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Rawr · 18th April 2010, 10:07 PM

The sister who mothered Michael Jackson
Rebbie Jackson helped raise her superstar brother. Now she speaks about his death.
By JAMES FANELLI
Last Updated: 7:50 AM, April 18, 2010

Rebbie Jackson may be the least-known performer out of Michael Jackson’s siblings, but aside from his parents, she likely had the biggest influence on the King of Pop.

When she was a teenager, her mother, Katherine, went back to school, leaving her — the oldest of the nine children — in charge of caring for the brood.

“I’m very much the big sister,” Jackson tells The Post. “I helped raise a lot of them. I took care of them and administered the disciplinary action.”

Memories of her role as caregiver in the family’s Gary, Ind., home came flooding back to Rebbie, 59, in the wake of Michael’s death on June 25.

“When he passed, I thought about him the way he was as a kid,” she says, recalling the iconic star’s cherubic smile that first brightened stages as a member of the Jackson 5 and later as a solo artist.

After her brother overdosed on the powerful sedative Propofol, Rebbie, who lives with her husband, Nathaniel Brown, in Las Vegas, canceled a string of performances. She spent two and half months in California at her brother’s and mother’s estates, comforting her family. She also resumed her role as caregiver — this time tending to Michael’s children, Prince, 13; Paris, 12; and Blanket, 8.

“I have to say, for a while, it was very difficult to listen to anything that Michael’s voice was on,” she says. “That’s pretty tough to escape. Everywhere you go — food markets, departments stores, TV and radio — they are playing his music.”

Nearly a year later, Rebbie says she still wakes up in the middle of the night haunted by the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. His doctor, Conrad Murray, currently awaits trial on manslaughter charges for his role in administering the fatal narcotic and facilitating the legendary singer’s addiction.

“My brother had a problem with drugs, and he was in denial,” Rebbie says. “There were many interventions by the family members, and I was involved in a lot of that. It was such a sad thing and it hurt so bad.”

Time has healed at least some wounds. She is back listening to her brother’s music, and she’s ready to sing. In her stage return, she will headline a tribute show to the Temptations at the Mellow Theater in Scranton, Pa. She plans to perform songs by the legendary Motown group, hits by the Gloved One and numbers from her own catalog.

Rebbie got a later start in show business than her brothers. While they were dancing and singing as a group in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was married and raising a family in Kentucky.

She first performed with her siblings in 1974 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, singing “Fever,” a sultry incantation that she plans on dusting off for the April 24 show.

Rebbie recalls Michael bringing her the lyrics and the choreography before the show.

“I learned that song actually on the set. He started chanting the lyrics,” she says. “When you are really involved with the music, it’s whatever comes out of your mouth.”

The mother of three didn’t put out her first album, “Centipede,” until she was 34. Michael produced the record, which eventually went gold, and wrote some of the songs.

Rebbie released three more albums — her last coming in 1998. The soulful chanteuse says she has no plans to release another one any time soon, but is hoping for a reunion tour with her siblings.

“It’s not set in stone, but the sky is the limit,” she says. “I know it would be fun. That would be something I’d really love to be involved with.”

Read more: The sister who mothered Michael Jackson - NYPOST.com

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING CONRAD MURRAY'S DEFENSE! Really, you're the best sister ever. Also, nice job PROMOTING your own performances!

By the way, her own SON said on his Twitter that Michael was NOT a drug addict. Providing a link for that tweet soon.

Edit:

I am so extremely disturbed at the response from people here. You have no respect for FACTS. You're merely relying on HEARSAY. I don't care if it's from the family. FACTS ARE FACTS, the autopsy report says Michael was NOT A DRUG ADDICT!! I've had a DOCTOR look over the autopsy and he even confirms that Michael was very healthy and NOT A DRUG ADDICT.

I am literally SICK TO MY STOMACH at the response from you all.

I took my time to research Michael back in 2005 and you know what? It took TIME and EFFORT because I respected MYSELF enough to not just believe anyone or anything.

