Read Online Michael Jackson by J. Randy Taraborrelli - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: J. Randy Taraborrelli
Ads: Link
youngsters. He spoke of ‘the genius of Berry
Gordy’ and Gordy's hopes that The Jackson Five would become major recording stars. ‘These kids are gonna be big, big,
big,
’ Seltzer enthused, his manner much more cordial than it had been on their first visit. ‘Believe me, if Mr Gordy says they're
gonna be big, they're gonna be big.’ Joseph must have felt like he was dreaming.
Then Seltzer presented Joseph with Motown's standard, nine-page contract. It never occurred to Joseph that he should probably
have shown up with independent legal counsel for such an important discussion, and Seltzer hadn't suggested it.
‘Berry did not want outside lawyers looking over any of our contracts,’ Ralph Seltzer would explain in an interview long after
he and Gordy had parted ways. ‘Quite simply, he did not want outsiders influencing the artists. I thought it was more than
fair for an artist to be able to take the contract home and read it, think it over. Berry told me that if I ever allowed an
artist to take a contract home, that artist would not sign the contract. I tried once, and he was right: the artist did not
sign. It was best, Berry decided, that potential contractees read over the agreement in my office and then just sign. If they
had a problem with that, they did not become Motown artists. It was that simple.’
Seltzer began with clause number one, which stated that the agreement was for a term of seven years.
‘Hold it right there,’ Joseph interrupted. ‘That's too long.’
Joseph felt that they should be committed for only one year. That brief length of time was unheard of at Motown, where the
minimum arrangement was five years. Gordy felt it took that long to fully develop an artist, and then see a return on the
company's investment.
Ralph Seltzer picked up the telephone and called Berry Gordy in Los Angeles. He explained the problem and handed the phone
to Joseph, whom Berry had never met. After a brief conversation, Joseph hung up.
‘He said he was gonna think about it,’ Joseph told Seltzer, who smiled knowingly. Two minutes later, the phone rang again.
It was Gordy wanting to talk to Joseph. He explained to Joseph that, as far as he was concerned, the real issue was a basic
matter of trust. If Joseph really believed in Gordy and Motown, he wouldn't mind having his children obligated to the company
for seven years. After all, Gordy was willing to pay for their accommodation, recording sessions, rehearsal time, and so forth.
However, if Joseph
insisted
on changing the clause, then it would be changed, ‘because, after all, I just want what's best for the kids,’ Gordy explained.
Joseph smiled and gave Richardson the thumbs-up signal. He handed the phone to Seltzer who got back on the line and spoke
to Berry for a moment. Then Seltzer put Gordy on hold and summoned an assistant into his office who took some quick dictation
from Gordy. About five minutes later, the assistant returned with a new clause, which stated that the group was obligated
to Motown for only one year. Joseph beamed; he had won a strategic battle against Berry Gordy.
Ralph Seltzer quickly explained the rest of the contract. Joseph nodded his head, then called his boys into the office.
‘We got it, boys,’ he announced.
‘Oh, man, that's too much!’
‘We're on Motown!’
‘We got us a contract!’
They all began jumping up and down and hugging one another.
Ralph Seltzer gave each boy a contract. ‘Just sign right there on that line, fellas.’
They looked at their father.
‘Go ahead. It's okay. Sign it.’
Though Joseph had not even read the contract – he just had it explained to him – and neither had any of his sons, each boy signed.
‘And here's an agreement for you, Mr Jackson,’ Ralph Seltzer said, handing Joseph a paper. ‘This is a parental approval agreement
and it says, quite simply, that you will make certain that the boys comply with the terms of the contract
Gordy’ and Gordy's hopes that The Jackson Five would become major recording stars. ‘These kids are gonna be big, big,
big,
’ Seltzer enthused, his manner much more cordial than it had been on their first visit. ‘Believe me, if Mr Gordy says they're
gonna be big, they're gonna be big.’ Joseph must have felt like he was dreaming.
Then Seltzer presented Joseph with Motown's standard, nine-page contract. It never occurred to Joseph that he should probably
have shown up with independent legal counsel for such an important discussion, and Seltzer hadn't suggested it.
‘Berry did not want outside lawyers looking over any of our contracts,’ Ralph Seltzer would explain in an interview long after
he and Gordy had parted ways. ‘Quite simply, he did not want outsiders influencing the artists. I thought it was more than
fair for an artist to be able to take the contract home and read it, think it over. Berry told me that if I ever allowed an
artist to take a contract home, that artist would not sign the contract. I tried once, and he was right: the artist did not
sign. It was best, Berry decided, that potential contractees read over the agreement in my office and then just sign. If they
had a problem with that, they did not become Motown artists. It was that simple.’
Seltzer began with clause number one, which stated that the agreement was for a term of seven years.
‘Hold it right there,’ Joseph interrupted. ‘That's too long.’
Joseph felt that they should be committed for only one year. That brief length of time was unheard of at Motown, where the
minimum arrangement was five years. Gordy felt it took that long to fully develop an artist, and then see a return on the
company's investment.
Ralph Seltzer picked up the telephone and called Berry Gordy in Los Angeles. He explained the problem and handed the phone
to Joseph, whom Berry had never met. After a brief conversation, Joseph hung up.
‘He said he was gonna think about it,’ Joseph told Seltzer, who smiled knowingly. Two minutes later, the phone rang again.
It was Gordy wanting to talk to Joseph. He explained to Joseph that, as far as he was concerned, the real issue was a basic
matter of trust. If Joseph really believed in Gordy and Motown, he wouldn't mind having his children obligated to the company
for seven years. After all, Gordy was willing to pay for their accommodation, recording sessions, rehearsal time, and so forth.
However, if Joseph
insisted
on changing the clause, then it would be changed, ‘because, after all, I just want what's best for the kids,’ Gordy explained.
Joseph smiled and gave Richardson the thumbs-up signal. He handed the phone to Seltzer who got back on the line and spoke
to Berry for a moment. Then Seltzer put Gordy on hold and summoned an assistant into his office who took some quick dictation
from Gordy. About five minutes later, the assistant returned with a new clause, which stated that the group was obligated
to Motown for only one year. Joseph beamed; he had won a strategic battle against Berry Gordy.
Ralph Seltzer quickly explained the rest of the contract. Joseph nodded his head, then called his boys into the office.
‘We got it, boys,’ he announced.
‘Oh, man, that's too much!’
‘We're on Motown!’
‘We got us a contract!’
They all began jumping up and down and hugging one another.
Ralph Seltzer gave each boy a contract. ‘Just sign right there on that line, fellas.’
They looked at their father.
‘Go ahead. It's okay. Sign it.’
Though Joseph had not even read the contract – he just had it explained to him – and neither had any of his sons, each boy signed.
‘And here's an agreement for you, Mr Jackson,’ Ralph Seltzer said, handing Joseph a paper. ‘This is a parental approval agreement
and it says, quite simply, that you will make certain that the boys comply with the terms of the contract
Similar Books
