The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait is coming
to Europe and Israel!

Michael’s Tribute Portrait will be making its first trip outside of the United States during the month of November.  David Ilan, MJTP artist, will be making a trip to Germany to see Joshua, the 13-year-old dot member who was diagnosed with Leukemia in October 2009 on the same day his family had tickets to see This Is It.  In a previous newsletter, we gave you the great news that Joshua is now cancer-free. David will be visiting Joshua and drawing a second dot for him in Michael’s portrait in person. This dot will represent his new life and will also be dedicated to everyone around the world who is currently fighting their own battle against canc er or another life threatening disease.  

While David is in Europe, he will be touring various regions, including Italy, Germany, Austria, Amsterdam and Belgium. He will also be visiting Israel, where he was born, and home to many Michael Jackson fans. He hopes to meet as many fans as time will permit. Plans are still being solidified, so watch for more information in upcoming issues of the newsletter.

If you live in one of the countries listed above, or you are close enough to visit, please reply to this email and let us know. We will send you details of the trip when they become available. We hope many of you will have a chance to meet David and see Michael’s Tribute Portrait up close and in person! David will be placing dots on the canvas for those who can attend one of the events.

The Beat of Our Hearts: A Musical Tribute to Michael

The Beat of Our Hearts: A Musical Tribute to Michael is now available for download.  This amazing album is taking the MJ community by surprise with its release. The Beat of Our Hearts (produced by The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait) is an unprecedented collection of 18 original songs written and performed by Michael’s friends and fans. This uniquely special collection contains some of the most heartfelt and touching songs you’ve ever heard. They help to heal; they bring us closer to Michael…and each other. This very special collection of music, just released, is available worldwide as an MP3 download, so you can start enjoyin g it right now.
Get your copy here.

Attention Singers / Songwriters!
Send Us Your Own Tribute Songs to Michael

Following last week’s release of The Beat of Our Hearts, The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait has announced it is producing a Volume II tribute album in honor of Michael.  We would like to include music donated from artists/fans all over the world who have written and recorded their own tribute songs.  If you don’t have a tribute song, we invite you to write one for this new worldwide search! Get those creative juices flowing – be inspired, and write, record, submit! You can do it!!

The songs must be your original work. You can be the songwriter and singer, or team up with someone. Listen to the amazing songs on The Beat of Our Hearts to get an idea of what you want to do.

We cannot accept any entries that include music, lyrics or vocal tracks (sung or spoken) by the Jackson 5, Jacksons, or Michael Jackson.  All submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Tribute Team.

If you have an interest in participating, please contact Michelle Gold, Director of Development at [email protected].  Please provide her with your name and email address where she can contact you.

If your song is selected, it will be heard by fans all over the world! Deadline for submissions is January 3, 2011. (no exceptions)

Help the Kids at Gardner Street Elementary School
Get What They Need!

The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait would like to encourage dot members to uphold Michael’s humanitarian legacy by supporting the Gardner Street Elementary School in their fundraising efforts.  The school is in need of supplies and/or cash donations.

When you donate to the Gardner Street Elementary School, you will get a special badge on your profile indicating that you are one of Michael’s Angels. Let’s show the school district that they made the right decision in Uncovering MJ’s name!

To read more about this fundraiser, view the accompanying video, and make a donation, click here.

Tribute Tidbits

Live Podcast Interview with David Ilan
MJTP Partner Positively Michael will be interviewing David Ilan, MJTP artist, on Saturday November 6th at 5pm EST.   If you have ever wanted to ask David Ilan a question, now is your chance.

The phone number to call in during the program is (724) 444-7444 (toll free.) The ID number you will need is: 71282

Please come check it out! For more information, click here.

One Day with MJ Contest
There are only a few days left to enter our One Day with MJ Contest!  Submit a creative writing piece that answers this question: If you were given an opportunity to have one day with Michael Jackson, what would that day be like? What would you say to him? What would you want to know? What would you want to experience, etc?

You can submit this through any form of creative writing. Write it as a letter to Michael, write it as a poem, or simply write it as a short story. You can include artwork if you wish too. Use your imagination. Deadline for entries is November 9, 2010.

Send your entries to Linda Higgins, Director of Community Development at [email protected].

Connect With Us
The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait is now on Facebook. Join us there and on Twitter by clicking on the Icons below. 

In Michael’s Words
Michael speaking about MTV:

“I used to look at MTV. My brother [Jackie], I’ll never forget, he’d say, ’Michael, you gotta see this channel. Oh my God, it’s the best idea. They show music 24 hours a day!’ So I said, ’Let me see this.’ And I’m watching it, I’m seeing all this stuff going on and saying, ’If only they could give this stuff some more entertainment value, more story, a little more dance, I’m sure people would love it more’.”   

About MTV not playing the music of Black artists:

“They said they don’t play [Black artists]. It broke my heart, but at the same time it lit something. I was saying to myself, ‘I have to do something…I just refuse to be ignored.’ So yeah, ’Billie Jean,’ they said, ’We won’t play it.’

“But when they played it, it set the all-time record. Then they were asking me for EVERYTHING we had. They were knocking our door down. Then Prince came; it opened the door for Prince and all the other Black artists. It was 24-hour heavy metal, just a potpourri of crazy images. They came to me so many times in the past and said, ’Michael, if it wasn’t for you, there would be no MTV’.”   Michael Jackson, Ebony – December 2007

Linda Higgins
Editor-In-Chief
MJTP Newsletter
[email protected]
www.MichaelJacksonTributePortrait.com