The music and performance legacy of Michael Jackson comes to South Shields with King of Pop, a live production featuring tribute performer Navi and Jackson’s former guitarist Jennifer Batten.
Navi has spent years recreating Jackson’s performances and was used by Jackson as an official body double as well as performing at two of his birthday celebrations. Joining him is Jennifer Batten, who performed alongside Jackson on his Bad, Dangerous and HIStory world tours and appeared in his famous Super Bowl performance.
Together with a live band and dancers, the production revisits the songs, choreography and visual spectacle associated with one of the most influential figures in modern popular music.
Michael Jackson’s career forms an important part of modern Black music history.
Beginning with The Jackson 5 and continuing through his enormous solo career, Jackson carried traditions of Black American soul, R&B, funk and dance into global popular culture. The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame describes his music as crossing cultural and racial boundaries and continuing to influence generations of performers.
His career also transformed expectations around the music video and live performance. Thriller in particular became a landmark in the development of music video as a serious creative form, while Jackson’s dancing became almost as recognisable as his recordings.
For Black History Month, a show like King of Pop provides an opportunity to recognise Black history through popular culture as well as politics and social history.
Jackson’s influence can be heard and seen across generations of singers, dancers and performers.
This South Shields production brings that legacy back to the stage through the songs, musicianship and choreography that made his performances such a significant part of global popular culture.
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King of Pop
The music and performance legacy of Michael Jackson comes to South Shields with King of Pop, a live…