GUESS WHAT? Back in 1993, La Toya, Michael's sweet sister who accompanied him in the Unauthorized Interview in the Thriller era, said Michael was a PEDOPHILE. She was UNDER THE INFLUENCE of her abusive husband.

Take into account that the family might be being constantly threatened by whoever was responsible for murdering Michael.

Also, pretty much every if not absolutely every family member that has said this has been PROMOTING SOMETHING.

I am DONE treating this family like victims when they are this irresponsible to let their own butthurt feelings get in the way of Michael getting justice. MURRAY is not the victim. MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON IS THE VICTIM HERE.

Psssst. Okay, new revelation guys! I just heard it from the media! Some of Michael's friends have confirmed some of these details as well! Michael Jackson is a PEDOPHILE who BLEACHED HIS SKIN ON PURPOSE BECAUSE HE HATES HIS RACE and is ADDICTED TO PLASTIC SURGERY. Oh yeah, he SLEPT IN AN OXYGEN CHAMBER and he built Neverland in order to LURE children into his filthy clutches!

BECAUSE REALLY, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE FACTS ANYMORE, RIGHT?

TheNarratorX · 18th April 2010, 10:21 PM

Yeah, that was a bit silly of her to be so open about it all. Most of the Jacksons are at it aren't they, trying to promote their gigs and that.

mandy_april · 19th April 2010, 12:02 AM

-sigh- Really now...I don't even know what to say. This is honestly not the time to be talking about Michael's "drug problems." We want justice for him, so people cannot be providing an escape for "Murray."

She loves Michael and obviously knows a lot more about the situation than I do, but she's doing more harm than good. Janet did the same. Sorry. I love the family, but at times like this, I would expect some of them to do something else.

I hope La Toya does all of the speaking from now on. She's the only one who is solely putting the blame on "Murray," which is exactly what has to be done. Thank you La Toya.

escales20 · 19th April 2010, 12:25 AM

It doesn't matter whether the family admits to it or not,if the justice system is any good,they'll bust Murray anyway.But our Justice system over here is ****ed up so Murray could walk away regardless.

Dria&&Michael4Ever · 19th April 2010, 12:35 AM

Yeah Mandy, I totally agree.

I'm actually suprised at Rebbie. She's the one Jackson, besides Katherine, who I truly looked up to just for the simple fact that they had rhino skin when it came to matters of publicity and fame, etc.

The only thing about "intervening" that his siblings may have done was that they were simply trying to get in contact with him....but we know how Michael was sometimes

I don't think it necessarily had anything to do with drugs-not now. Especially if others are saying he didn't have an addiction.
(I'm still a little confused about some stuff though)

jetmapgirl30 · 19th April 2010, 12:46 AM

Ok, I could be wrong but the family having interventions, knowing Michael was in denial of having a problem. Has nothing to do with Murray defense. Michael died because murray gave him a powerful sedative. A sedative he had no business having and adminstrating in a home. Michael died from acute proporfol intoxication. He didn't die from anything else. In fact, just sedatives Murray gave him was in his system. No morphine, or whatever they say he use to take. I think Rebbie, Janet and the rest of the family is just being honest. They tried, they couldnt convince him. The whole thing is just sad. I love Michael. I wish he was still here. I'm thinking, they are wishing the same thing.

escales20 · 19th April 2010, 12:57 AM

Originally Posted by jetmapgirl30

Ok, I could be wrong but the family having interventions, knowing Michael was in denial of having a problem. Has nothing to do with Murray defense. Michael died because murray gave him a powerful sedative. A sedative he had no business having and adminstrating in a home. Michael died from acute proporfol intoxication. He didn't die from anything else. In fact, just sedatives Murray gave him was in his system. No morphine, or whatever they say he use to take. I think Rebbie, Janet and the rest of the family is just being honest. They tried, they couldnt convince him. The whole thing is just sad. I love Michael. I wish he was still here. I'm thinking, they are wishing the same thing.

agreed! sometimes talking about it helps heal too.

