that's very rare," he said.

"The world of music will be poorer without him."

Sir Howard said he said he had met Jackson at the bottom of the gang plank when he arrived for his New Zealand tour and had greeted him with a hongi.

Jackson had seemed interest in the custom, he said.

"He was very interested. He was fascinated by the cultural aspect of the hongi and I explained to him that it was exchanging of breath of life ... and gave him a taonga to embellish that and he was moved in a very quiet way - very moved."

- © Fairfax NZ News