Making the cover

Ebony, Dec, 2007 by Harriette Cole

Just about everybody has a clear memory of their first encounter with Michael Jackson. I fell in love with his music back when I was in elementary school and "ABC" had just hit the airwaves. The sound was unique, and the moment--for me--was even more profound. "ABC" was the magnet between me and the first boy who ever asked me to dance. Fast forward some 30-plus years later to the set of our December cover shoot: I fell in love with the artist, his creativity and his spirit all over again. I am not alone. All of us on the production team enjoyed the rarified company of the music icon who turns out to be one of the most sincere and generous celebrities you could ever meet.

Michael Jackson offered EBONY an intimate window into his creative process. The setting was perfect. MJ wanted to be in a museum. The Brooklyn Museum graciously rolled out the red carpet! What an A-team we had, including internationally renowned photographer Matthew Rolston, who has photographed MJ and his family many times. Celebrity stylist Phillip Bloch pulled clothing befitting The King of Pop. The sculpture of Rodin, the paintings of the Masters over the generations and the marble columns that showcase the beauty of the ages created the perfect backdrop for him to serve up his magic.

With each click of the camera, this master of movement offered an effortless yet studied gesture--the flick of a wrist, the lift of a leg, the focus of a gaze. Right now the artist is celebrating. Twenty-five years after the blockbuster album Thriller hit the airwaves (with more than 104 million copies sold to date), MJ is back! It kinda felt like he came back to the class reunion--once again to steal the show!

[ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DUDLEY M. BROOKS