The Culture Show - 2009/2010 - Michael Jackson Special

The death of Michael Jackson was one of the biggest stories of 2009. Six months on from his death, this programme re-evaluates his impact on modern music. There are many stories that can be told about Michael Jackson - the court cases, the scandals, the bizarre behaviour. This programme ignores all that and instead tells the story of Michael Jackson's music. Tracing his music back to his roots in the so-called 'Chitlin' circuit of the 1960s, musicians, producers and contemporaries assess Michael Jackson's position within African-American culture, his mainstream appeal and his massive contribution to pop music and culture across the world. The programme tells the stories behind such Jackson 5 songs as I Want You Back and ABC; hits from the Jacksons like Shake Your Body; and the songs that made Michael Jackson a global megastar including Don't Stop Till You Get Enough, Rock with You and Beat It. The programme also looks at Michael Jackson's extraordinary performance of Billie Jean at the Motown anniversary concert in 1983, in which he premiered the now legendary moonwalk. With contributions from Smokey Robinson, Jermaine Jackson, Martha Reeves and record producer and DJ Questlove.