RICORDI DI BILL BRANCA!!

mArTy!! Inviato: 07 Dic 2010 08:15 am

MICHAEL JACKSON, BUBBLES, ANGELA AND ME:

I had the pleasure of meeting MICHAEL JACKSON on many occasions, first, at my brothers wedding. I will never forget it. I had the pleasure of sitting next to "Bubbles" in his Christian Dior Tuxaudio, the chimp was dressed better then I was. Michael, had brought his own chef to cook the food for him and Bubbles, I also, remember bubbles not really liking the food that Michael's chef prepared very much. Bubbles was not very happy, and my sister quest to feed the chimp!
So my sister Angela, felt sorry for Mr. Bubbles and went into the kitchen and found a bunch of Bananas! Yes, she took the Banana to Bubbles; the personal chef was not pleased, however, Bubbles was! Within one second, Bubbles, had unpeeled a Banana and in one bit, it was all gone. This went on until all the Bananas were gone. Needless to say, Bubbles, was very fond of my sister after that, and they pretty much were inseparable for the rest of the evening... or for that matter, the next few years...

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WITH MICHAEL JACKSON

So back in the mid 90’s, I had the pleasure of hanging out with Michael Jackson at the recording studio. Teddy Riley was producing a track on Michael’s album; I knew Teddy through my client Martin Lawrence and Teddy’s manager Harvey Elkin invited me to the studio for a recording session. I walked in and there was Michael Jackson standing in the corner, Harvey took me to Michael and introduced me, however, I reminded Michael that we met a few years earlier at my brothers wedding in Beverly Hills, Ca. Yes, he then remembered me and invited me to have dinner with them at the studio. Michael was also very impressed that I was John Branca’s brother. Michael was very fond of my brother and my brother was Michaels Attorney for the better part of the 80’s and represented Michael through the height of his career. Michael was then very curious on what I did, and I told him I was a Talent Agent and represented young comedians. Michael was fascinated, and when I told him I represented Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Tommy Davidson, Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, he was blown away. He was a very big fan of Tommy Davison, he remembered Tommy from In Living Color, and Tommy would do a parody of Michael Jackson on the Television Show, I remember Michael saying he enjoyed watching Tommy Davidson imitating himself, Michael, took it very well, and was quite amused. Michael even asked me if I could take him to the Comedy Store on Sunset blvd, so he can see Tommy Davidson live and meet him. I told Michael that I would set it up and we can sneak him in through the kitchen a make a night of it.
Michael went on and asked me many question about my life, my family, my childhood, my my family.
Michael was very interested in my life, and my routine, my career. I was taken back somewhat, hear I am having dinner with this ICON, this person who is larger then life, and hew was so very interested in my life, my career, and my childhood, and my family. After our dinner, Michael asked if I would like to watch a movie with him, of course I would what did you have on VHS, Michael said he loved the movie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I told Michael I never saw it and I would love to watch it with him. So Harvey Elkin, put the video into the VHS player and we watched the entire movie. Teddy had left to go back into the studio to listen to the sound tracks, Harvey was cleaning up the table after dinner and Michael Jackson and I sat in front of the TV and enjoyed the movie. After the movie, it was after midnight, I felt that I should be going. I said goodbye to Michael and thanked him for his hospitality. Michael made it a point for me to tell my brother to call him; he had not spoken to him in a wile and had some new business to discuss with him.