kingskid · 19th April 2010, 01:27 AM

*sigh*

..I honestly don't know what to think about this anymore. I know they must have known better than anyone, since they are his family and everything..but I just can't stop thinking about how all this is further tainting Michael's reputation and his legacy. It's bad enough that the justice system is so messed up, Murray (who I STRONGLY believe is to be blamed for this) may end up getting away with a couple years in prison or some crap like that....but all of this, in my opinion, is giving the media, and everyone else, the idea that Michael ended up a druggie like so many others before him. So they are now starting to add to the list of the horrible things he's been called..a drug addict. We all now how they will spin it..and repeat it..over and over..

his1stladii · 19th April 2010, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by jetmapgirl30

Ok, I could be wrong but the family having interventions, knowing Michael was in denial of having a problem. Has nothing to do with Murray defense. Michael died because murray gave him a powerful sedative. A sedative he had no business having and adminstrating in a home. Michael died from acute proporfol intoxication. He didn't die from anything else. In fact, just sedatives Murray gave him was in his system. No morphine, or whatever they say he use to take. I think Rebbie, Janet and the rest of the family is just being honest. They tried, they couldnt convince him. The whole thing is just sad. I love Michael. I wish he was still here. I'm thinking, they are wishing the same thing.

yeah, if they tried to help Michael and he wasn't hearing it what more could they have done? they tried and continued to try to get him to see that they were there to help in his time of need. i dont agree with them saying all this stuff now in these interviews, mainly because its just not the right time...and labeling Michael is just not the right thing to do right now, the media will just use it against them, and most importantly against Michael. it will affect his legacy, and his kids...

it is sad, I love Michael so much and i wish he could've seen that his family was offering help and accepted it...

Puffy · 19th April 2010, 01:39 AM

Rebbie: i know what it is like to loose a sibling..nothing is ever the same again..nothing..i also know how hard this must have been for you to share...puffy

