Posted in Berry Gordy, celebrity Deaths, Celebrity News, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Funerals/Memorials, Jacko, Jackson Family, John Branca, John McClain, Judge Mitchell Beckhoff, Just In, Katherine Jackson, King of Pop, La Toya Jackson, Michael Jackson, Motown, Music News, Neverland Ranch, NEWS

Just In: Michael Jackson’s Body Moved

Michael Jackson’s body has been moved amid fears fans would break into the crypt where it was stored.

The late ‘Thriller’ star’s coffin was taken to a private tomb belonging to Motown records founder Berry Gordy after the memorial service last week, but thousands of people have flocked to the spot since the location was leaked last weekend.

The Jackson family have now moved the coffin to the basement of the main building at Forest Lawn Cemetery – where the singer’s private funeral took place – until his final resting place is decided.

A source said: “The Jackson family was not pleased and ordered the casket to be placed in the basement for security reasons.”

Michael’s sister LaToya Jackson – who supplied information for the star’s death certificate – was reportedly responsible for choosing what he wore to be buried in.

The 50-year-old star is believed to have been dressed in black studded trousers, an oversized gold belt and two black gloves. His trademark single white glove was also placed in the coffin with him.

It is believed that Michael’s family want him to be laid to rest in his Californian ranch Neverland.

However, his mother Katherine is said to be blocking their wish because she believes it is not what the late star – who moved out of the property when he was acquitted of child abuse charges in 2005 – would have wanted.

Katherine has failed in another bid to be “treated like a third trustee” of the singer’s estate, after originally being refused to be legally named as co-administrator last Monday (06.07.09).

Documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court Monday(07.13.09) contained details of the dispute but Judge Mitchell Beckhoff signed off papers for the singer’s two existing trustees – attorney John Branca and music executive John McClain – to begin doing business on behalf of the estate.

Katherine had been named temporary administrator in the aftermath of Michael’s death last month.

A new court date has been set for August 3.

Meanwhile, toxicology results that could help establish the cause of the ‘Bad’ singer’s death may be available this week or early next week, an official from the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office has claimed.

It is expected the office will announce they have the results and then release the details the following day.

Source: Fametastic

Posted in Berry Gordy, Bette Davis, Chief William Bratton, Forest Lawn Cemetery, Freddie Prinze, Jacko, Jackson 5, Jermaine Jackson, Joe Jackson, Joseph Jackson, Katherine Jackson, King of Pop, La Toya Jackson, Michael Jackson, Neverland Ranch, NEWS, Sandra Dee, Wire Talk

Wire Talk: La Toya Jackson to Dress Michael Jackson for Burial

In addition to making “the most incredible outfit” for Michael’s burial, the songstress reportedly has called her longtime stylist to help her styling her late brother.

Playing good and caring sister, La Toya Jackson reportedly will dress late brother Michael Jackson for his burial. Per Access Hollywood as being informed by a source close to the Jacksons, La Toya will have the King of Pop being laid to rest with his single signature white glove. “La Toya had Michael’s rhinestone glove laid in the casket,” confirms the source. “Michael wore a black leather glove on each hand [in the casket].”

As for Michael‘s final attire, La Toya will take care all the details. “She wanted him to look incredible. She called in his longtime stylist and had the most incredible outfit made for him,” says the source. “He looked wonderful – like an angel.”

On top of all, La Toya is said to have also been “extremely instrumental in every aspect and every detail” of the funeral arrangements, as well as watching after Michael‘s three children since he passed away last month. Besides, she has been “heavily involved” in the investigation conducted by authorities to determine the cause of Michael‘s death, which isn’t something new for her as she herself is a trained law enforcement official. “She’s still working around the clock with detectives until this case is resolved,” the source adds.

Despite the report, there has been no official word from Michael‘s family regarding plans of burial. In the meantime, there have been reports saying that he won’t be laid to rest until authorities finish examining his brain and before they can come to final conclusion on the cause of his death.

According to the NY Post, Michael Jackson is stored in LA Crypt as family squabbles.

Over his dead body!

Michael Jackson‘s family is bitterly divided over how best to profit off the King of Pop‘s remains — so his body has been stashed in Motown maestro Berry Gordy‘s crypt until the clan stops bickering, The Post has learned.

Jackson‘s gold-plated casket was last seen at his public memorial service, and its whereabouts have been shrouded in mystery — until now.

His remains were brought back to the white marble, above-ground crypt the Motown record-label founder bought for his family in the Court of Remembrance section of the sprawling, celeb-filled Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

Jackson‘s body is still missing his brain, which coroners are temporarily keeping for testing.

Aside from Jackson, the simple mausoleum is empty and marked only with a distinctive swooping letter “G.”

For the time being, Jackson lies with a who’s who of Hollywood heavyweights. Next door is the final resting place of American sweetheart actress Sandra Dee, who died in 2005.

And nearby are ornate crypts for iconic actress Bette Davis, flamboyant pianist Liberace and ’70s “Chico and the Man” star Freddie Prinze.

