The King of Pop lives on in Kenny Wizz

MANILA, Philippines - My jaw dropped when I saw Kenny Wizz do the Moonwalk on video. It was like seeing the King of Pop alive.

I have been a Michael Jackson follower in my teens and still am to date. Rewind to the ’70s when I did part time A&R work for the Villar Family (I was also a DJ at their top-rated AM radio station DZBM the big 74). The Villars were the Philippine licensee of Motown Records back then and whenever a Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson recording arrived, it got released in the market immediately.  I knew each and every Michael Jackson recording by heart even when he made the big leap from Motown to Epic Records (A subsidiary of CBS Records which later became Sony Records).

When Thriller came out in the ’80s, I purchased the video in all formats (Beta, VHS and Laser Disc) and never got tired watching it over and over again. In 93, I had the rare chance of watching him live in Singapore courtesy of my good friend Tony Tuviera (Eat, Bulaga! producer).  It was incredible how he expertly did those dance moves even at a time when he should be totally wrecked because of the child molestation charges that was sensationalized by the worldwide media.

In death, Michael Jackson became bigger. For over a month after his untimely demise, all TV networks, newspapers and radio stations featured him non-stop to a point of saturation — and just when we thought the Michael mania would die down, the media and fans are agog once again with the eagerly-awaited release of his last movie and recording This is It on Oct. 28.

I’ve decided to do some Michael Jackson event. Maybe put on exhibit my memorabilia which includes a priceless fedora owned and signed by Michael himself or maybe a visual show with lots of dancing. By some wonderful coincidence, my Elvis tribute artist pal Johnny Thompson has a friend who does Michael Jackson tribute shows in Las Vegas. I acted fast and signed him — Kenny Wizz, the purported king of Michael Jackson tribute artists who has been amazing crowds in Las Vegas for years — for shows in the Philippines. His voice, moves, and feel are uncannily Michael Jackson.

The show  The Michael Jackson Experience will feature Kenny Wizz dancing, moonwalking and singing with his own voice all the hits including Beat It, Billy Jean, Smooth Criminal, Thriller, etc. with back-up from the MJ Dancers and the Gee Girls with special guest sexy rocker Caren Mangaran on lead guitar.

There will be a dinner show at Heritage Hotel Ballroom on Oct. 21 (tickets available at Ticketworld and Pagcor Heritage Casino concierge), Hard Rock Café on Oct. 27 (reservations hotline 893-4661 to 64) and Celebration Entertainment Center Pagcor Angeles on Oct. 29 (tickets available at Ticketnet San Fernando and Clark and at the Pagcor Angeles Casino concierge) plus two special shows at Resorts World Newport City on Oct. 20 and 26.

Kenny Wizz -The Michael Jackson Experience is presented by Steve O’ Neal productions in cooperation with the Heritage Hotel and Casino as the official residence, PCSO, Hard Rock Café, Business Mirror, Face & Figure Center Manila, Pagcor Heritage, Pagcor Angeles and RJ100FM.