18th April 2010, 10:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rawr Profile Name: Gabi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Florida Age: 18 Gender: Posts: 8,188 Threads: 332 Thanked: 3,536 times Credits: 85,478 Awards Gifts Mood	Rebbie: "My brother had a problem with drugs, and he was in denial." [Possibly fake] The sister who mothered Michael Jackson Rebbie Jackson helped raise her superstar brother. Now she speaks about his death. By JAMES FANELLI Last Updated: 7:50 AM, April 18, 2010 Rebbie Jackson may be the least-known performer out of Michael Jackson’s siblings, but aside from his parents, she likely had the biggest influence on the King of Pop. When she was a teenager, her mother, Katherine, went back to school, leaving her — the oldest of the nine children — in charge of caring for the brood. “I’m very much the big sister,” Jackson tells The Post. “I helped raise a lot of them. I took care of them and administered the disciplinary action.” Memories of her role as caregiver in the family’s Gary, Ind., home came flooding back to Rebbie, 59, in the wake of Michael’s death on June 25. “When he passed, I thought about him the way he was as a kid,” she says, recalling the iconic star’s cherubic smile that first brightened stages as a member of the Jackson 5 and later as a solo artist. After her brother overdosed on the powerful sedative Propofol, Rebbie, who lives with her husband, Nathaniel Brown, in Las Vegas, canceled a string of performances. She spent two and half months in California at her brother’s and mother’s estates, comforting her family. She also resumed her role as caregiver — this time tending to Michael’s children, Prince, 13; Paris, 12; and Blanket, 8. “I have to say, for a while, it was very difficult to listen to anything that Michael’s voice was on,” she says. “That’s pretty tough to escape. Everywhere you go — food markets, departments stores, TV and radio — they are playing his music.” Nearly a year later, Rebbie says she still wakes up in the middle of the night haunted by the circumstances surrounding his brother’s death. His doctor, Conrad Murray, currently awaits trial on manslaughter charges for his role in administering the fatal narcotic and facilitating the legendary singer’s addiction. “My brother had a problem with drugs, and he was in denial,” Rebbie says. “There were many interventions by the family members, and I was involved in a lot of that. It was such a sad thing and it hurt so bad.” Time has healed at least some wounds. She is back listening to her brother’s music, and she’s ready to sing. In her stage return, she will headline a tribute show to the Temptations at the Mellow Theater in Scranton, Pa. She plans to perform songs by the legendary Motown group, hits by the Gloved One and numbers from her own catalog. Rebbie got a later start in show business than her brothers. While they were dancing and singing as a group in the late 1960s and early 1970s, she was married and raising a family in Kentucky. She first performed with her siblings in 1974 at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, singing “Fever,” a sultry incantation that she plans on dusting off for the April 24 show. Rebbie recalls Michael bringing her the lyrics and the choreography before the show. “I learned that song actually on the set. He started chanting the lyrics,” she says. “When you are really involved with the music, it’s whatever comes out of your mouth.” The mother of three didn’t put out her first album, “Centipede,” until she was 34. Michael produced the record, which eventually went gold, and wrote some of the songs. Rebbie released three more albums — her last coming in 1998. The soulful chanteuse says she has no plans to release another one any time soon, but is hoping for a reunion tour with her siblings. “It’s not set in stone, but the sky is the limit,” she says. “I know it would be fun. That would be something I’d really love to be involved with.” Read more: The sister who mothered Michael Jackson - NYPOST.com THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HELPING CONRAD MURRAY'S DEFENSE! Really, you're the best sister ever. Also, nice job PROMOTING your own performances! By the way, her own SON said on his Twitter that Michael was NOT a drug addict. Providing a link for that tweet soon. Edit: I am so extremely disturbed at the response from people here. You have no respect for FACTS. You're merely relying on HEARSAY. I don't care if it's from the family. FACTS ARE FACTS, the autopsy report says Michael was NOT A DRUG ADDICT!! I've had a DOCTOR look over the autopsy and he even confirms that Michael was very healthy and NOT A DRUG ADDICT. I am literally SICK TO MY STOMACH at the response from you all. I took my time to research Michael back in 2005 and you know what? It took TIME and EFFORT because I respected MYSELF enough to not just believe anyone or anything. GUESS WHAT? Back in 1993, La Toya, Michael's sweet sister who accompanied him in the Unauthorized Interview in the Thriller era, said Michael was a PEDOPHILE. She was UNDER THE INFLUENCE of her abusive husband. Take into account that the family might be being constantly threatened by whoever was responsible for murdering Michael. Also, pretty much every if not absolutely every family member that has said this has been PROMOTING SOMETHING. I am DONE treating this family like victims when they are this irresponsible to let their own butthurt feelings get in the way of Michael getting justice. MURRAY is not the victim. MICHAEL JOSEPH JACKSON IS THE VICTIM HERE. Psssst. Okay, new revelation guys! I just heard it from the media! Some of Michael's friends have confirmed some of these details as well! Michael Jackson is a PEDOPHILE who BLEACHED HIS SKIN ON PURPOSE BECAUSE HE HATES HIS RACE and is ADDICTED TO PLASTIC SURGERY. Oh yeah, he SLEPT IN AN OXYGEN CHAMBER and he built Neverland in order to LURE children into his filthy clutches! BECAUSE REALLY, NOBODY CARES ABOUT THE FACTS ANYMORE, RIGHT?
	[PM me] ~ [HotSeat] ~ [Remixes] ~ [YouTube] When we arrive at eternity’s shore Where death is just a memory and tears are no more We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring Your bride will come together and we’ll sing: You’re beautiful! ~~~ The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Isaiah 57:1 R.I.P. MICHAEL I love you.

18th April 2010, 10:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheNarratorX It's all for ❤ - L.O.V.E. Off The Wall Poster!! Profile Name: Rachel Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: UK Age: 18 Gender: Posts: 430 Threads: 22 Thanked: 85 times Credits: 8,366 Awards	Yeah, that was a bit silly of her to be so open about it all. Most of the Jacksons are at it aren't they, trying to promote their gigs and that.
	You're beautiful, you're wonderful, incredible, I love you so ♥

