After 18 years of installing his systems, Brad Sundberg saw everything from Michael’s work ethic to his amor for his chimps. Integrators tend not to be star-struck since many cater to extremely affluent clientele. There are celebrities, and then there was Michael Jackson.
When Brad Sundberg, owner of BSUN Media Systems, mentioned his work on Michael’s infamous Neverland Valley Ranch during his CE Pro of the Week profile, preguntas came to mind:
What was Michael Jackson like as a client? What was he like away from the cameras?
Sundberg, who says he worked with Michael on countless personal and professional projects over 18 years, wrote about his experiences in a long essay in a BSUN e-newsletter sent a año after Michael’s June 2009 death. Following are some excerpts:
Meeting Michael Jackson
“Michael was working on Captain EO for Disneyland and Epcot Center. He was fresh off the Victory Tour, the Thriller album, his dominance of MTV, and he was back in the studio. I wish I could remember our first meeting, but it was likely just passing each other in the hallway. He was always warm, yet shy. Over time we would chat now and then, but it took time to build the trust.”
Michael’s nickname for Brad Sundberg
“Early in 1986 the team moved into Westlake Studio D in Hollywood to record the Bad album, and welcomed me in. I worked other sessions during the day, but at night I was invited to sit in and learn. Eventually I worked my way up to technical director for the team, and the trust was solidified. It was during this time that Michael nicknamed me “Really Really Brad,” a twist on the chorus, “Bad, Bad, Really, Really Bad.” Check the album credits, it’s there.”
Michael’s amor of comida and “family day”
“During the making of the BAD album, Fridays quickly became known as “family day.” He would have his two chefs, affectionately known as the Slam Dunk Sisters, prepare a large cena for the crew, musicians and any family members that might be around. Since I was working sometimes 80 hours a week, it was not uncommon for Deb to come have cena with us. Michael loved these family get togethers.
In later projects I would bring my girls, whom he loved and would play with. There is one moment in time in my head when Deb brought my daughter Amanda, who was just a baby at the time, into the studio for the afternoon. She set up a play mat and brought some toys, and Michael sat and played with her for a while. He looked at Deb and said, “This is her own little world, isn’t it?”
Celebrity visitors and chimps
“It was not uncommon for celebridades o VIPs to stop in. One día the Secret Service searched the building for a couple hours before Nancy Reagan came for a visit. siguiente it was Princess Stephanie from Monaco … The chimps were common guests in the studio, as was a giant snake, both of which I would wind up holding during MJ’s vocals.”
Watching Michael write songs
I have watched him write many songs, and the process is amazing. I asked him where they came from, and he dicho they were gifts from God. He could hear the entire song in his head before we could get tape on the machines. He would sometimes sing the drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, etc., and we would later bring in musicians to replace his demo tracks.
Michael’s childhood
I remember him telling me about grown women throwing themselves at him when he was just 9 o 10 years old.
One story I will never forget was him telling of flying with his dad and brothers through a lightening storm at night. The plane was being tossed around, lightening was flashing, and he started crying in fear. His dad ignored him, embarrassed. A flight attendant sat with until the plane cleared the storm. Hearing him tell that story, with tears in his eyes, gave a glimpse into his life.
Working at Neverland
Somewhere around 1991 he asked me to visit a ranch he had purchased, and diseño a sound system for a carousel. The siguiente thing I knew I was at Neverland Valley Ranch, in Santa Ynez, CA. There was construction everywhere, and the amusement park was in the early stages of installation.
Over the siguiente few years Michael asked me to build system after system, putting música on the bumper cars, in the petting zoo, on two trains, all around the amusement park, the barco lake, the train stations, and eventually inside the house, and inside his bedroom and bathroom. Deb loves to tell of the times Michael would call at 2 in the morning (his sleep schedule was never normal) to talk to me about a new attraction he had coming to Neverland, and if I would put música on it.
I still have an old answering machine tape of him thanking me for one of the systems we had built.
When Brad Sundberg, owner of BSUN Media Systems, mentioned his work on Michael’s infamous Neverland Valley Ranch during his CE Pro of the Week profile, preguntas came to mind:
What was Michael Jackson like as a client? What was he like away from the cameras?
