Mourad Mesellaty

 

#OnThisDay July 20, 1988. #MichaelJackson returned to meet with critically ill children and their parents at the "Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital", where he spent longer time with the less critical patients, reserving words of comfort to them, reading them stories and delivering presents, including albums, signed photos and T-shirts. He associated himself with the "Wishing Well Fund" for sponsoring the contruction of a novel unit, as part of the "Hospital for Sick Children" in Great Ormond Street, London, England. Notably, 9-year old Neil Clark, having undergone live-saving surgery to remove a brain tumour – and originally not scheduled to see the popstar – is visited by the singer, the boy’s father declaring with gratitude that the visit "cheered my son up". 4-year-old Joanne Doeffer, having undergone a throat operation and breathing through a special tube, was visited by the star, the meet-and-greet prompting her to struggle and say "Thriller" to a delighted Michael Jackson. In the evening, a banquet was held in his honor at the Guildhall. Michael donated $200,000 to the hospital after being given a cheque by Prince Charles and Princess of Wales Diana.

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StoryOfTheDay #OnThisDay July 22, 1981, #MichaelJackson was photographed by Todd Gray in the presidential suite of the Peachtree Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

In 45 minutes, Gray took more than 70 photos, which are the most famous singers from that period when a young man who left Motown became king of pop and conquered the world.

In his book "Before He Was A King" (Michael before Jackson), published in 2009, Todd Gray remembers this photo shoot, which remains his favorite among many, he did with Michael #: "As Michael and I went through photo albums on the tour bus, he noticed some photos that were particularly his favorites."

I liked them. He loved the light that bathed the faces of the stars

in classic Hollywood portraits. "That light is magic," he whispers. This picture is magic.

Look at their eyes, so beautiful and innocent. Todd, I want you to take a picture of me like this. He also told me that he would like to be photographed with faces similar to those of the children at work.

in the factories by Lewis Hine in the early 20th century, another book we looked at together on the bus. We scheduled Michael's photo shoot in the presidential suite of the Peachtree Hotel in Atlanta in the late afternoon, photographers call it "the magic hour. ".

When the light casts a warm glow and the sun casts deep shadows. Michael tended to look away throughout the session from the camera, he didn't look directly at the lens, and during the forty-five minute session, he only smiled once or twice. We barely spoke, we didn't want to break the spell. I didn't do much to realize that smh

or whispered when we gave her something special.

Later, when I showed him the prints from the shoot, he ordered two large prints of each photo, which was quite unusual. Usually, if someone ordered one or two photos from a shoot, it was considered a success I was amazed, two of each photo ? That's 144 steps... ". Michael replied, "Yeah, I can count, I want one set for me and one for Diana Ross. Todd, I'm sorry. It's magical." That shoot is my favorite with Michael. "