I met Michael and his family in Chicago at the Regal Theater when they were performing as The Jackson Five and Johnny in 1968. I was performing with my band Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, co-headlining with Jerry Butler. The Jacksons were the opening act. They were incredible, with the smallest of the family the biggest vocalist and dancer.

They were kind of in awe of us because we had a recording contract with Motown and we even had a hit record, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," which was written by Tom Baird and yours truly. Bobby immediately invited the Jacksons to come to Detroit where he would arrange an audition with Berry Gordy, the president of Motown. The Jacksons took Bobby up on his offer and stayed with Bobby for an entire month while they waited for Berry Gordy to hear them. Of course, once Berry heard them he gave them a contract, which Joe Jackson (their father) brought to me, because I was the only guy in the group that had any business experience. I was the unofficial leader of the Vancouvers - I owned the club in Vancouver where Berry Gordy and the Supremes discovered us. Bobby was the lead singer and the unofficial spokesperson of the group and the Jackson 5's biggest cheerleader. When Joe Jackson brought me the contract, there was a window of opportunity where I could have become their manager, but the thought didn't cross my mind until decades later.

Bobby Taylor did produce the Jacksons' first album as a reward for bringing them to the company. Later, Diana Ross took credit for their discovery (Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5), but that was more of a publicity stunt as Diana was launching her solo career. Diana did discover Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers, which kind of means she was responsible in a secondhand way for the discovery of the King of Pop and his family.

I lost touch with the Jacksons, but I would run into Jermaine on occassion and we would share memories of that magic time in 1968. (Jermaine recorded "Does Your Mama Know About Me" - it was a favorite song of his - and Diana recorded the song as well.) I watched the Jackson 5 and Michael as they went through their changes over the years and I would smile at the thought of how I was involved in giving the world one of the greatest singers/entertainers ever.

I feel a real sense of loss for Michael because he was about to start a world tour doing what he was born to do. The last few years were so unkind to him - he was such a "fish out of water" trying to recapture a childhood he "never had," which to me was such bullshit. Any child would have loved to have his childhood, being adored by everyone in the entire world for doing what he loved doing the most - singing. That Peter Pan lost-childhood crap left me cold and angry. He was a singer. He was supposed to sing, and leave the weird shit to people like Phil Spector and O.J. 

Michael saved the world with his singing and dancing. That's all we expected of you, Michael - just sing and take us to your vocal Neverland. Leave the weird shit alone. Sing and dance, Michael - that's all we wanted you to do. We didn't even want you to act, unless you were singing and dancing too. Have a safe and interesting journey, Michael. We will see you when you reappear in another body. We will know it's you when you open your mouth and the "magic" comes out. We will know.

Blog by Tommy Chong

Also see:

More Blogs by Tommy Chong
More CelebStoner Blogs
CelebStoner News

Comments (7)

7 Friday, 10 July 2009 10:17

reality

funny... I thought he was born to molest children and act like a freak.

6 Tuesday, 30 June 2009 16:20

Randy

Hello. I too would like to reach Bobby. His late father is/was my step-father and the last time Bobby and I worked together was at ICE studio in Hollywood. I know he's in San Jose.

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5 Tuesday, 30 June 2009 16:20

Randy

Hello. I too would like to reach Bobby. His late father is/was my step-father and the last time Bobby and I worked together was at ICE studio in Hollywood. I know he's in San Jose.

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4 Friday, 26 June 2009 12:09

Id Est

Hello, Mr. Chong, I am a friend of Roland Hayes, who was a close friend of Bobby Taylor; remember Roland, he was the hair stylist. I have lost contact with Roland.

Do you know where I can find Bobby Taylor? Mark Thompson of Sirrius Satellite Radio channel 146 would like to have him on his show Make It Plain to discuss Michael Jackson's discovery. Please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I'm sure Mr. Taylor would like to appear on the show.

3 Friday, 26 June 2009 11:20

John Rosenfelder

great post thanks for helping the j5 get started mr. chong!

2 Friday, 26 June 2009 11:05

Dave Green

Tommy, you are an amazing man. The way your writing comes from your heart enlightens me.
I'm so thankful that you do write .
I know so little about you. I've seen your character on the tubes, and that's a great character. One forgets that there is a real human inside.
Thank you once again for giving us a glimpse into your life,and your heart.
Dave Green

1 Friday, 26 June 2009 10:08

nonya beesnest

Wow! I never knew that Tommy Chong helped get Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 on the path to stardom. Way cool, man. Thanks for writing that. I feel for your loss, too, bruddah.

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