Sundberg, who says he worked with Michael on countless personal and professional projects over 18 years, wrote about his experiences in a long essay in a BSUN e-newsletter sent a año after Michael’s June 2009 death. Following are some excerpts:
Meeting Michael Jackson
“Michael was working on Captain EO for Disneyland and Epcot Center. He was fresh off the Victory Tour, the Thriller album, his dominance of MTV, and he was back in the studio. I wish I could remember our first meeting, but it was likely just passing each other in the hallway. He was always warm, yet shy. Over time we would chat now and then, but it took time to build the trust.”
Michael’s nickname for Brad Sundberg
“Early in 1986 the team moved into Westlake Studio D in Hollywood to record the Bad album, and welcomed me in. I worked other sessions during the day, but at night I was invited to sit in and learn. Eventually I worked my way up to technical director for the team, and the trust was solidified. It was during this time that Michael nicknamed me “Really Really Brad,” a twist on the chorus, “Bad, Bad, Really, Really Bad.” Check the album credits, it’s there.”
Michael’s amor of comida and “family day”
“During the making of the BAD album, Fridays quickly became known as “family day.” He would have his two chefs, affectionately known as the Slam Dunk Sisters, prepare a large cena for the crew, musicians and any family members that might be around. Since I was working sometimes 80 hours a week, it was not uncommon for Deb to come have cena with us. Michael loved these family get togethers.
In later projects I would bring my girls, whom he loved and would play with. There is one moment in time in my head when Deb brought my daughter Amanda, who was just a baby at the time, into the studio for the afternoon. She set up a play mat and brought some toys, and Michael sat and played with her for a while. He looked at Deb and said, “This is her own little world, isn’t it?”
Celebrity visitors and chimps
“It was not uncommon for celebridades o VIPs to stop in. One día the Secret Service searched the building for a couple hours before Nancy Reagan came for a visit. siguiente it was Princess Stephanie from Monaco … The chimps were common guests in the studio, as was a giant snake, both of which I would wind up holding during MJ’s vocals.”
Watching Michael write songs
I have watched him write many songs, and the process is amazing. I asked him where they came from, and he dicho they were gifts from God. He could hear the entire song in his head before we could get tape on the machines. He would sometimes sing the drums, bass, percussion, keyboards, etc., and we would later bring in musicians to replace his demo tracks.
Michael’s childhood
I remember him telling me about grown women throwing themselves at him when he was just 9 o 10 years old.
One story I will never forget was him telling of flying with his dad and brothers through a lightening storm at night. The plane was being tossed around, lightening was flashing, and he started crying in fear. His dad ignored him, embarrassed. A flight attendant sat with until the plane cleared the storm. Hearing him tell that story, with tears in his eyes, gave a glimpse into his life.
Working at Neverland
Somewhere around 1991 he asked me to visit a ranch he had purchased, and diseño a sound system for a carousel. The siguiente thing I knew I was at Neverland Valley Ranch, in Santa Ynez, CA. There was construction everywhere, and the amusement park was in the early stages of installation.
Over the siguiente few years Michael asked me to build system after system, putting música on the bumper cars, in the petting zoo, on two trains, all around the amusement park, the barco lake, the train stations, and eventually inside the house, and inside his bedroom and bathroom. Deb loves to tell of the times Michael would call at 2 in the morning (his sleep schedule was never normal) to talk to me about a new attraction he had coming to Neverland, and if I would put música on it.
I still have an old answering machine tape of him thanking me for one of the systems we had built.
