Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 16, 1993 TAG: 9301160161
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACQUELINE TRESCOTT THE WASHINGTON POST
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
THE STARS WILL SHINE IN WASHINGTON
Now all they need is Madonna. With the confirmation Wednesday of superstar Michael Jackson's participation, almost all of the other household names in the entertainment business are headed to Washington next week.The news of Jackson's appearance at Tuesday's Presidential Gala was confirmed by his office in Los Angeles and the Presidential Inaugural Committee. The addition didn't come as a total surprise. Once Quincy Jones was Jackson announced as the executive producer of the Sunday program at the Lincoln Memorial, Jackson's name surfaced. Jones has produced Jackson's three biggest-selling albums.
During the early stages of inaugural planning, Jackson was on tour in Japan, and his office said he was booked for January. Then a story surfaced in TV Guide that Jackson, the self-anointed "king of pop," had told the inaugural committee that he would participate only if they had one ball with him as the only performer.
Jackson's office this week vigorously denied that story and notified the committee that he was available. "I was in the room when the call came from [inaugural co-chairman] Harry Thomason. And Michael said, `If the president of the United States wants me to perform, I will be there.' He is an admirer of President-elect Clinton," said Bert Fields, the singer's attorney.
Jackson, according to Fields, "didn't ask for any special treatment. There were no qualifications at all."
With Jackson on the bill, there are now close to 1,000 performers for inaugural week. Other names that surfaced Wednesday included Jon Bon Jovi, Little Richard, Macaulay Culkin, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.
More than 550 are signed up for the free performance at the Lincoln Memorial that begins at 3 p.m. The wide array of singing talent ranges from diva Kathleen Battle to R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe to rapper LL Cool J to crooner Tony Bennett.
Jones said Wednesday he is still trying to get Jackson for the Sunday program, which includes a "We Are the World" sing-along. "Everybody is coming; you just don't realize the scope of this thing," said Jones. Wednesday Jones and Thomason held a press conference to expand the list of entertainers and to preview some of the musical and what they called "emotional" moments. The Clintons, he said, have requested a special treatment of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" for the Sunday show.
Solo numbers announced for that concert include Aretha Franklin doing "Respect," Michael Bolton covering Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" and Diana Ross singing "God Bless America."
"It is absolutely stupendous. They have managed to bring together the highest order of show business that are household names," said Melinda Newman, talent editor for Billboard magazine. "The White House might be the D.C. club of choice for the next four years."
"A Call for Reunion," as the Sunday concert is officially called, will be telecast by Home Box Office at 8 p.m. and simulcast by the radio network Westwood One. HBO will then allow other cable systems to unscramble the feed and show the concert later that night. Asked about the show's budget, Thomason said Wednesday, "Shows like this cost about $1 million an hour."
Jones is also hoping to schedule Bette Midler, among others, for an appearance Sunday. "Sometimes the schedule is just not possible," said Jones.
New additions to the week's lineup include Barry Manilow at Tuesday's gala, and for Sunday, Oprah Winfrey, Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Lauren Bacall, Goldie Hawn, Maria Conchita Alonso, Shai and Take 6.
How does Jones do it? He said he picks up the phone, Ray Charles says yes, Jack Nicholson says count me in, and no one brings up Tipper Gore's music lyrics campaign.
As for Jones, he enjoys the challenge of amassing all this talent. "The thing is to try to find the common denominator in each one that links to the next," he said. As for a rehearsal, Jones said one is planned but not at the memorial. "We couldn't put all those people up there. It would draw a crowd."