Gordy — who discovered the Jackson 5 — offered the family use of the crypt until they sort out what to do with the superstar’s remains, sources said.

On one side are Jackson‘s brother Jermaine and father, Joseph, who are insistent the Gloved One be buried at Neverland Ranch so the family can profit off a proposed Graceland-style museum there — a process that could take years.

On the other are Jackson‘s mother, Katherine, and most of the rest of the siblings, who want his body laid to rest elsewhere out of respect for his wish, following his acquittal on child-molestation charges, to never return to Neverland.

“Jermaine is the one that wants him at Neverland — he and Joseph — because of the whole Elvis thing and the money potential,” a family source said. “They are seeing dollar signs.”

Her son’s physical purgatory has left Katherine shaken.

“She is still upset that Michael isn’t buried and he is at Gordy’s spot in Forest Lawn, the source said. “This fighting has to stop. We can never unite, and that’s an injustice.”

The fight had become so contentious that Jermaine rode in a separate Rolls-Royce limousine to Jacko‘s public memorial at Los Angeles’ Staples Center, even though his mother had wanted all the brothers to ride together, the source said.

But the fight hasn’t stopped the family from agreeing on other ways to turn Jackson’s death into a financial boon.

Most of the kids and Katherine are onboard with a proposed documentary about the family that could bring in $20 million, the source said.

“They’re doing this documentary because with the kids, they will get $20 million,” the source said, adding Katherine is pushing all her children to be a part of it.

But if Jermaine and Joseph Jackson prevail, it would be a long legal road — permits would be needed — before a Graceland-like museum could be built at Jackson‘s one-time fantasyland home north of Santa Barbara.

Meanwhile, LAPD Chief William Bratton told CNN last night that detectives are looking at Jacko’s prescription-drug history and trying to talk with his numerous former doctors.

The coroner will determine the cause of death — whether it’s homicide or an accidental overdose.

The coroner’s office has subpoenaed “any and all” medical records pertaining to Jacko’s care, the LA Times reported.

Bratton said the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the state Attorney General’s Office, which keeps a database of prescription drugs, are assisting investigators.

Source: aceshowbiz

Posted in Alicia Keys, Berry Gordy, Celebrity News, King of Pop, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Wyclef Jean

Celebrity News: More Stars Speak Out About Michael Jackson

Alicia Keys: “I did meet him one time, and it was amazing. “He was just an awesome dad, great with his kids. His kids were so smart and attentive. They were there in the conversation as well. We had a great time. We threw around paper airplanes his son was making – like these really cool ones that were just brilliant. It was just beautiful to meet him. I’m glad I got the chance.”

Wyclef Jean: “He came to see me at the studio and he spent a whole hour with me,” Wyclef Jean said. “We talked Haiti, we talked about Jamaica and we talked about music, and that was one of the greatest times ever in my life”

Smokey Robinson: “He was 10 years old, and he had just come to Motown, and [Motown artist and Jackson 5 mentor] Bobby Taylor and I used to take Michael to the golf course with us. He would ride around in the cart with us and critique our golf game, and when we’d hit a bad shot, he’d laugh. I was absolutely flabbergasted when I saw how talented he was when he was 10 years old. He was 10, but he was 30! He sang like he was 30, he danced like he was 30. He was awesome.”

Berry Gordy: “At home last night, I was looking at some of my old pictures with him, from the early rehearsals to ones with he and my son on the baseball field as we played our weekly Gordy-Jackson baseball games,” he said. “For the world, Michael’s legacy will always be his music and his artistry. But for me it will be so much more. The memories of watching of watching him grow from a mere 9-year-old kid with boundless determination and talent to become perhaps the greatest entertainer of all time – it is a bittersweet moment.”

Posted in Andrae Crouch Choir, Bernice A. King, Berry Gordy, Brooke Shields, Funerals/Memorials, Jennifer Hudson, John Mayer, Just In, King of Pop, Kobe Bryant, Lionel Richie, Magic Johnson, Mariah Carey, Martin Luther King III, Michael Jackson, Pastor Lucious Smith, Reverend Al Sharpton, Shaheen Jafargholi, Smokey Robinson, Staples Center, Stevie Wonder, Usher

Just In: Celebrities Participate in Michael Jackson’s Memorial

Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson & More To Participate In Michael Jackson Memorial…

Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson and John Mayer are among the superstar guests set to participate in Tuesday’s public Michael Jackson Memorial, the Jackson family announced in a statement to Access Hollywood.

Michael‘s former girlfriend, actress Brooke Shields, will appear at the event, as will R&B star Usher, legend Stevie Wonder, Motown’s Berry Gordy and Lakers star Kobe Bryant.

Around 17,500 fans have been given tickets to the late King of Pop‘s memorial, which will take place at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles on Tuesday morning.

More than 1.6 million fans registered to try and obtain tickets to the event.

Lionel Richie, “Britain’s Got Talent” finalist Shaheen Jafargholi, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King, the Andrae Crouch Choir, the Reverend Al Sharpton and family friend Pastor Lucious Smith are also scheduled to participate at the memorial, according to the family’s statement.

Source: Yahoo!