The Michael Jackson Reel
TC Thompkins
Christina Chaffin
Aug. 13, 2018
Aug. 13, 2018
TC Thompkins
Former Vice President of Epic Records; ran promotions and marketing for a variety of artists, including Michael Jackson.
Former Vice President of Epic Records; ran promotions and marketing for a variety of artists, including Michael Jackson.
TC Thompkins was dedicated to promoting his artists and focused on making sure they had every advantage possible. According to him, when it came to Michael Jackson during the Thriller era, he was fearful the label was trying to appeal to a "white audience" with a pop sound. Thompkins was dedicated to showcasing Michael on Black Radio's Majic 102.1 from Texas. In late 1982, an exclusive interview for Majic 102.1 took place at the Jackson family home in Havenhurst. The following
flashback details Thompkins memories of the promotional piece. "By the time The Jacksons reached Epic, Michael had been wanting to produce material himself. He wanted the freedom to really create. He wanted to do his own thing and back when I met him, that was really driving him. In fact, Emilian White worked for me when I was Vice President of Epic Records. He was my local here in Houston.
When Michael was coming out more and more solo, I was kind of concerned that [the label] was trying to steal him and make him a pop artist because the first release from Thriller was 'The Girl is Mine.' I hated that track. That was a corporation move. Epic was afraid Michael was going to be an R&B act and they were trying to get pop radio to accept him. He was changing from a cute little boy to a man, and if you realize anything with pop radio, which is really white radio, they don’t play black men. |
Hip hop artists, even today, [are treated differently] on radio. It’s a culture. But black male artists - you're not gonna hear one on pop radio!
I was afraid they were trying to steal my artist, so I insisted on doing an exclusive interview for Black Radio with Michael Jackson. Exclusively for Black Radio. Matter of fact, that photo of me, him, Joe and Maurice [Warfield] is from when we flew out to his family's estate to interview Michael Jackson. We did an interview with Michael out there at his family’s home. I think it was about a 30-minute interview and it was in his home studio because he had one on the grounds. His studio was across from the garage.
Emilian White was at Majic 102.1. They were a big station down there in Texas, and their news person came out and interviewed Michael. Emilian is the one that took that picture of me, Michael, Maurice and Joe.
Back then, there was a true division for black radio stations and I still think that, that fight is alive and well today. I just was one of those people who didn't want my department or black radio disrespected because he was a pop artist. I didn’t like the song. I had to accept it, but they compromised with me. I said, 'Look, I want Michael to do this exclusive interview with black radio,' and Michael agreed!
The interview was before Thriller was released. They talked about his career, being a child star and all that he was doing in music at that time. Being on stage. Shit - he’d been on stage his whole life! He was much more comfortable on stage and in the studio than anywhere else. On stage and in the studio was where he was most comfortable than anywhere else."
I was afraid they were trying to steal my artist, so I insisted on doing an exclusive interview for Black Radio with Michael Jackson. Exclusively for Black Radio. Matter of fact, that photo of me, him, Joe and Maurice [Warfield] is from when we flew out to his family's estate to interview Michael Jackson. We did an interview with Michael out there at his family’s home. I think it was about a 30-minute interview and it was in his home studio because he had one on the grounds. His studio was across from the garage.
Emilian White was at Majic 102.1. They were a big station down there in Texas, and their news person came out and interviewed Michael. Emilian is the one that took that picture of me, Michael, Maurice and Joe.
Back then, there was a true division for black radio stations and I still think that, that fight is alive and well today. I just was one of those people who didn't want my department or black radio disrespected because he was a pop artist. I didn’t like the song. I had to accept it, but they compromised with me. I said, 'Look, I want Michael to do this exclusive interview with black radio,' and Michael agreed!
The interview was before Thriller was released. They talked about his career, being a child star and all that he was doing in music at that time. Being on stage. Shit - he’d been on stage his whole life! He was much more comfortable on stage and in the studio than anywhere else. On stage and in the studio was where he was most comfortable than anywhere else."
Click the Pictures
Pictures from the exclusive interview with Black Radio
All images provided by TC Thompkins
All images provided by TC Thompkins