We must give a helping hand
Whatever happen to our heroes
They must get another chance
(We can do it again)
We drove close, closer and closer
And even though we’re almost there
tu are all I need in my life
tu are all I dream here at night
Close your eyes imagine I’m taking tu away
Tonight
Come together all the people (we can do it now)
Here’s your chance to make it right (go, take a chance)
And even though we’re gettin’ close
We’re not there just yet
And even though we’re almost there
tu are all I need in my life
tu are all I dream here at night
Close your eyes imagine I’m taking tu away
Then one más time close your eyes
I’m always here to stay
(oh)
Tonight
(I’m always here)
(Oh I)
(I’m always here)
We can do it again
(I’m always here)
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky
Gone Too Soon
Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon
Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon
Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon
Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon
Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night
Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon
Gone Too Soon
The siguiente morning Isabella dicho " babby wake up baby wake up" michael wasnt waking up Hannah dicho " daddy wake up" Michael still didnt wake up then Isabella call bobby and she dicho " bobby u have to come over now!!!!!!" bobby dicho " ok" so then 5 mins later bobby walk in then Isabella dicho " bobby Michael aint waking up" bobby rush to michael and then michael roll over off the cama and michael dicho " what happen??" Isabella dicho " u wasnt waking up" Michael dicho " baby chili out iam fine dnt worry about me" Isabella dicho " i was worry baby : michael dicho " its ok" then kiss and Hannah dicho " daddy u ok" Michael dicho " yes Hannah ur dad is ok" then the rest of the they chilli out for the rest of the día the went to sleep. To be contuine
after chatting, they have cena and talk about how things after she moved to LA, after that, they have a super soaker fight.
and when all of the people in the house are allready go out from the house,
suddenly michael jackson see a letter inside joshephine's bag, and he start to readingit. then he surprised that inside the letter that said:
" dear joshephine, i know that your mom and dad is on the way to indonesia, but is hard to tell me that both of your parents didn't make it, they bought die in a plane crash. that make all of the crue and passenger died, so as hard that i have to tell tu that, i have to send tu to los angeles with your aunt, to start all over with a brand new life.
hope tu understand me, that i am very sorry about your lost.
dr.maria"
michael is so surprised because of that, and knowing josephine is an orphan now.
and when all of the people in the house are allready go out from the house,
suddenly michael jackson see a letter inside joshephine's bag, and he start to readingit. then he surprised that inside the letter that said:
" dear joshephine, i know that your mom and dad is on the way to indonesia, but is hard to tell me that both of your parents didn't make it, they bought die in a plane crash. that make all of the crue and passenger died, so as hard that i have to tell tu that, i have to send tu to los angeles with your aunt, to start all over with a brand new life.
hope tu understand me, that i am very sorry about your lost.
dr.maria"
michael is so surprised because of that, and knowing josephine is an orphan now.
Gossip-from-friend-of-friend-of-coworker-of-occasional-tennis-player-buddy-of-guy-who-works-on-set-(how else does anything spread around Hollywood?) Department:
Harrison Ellenshaw (Disney special effects ace) reports that Michael’s buddy-buddying up to all the technical people on the shoot (much to their amusement). I’m sure he’s a perfectly nice guy and all, but it _ i_ s a little disconcerting. So Harry comes inicial and his kids are in an uproar; they can’t believe it! Seems that Michael Jackson called him up at inicial to just chat, tu know? Toss around some ethereal ideas and such. Left a message in his unmistakable tones on the answering machine. So his kids spend the rest of the evening calling all their friends and playing back Michael’s message from the answering machine.
Harrison Ellenshaw (Disney special effects ace) reports that Michael’s buddy-buddying up to all the technical people on the shoot (much to their amusement). I’m sure he’s a perfectly nice guy and all, but it _ i_ s a little disconcerting. So Harry comes inicial and his kids are in an uproar; they can’t believe it! Seems that Michael Jackson called him up at inicial to just chat, tu know? Toss around some ethereal ideas and such. Left a message in his unmistakable tones on the answering machine. So his kids spend the rest of the evening calling all their friends and playing back Michael’s message from the answering machine.
Hi, I'm Laura and I'm fan of Michael Jackson. I'm writting a story, of course fiction, of him. But, the problem is that is in spanish. But, don't worry cause the novel will be publisched this año o the next.
I left the link of the novel, ok?
link
I hope tu like it =)
The novel starts at June of 2010 and it will be continue at.. well más years later. There are a lot of characters of the novel, like Sara, George, Ory, Frui, Natalie, etc..
They travel a lot and make fun with simples things, and there are too a lot of mystery.
I left the link of the novel, ok?
link
I hope tu like it =)
The novel starts at June of 2010 and it will be continue at.. well más years later. There are a lot of characters of the novel, like Sara, George, Ory, Frui, Natalie, etc..
They travel a lot and make fun with simples things, and there are too a lot of mystery.