19th April 2010, 12:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
mandy_april Everlasting Profile Name: Mandy Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Canada Age: 19 Gender: Posts: 2,814 Threads: 99 Thanked: 2,645 times Credits: 20,772 Awards Gifts	-sigh- Really now...I don't even know what to say. This is honestly not the time to be talking about Michael's "drug problems." We want justice for him, so people cannot be providing an escape for "Murray." She loves Michael and obviously knows a lot more about the situation than I do, but she's doing more harm than good. Janet did the same. Sorry. I love the family, but at times like this, I would expect some of them to do something else. I hope La Toya does all of the speaking from now on. She's the only one who is solely putting the blame on "Murray," which is exactly what has to be done. Thank you La Toya.
	A star can never die. It just turns into a smile and melts back into the cosmic music, the dance of life. I love you Michael. 1958-Forever Avatar & Signature by me. Texture provided by: Feel Resources

19th April 2010, 12:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
escales20 Thriller Poster!! Profile Name: Elizabeth Swayyah Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Human Nature Age: 21 Gender: Posts: 608 Threads: 114 Thanked: 844 times Credits: 12,104	It doesn't matter whether the family admits to it or not,if the justice system is any good,they'll bust Murray anyway.But our Justice system over here is ****ed up so Murray could walk away regardless.
	“'Lies run sprints, but the truth runs marathons. The truth will win this marathon in court.'” -Michael Jackson My Stories: Personality Superstar Daddy Jackson Royalty Gone too Soon

19th April 2010, 12:35 AM	#5 (permalink)
Dria&&Michael4Ever JUHMPED APAWN BAD Poster!! Profile Name: Roshavonne XD Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Napping With MJ & Wylie :) Gender: Posts: 1,590 Threads: 45 Thanked: 1,475 times Blog Entries: 1 Credits: 17,750	Yeah Mandy, I totally agree. I'm actually suprised at Rebbie. She's the one Jackson, besides Katherine, who I truly looked up to just for the simple fact that they had rhino skin when it came to matters of publicity and fame, etc. The only thing about "intervening" that his siblings may have done was that they were simply trying to get in contact with him....but we know how Michael was sometimes I don't think it necessarily had anything to do with drugs-not now. Especially if others are saying he didn't have an addiction. (I'm still a little confused about some stuff though)
	"Although not publicly known, Burton's first choice for the role of Edward was Michael Jackson, but there were circumstances that made this impossible." ............

19th April 2010, 12:46 AM	#6 (permalink)
jetmapgirl30 Off The Wall Poster!! Profile Name: Nicole Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Indiana Gender: Posts: 296 Threads: 0 Thanked: 92 times Credits: 4,099	Ok, I could be wrong but the family having interventions, knowing Michael was in denial of having a problem. Has nothing to do with Murray defense. Michael died because murray gave him a powerful sedative. A sedative he had no business having and adminstrating in a home. Michael died from acute proporfol intoxication. He didn't die from anything else. In fact, just sedatives Murray gave him was in his system. No morphine, or whatever they say he use to take. I think Rebbie, Janet and the rest of the family is just being honest. They tried, they couldnt convince him. The whole thing is just sad. I love Michael. I wish he was still here. I'm thinking, they are wishing the same thing.

19th April 2010, 01:27 AM	#8 (permalink)
kingskid Off The Wall Poster!! Profile Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Jamaica Gender: Posts: 340 Threads: 3 Thanked: 260 times Credits: 2,725	sigh ..I honestly don't know what to think about this anymore. I know they must have known better than anyone, since they are his family and everything..but I just can't stop thinking about how all this is further tainting Michael's reputation and his legacy. It's bad enough that the justice system is so messed up, Murray (who I STRONGLY believe is to be blamed for this) may end up getting away with a couple years in prison or some crap like that....but all of this, in my opinion, is giving the media, and everyone else, the idea that Michael ended up a druggie like so many others before him. So they are now starting to add to the list of the horrible things he's been called..a drug addict. We all now how they will spin it..and repeat it..over and over..

19th April 2010, 01:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
Puffy Music & Me Poster! Profile Join Date: Jan 2010 Gender: Posts: 55 Threads: 0 Thanked: 9 times Credits: 470	rebbie Rebbie: i know what it is like to loose a sibling..nothing is ever the same again..nothing..i also know how hard this must have been for you to share...puffy

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