Clare Bronfman

Michael Jackson - The early years

Music has evolved in leaps and bounds. Over the years there have been certain iconic figures who have had a tremendous impact of shaping different genres of music; the work of Beethoven lives today through his own music – and also through the music of many great composers who followed him.

Michael Jackson is one of such people. He was known as “The King of Pop”. Around the world he is renowned for his artistic excellence and unique creativity. His music and style has been foundational in many of today’s genres.

From the monasteries in Dharamsala, India to villages in Africa, Michael Jackson is a household name; children around the world can be found in the streets practicing the infamous “moonwalk”. Michael Jackson will live on in all of us; in generations from now I would imagine one will be able to track an aspect of the music of such a time back to the “King of Pop”.

One of my fondest childhood memories is driving around the plains of Africa in one of those old jeeps where you could sit on the roof! My sister Sara and I spent endless trips on the roof singing – from the Beatles to hymns we learnt in Catholic school – it was wonderful. It wasn’t until my dear friend Keith founded Simply Human, an a cappella group – the singers all being friends of mine – I re-discovered my love for music, this time with a very different understanding and experience of it.

Having produced two A Cappella Innovations festivals and and meeting and getting to know musicians like Denise Reis - a remarkable musician with immense talent and capacity for taking people on a joyful emotional journey – I feel as though music holds an important role in evolving humanity.

Great musicians open up their hearts and share themselves with us through their instruments. Working with Keith, who is always looking for unique individuals who have the capacity to lift all of humanity, I have been introduced to many wonderful musicians, most recently Jen Chapin. Jen’s lyrics have a depth in their meaning and she sings them with tremendous passion.

Music brings a dimension to life words cannot describe, I just know I experience more of me through it!!

Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.

~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton