Marty Thompson’s QuickHits Buzzblog

The Jackson family may be weathering some tough times. According to the “New York Post,” most of them are barely scraping by after dealing with decades of bad financial decisions and promises allegedly reneged on by Jacko himself. From landing six-figure deals for one night performances, to stocking groceries and changing tires, the brothers of the infamous Jackson Five appear to have been hit the hardest in the family’s misfortunes. The paper says Michael Jackson made numerous promises to his siblings and even signed them to his record label, MJJ, but refused to release any of their music.

Here is a breakdown of the Jackson family and their individual status, according to “The New York Post.”

Father Joseph Jackson, 79 and mother Katherine Jackson, 77

Joseph reportedly manages various girl groups in Las Vegas, and Katherine is a housewife and the only family member in contact with Michael. Both have previously filed for bankruptcy

Janet Jackson, 41

Currently the most successful of the family. She is promoting hew new album, “Discipline.”

Randy Jackson, 46

Allegedly performs odd jobs like changing tires to support himself. He was Michael’s business manager during the 2005 molestation trial. He reportedly persuaded three friends to take out lines of credits against their homes to help Michael pay his attorney fees, and Michael reportedly stiffed them.

Michael Jackson, 49

Recently fought foreclosure on his Neverland ranch as well as the family’s Encino home. He allegedly makes repeated promises to his brothers while sabotaging any attempts by them to ply their musical trade.

Marlon Jackson, 51

Lives in San Diego, where he reportedly works stocking groceries at a Vons supermarket. Three years ago when he was forced to leave his foreclosed home and move into an Extended Stay America hotel with his wife, Carol.

La Toya Jackson, 52

Declared Michael guilty in 1993 during his molestation case. Works mostly in Europe and in the UAE judging beauty and singing contests. She lives in Beverly Hills with her wealthy boyfriend.

Jermaine Jackson, 54

Lives in his parents’ Hayvenhurst mansion as well as with his girlfriend in the San Fernando Valley. He reportedly does not have a regular income, and has more than five-million-dollars in federal, state and other liens against him, as well as a 1995 bankruptcy filing.

Tito Jackson, 55

Formed a blues band and plays at small venues for 500-dollars to 15-hundred dollars a gig.

Jackie Jackson, 56

The oldest son who started an Internet clothing business and is trying to produce records by his sons. Nothing has panned out.

Rebbie Jackson, 57

Married to successful businessman Nathaniel Brown. She is the oldest sibling of the family.

Sad news for BEATLES fans. THE BEATLES original groundbreaking engineer and PINK FLOYD producer NORMAN SMITH passed away last night.

Smith was the engineer on all of the recordings by THE BEATLES up until 1965 when EMI promoted him from engineer to producer. The last BEATLES album he recorded was “Rubber Soul.” SMITH engineered the sound for approximately 180 Beatles songs in all.

In 1972, SMITH, using his recording artist pseudonym of “HURRICANE SMITH,” had a transatlantic hit with “Oh Babe What Would You Say?.”

Mike Smith, lead singer of the Dave Clark Five, is dead. He died of pneumonia yesterday at age 64. The British Invasion band will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame a week from Monday. Mike’s agent said he was admitted to the intensive care unit of a London area hospital on Wednesday with a chest infection.

We brought Mike to Vegas for what would be his final concert performance— It was an incredible show. He had a blast performing. It was upon his return to Spain after the show that he had his accident and has been in aand out of the hospital since.

Mike Smith— you will be missed.

For the first time ever, NASA will beam a song — The Beatles’ “Across the Universe” — directly into deep space at 7 p.m. EST tonight.

here are the freakish details 

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0802/02beatles/

A car, once owned by singer SIR ELTON JOHN, is up for sale on the Internet for $50,000 (GBP25,000). The Bentley, which was used by the star in his music video for the 1985 hit Nikita, is up for sale on auction website E-bay

not Beatle– Beetle. Thanks to Bobby Leach for the offbeat news of the day:

Starr has been in the news a bunch with the release of his new album. Just today there were published reports about how much he hates technology.

“I don’t do email. Because people keep emailing me! You spend your life replying to emails so I don’t. I have a mobile phone. But I don’t carry it. Why do I need it?” Contactmusic quoted him as telling British chat show host Jonathan Ross.

“I know I’m coming here so why do I need to carry it? But it’s there if I want to carry it. And no, I don’t text,” he added.

Yesterday Starr got pissed when he was asked to cut short a performance on Regis and Kelly. They wanted him to take a song from over 4 minutes to 2 and a half. He declined and walked off the set.  There was a ton of promo time devored to Ringo being on the show– but Tuesday no mention at all about why he was not there.

One of folk and rock and rolls best died this past weekend. John Stewart died in San Diego. The headlines said the “guy who wrote Daydream Believer for the Monkees died”. A sad way for him to be remembered. There was so much more. He replaced Dave Guard in the Kingston Trio in 1961 and was with the group until the late 60’s. John wrote several big country music hits including Rosanne Cash’s Runaway Train. He recorded a ton of wonderful solo albums.. sadly none had any real commercial success. Sleep in peace my friend…sleep in peace. 

The cops want to talk with Paul’s soon-to-be ex about complaints filed because of the noise coming from her recent 40th birthday party. Much like the divorce she refuses to go in peace 

Elton John has helped out the south African Kingdom of Lesotho by donating 120 motorcycles so dooctors and nurses can get out to see the sick in the mountains regions of the nation. detials are here

http://entertainment.iafrica.com/music/news/806946.htm