The next day I called my brother, John and shared with him the very surreal evening I had the night before with Michael Jackson… My brother ended up calling Michael a few days later, and sure enough they reconnected on so new projects. Michael then, called my brother a few weeks later, invited him to Cirque du Soleil, and asked my brother to invite me to join them. I could invite a friend to come along, so I really did not have a girl in my life to take worthy enough to take, so I invited my best friend and business partner, Worthy Patterson. It was quite a trip! We met Michael in his condominium in West wood. My brother went inside to get Michael and Worthy and I waited in the car, I was thinking that Michael would ride with us to Santa Monica. My brother cane outside alone and told me that Michael was getting his car, and that my brother was going to drive with Michael, and we would follow. My brother then gave me the keys to this Cornice Rolls Royce and I followed Michael Jackson, who by the way was driving a tricked out customized Van. I remember following Michael down Wilshire Blvd to Santa Monica, Ca. Let me say this, it was a hell of a ride keeping up with Michael, That boy can drive, unfortunately not very well. However, I was very impressed; it was just Michael Jackson and my brother in the Van, no security detail, with me and worthy “trying” to follow them.
And keep up…I distinctly, remember pulling up back stage at Cirque du Soleil, and there was security detail waiting for Michael, they waved him through and stopped me in the Cornice Rolls Royce.
Michael stopped the van and very quickly told the security “they are with me let them in” and to let us through. We parked next to Michael, an army of security escorted us into the show, Michael put on some sought of mask with a wig to cover his face, he then removed it when we were seated. They had the first row sectioned off, reserved for us. It was Michael, My brother, Worthy Patterson and me. Michael removed the costume, as soon as we sat down, it was dark and the show just started… I was expecting others to join us; however, no one did! It was just us. After the show, I remember, Michael was recognized, and many fans coming up front asking him to sign autographs, he graciously signed every autographic from his fans, and we were then escorted and given a behind the scenes tour of the performers tent. It started to get a bit crazy, with the fans and everything, and we knew it was time for us to go. Michael had put some sought of disguise on and the security hid him as he got back into the van with my brother, the windows were darkened and the van drove out first. Nobody suspected Michael was in the van, however, everybody thought Michael was in the Rolls Royce, and we had some trouble exiting the parking lot. Michael was well ahead of us however, he pulled over to the side and waited for us to catch up and we followed him back to his Condo in Westwood, Ca. I remember, he drove straight into the underground parking and I waited outside for my brother to come out. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to say goodbye to Michael, however my brother told me that Michael enjoyed our company and thank us for joining him.I feel sad because I lost touch with Michael Jackson and was not able to invite him to The Comedy Store to meet Tommy Davidson. My other client Martin Lawrence started his “You So Crazy” tour just after that and I Produced the Tour. Moreover, I was on the road with Martin Lawrence for the majority of 18 months. That was the last time I saw Michael Jackson at the Cirque du Soleil, in Santa Monica, Ca in the mid 90’s. I will always remember that Saturday afternoon.
MICHAEL JACKSON, BUBBLES, ANGELA ED IO:

Ho avuto il piacere di incontrare Michael Jackson in molte occasioni, in primo luogo al matrimonio di mio fgratello.
Non potrò mai dimenticarlo.
Ho avuto il piacere di sedermi accanto a "Bubbles" nel suo smoking di Christian Dior, lo scimpanzè era vestito meglio di me.
Michael aveva portato il suo chef per cucinare il cibo per lui e Bubbles, ma ricordo che a Blubbles non piaceva proprio quel cibo. Bubbles non era molto felice, mia sorella si mise alla ricerca di qualcosa per fare mangiare la scimmia.
A mia sorella Angela dispiaceva per il signor Bubbles e andò in cucina, trovò un casco di banane!!
Sì, lei ha preso le banane a Bubbles, il cuoco personale però non era contento, ma Bubbles invece sì!!.
Dopo un secondo Bubbles aveva solo bucce di banane. La cosa andò avanti fino a quando tutte le banane erano sparite.
Inutile dire che Bubbles si affezionò molto a mia sorella dopo tutto questo e che non si separarono per il resto della serata.



IL CIRQUE DU SOLEIL E MICHAEL JACKSON:



Torniamo a metà degli anni '90, ho avuto il piacere di uscire con Michael Jackson allo studio di registrazione.
Teddy Riley stava producendo una traccia nell'album di Michael, conoscevo Teddy attraverso il mio cliente Martin Lawrence e il manager di Teddy Harvey Elkin, mi ha invitato in studio per una sessione di registrazione.
Sono entrato e c'era Michael Jackson in piedi in un angolo, Harvey mi portò da Michael e mi presentò, però Michael si ricordò che ci eravamo conosciuti al matrimonio di mio fratello qualche anno prima a Beverly Hills, CA.
Sì, si ricordò di me e mi invitò ad entrare. Michael era molto colpito dal fatto che io ero il fratello di John Branca. Michael era molto affezionato a mio fratello e mio fratello era stato il suo procuratore per la maggior parte degli anni '80 e lo ha rappresentato.
Michael è stato poi molto curioso su quello che ho fatto, e gli ho detto che ero un agente alla ricerca di talento e di giovani comici. Michael era affascinato, e quando gli dissi che ho rappresentato Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Tommy Davidson, Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, è rimasto scioccato.
Era un grande fan di Tommy Davison, si ricordava di Tommy In Living Color, e Tommy aveva fatto una parodia di Michael Jackson nello show televisivo, mi ricordo che Michael disse che si era divertito a guardare se stesso imitato da Tommy Davidson, Michael l' ha presa molto bene , ed era piuttosto divertito.
Michael mi ha anche chiesto se potevo portarlo al Comedy Store sul Sunset Blvd, così da poter vedere dal vivo Tommy Davidson e incontrarlo. Ci intrufolammo tramite l' ingresso della cucina per poterlo incontrare.
Michael andò su e mi fece poi molte domande sulla mia vita, la mia famiglia, la mia infanzia. Michael era molto interessato alla mia vita, e la mia routine, la mia carriera. Mi meravigliai perchè mi sembrava strano che io fossi a cena con una icona mondiale che si interessava comunque alla mia vita. Dopo la nostra cena Michael chiese se mi sarebbe piaciuto vedere un film con lui, andammo a vedere Le Tartarughe Ninja. Quindi Harvey Elkin mise il video nel lettore VHS e abbiamo visto il film intero. Teddy era andato via per tornare in studio per ascoltare le tracce audio, Harvey stava pulendo il tavolo dopo la cena e Michael Jackson e io guardavamo la tv.
Dopo il film, è stato dopo la mezzanotte,sentii che dovevo andare. Ho detto addio a Michael e lo ringraziai per la sua ospitalità.
Il giorno dopo chiamai mio fratello e condivisi con lui la mia surreale serata...lui chiamò Michael pochi giorni dopo. Michael quindi, chiamò mio fratello un paio di settimane più tardi, lo invitò al Cirque du Soleil, e chiese a mio fratello di invitarmi a unirmi a loro.
Portai con noi il mio amico Patterson. E' stato un bel viaggio!! Abbiamo incontrato Michael nel suo condominio di West Wood.
Mio fratello andò dentro e io aspettai in macchina, pensavo che Michael sarebbe venuto con noi invece sarebbero andati in macchina e io li avrei seguiti. Mio fratello poi mi ha dato le chiavi di questa Rolls Royce Corniche e seguii Michael Jackson, che tra l'altro era alla guida di un Van personalizzato.
Mi ricordo che verso Wilshire Blvd. a Santa Monica, CA. Lasciatemi dire questo, era un inferno di un giroè stato un inferno stare al passo con Michael, quel ragazzo non guidava molto bene.
Tuttavia mi ha molto impressionato: erano proprio Michael Jackson e mio fratello nel Van, nessun dettaglio di sicurezza, con me addirittura che cercavo di seguirli.
Ricordo che dietro le quinte del Cirque du Soleil c'erano i bodyguard in attesa di Michael. Michael si fermò e disse "sono con me lasciateli passare". Parcheggiammo accanto a Michael, un esercito di sicurezza ci scortò allo show, Michael cercò di nascondersi con una parrucca che poi tolse quando ci sedemmo. La prima fila era riservata per noi.
Mi aspettavo che altri si unissero a noi, tuttavia non accadde.
Era solo per noi. Dopo lo spettacolo ricordo che alcuni fans lo riconobbero e gli chiesero autografi, che lui gentilmente firmò, poi ci portarono a conoscere gli artisti.
A causa dei fans tutto incominciava ad essere pericoloso, allora capimmo di dover andare.
Michael aveva un van con i vetri oscurati. Nessuno sospettò che Michael era nel furgone, però tutti pensarono che Michael era nella Rolls Royce, e avemmo avuto qualche difficoltà a uscire dal parcheggio. Michael era ben più avanti di noi però, accostò di lato e ci aspettò, poi tornammo a West Wood.
Mio fratello poi venne con me e purtroppo non ho avuto la possibilità di dire addio a Michael, però mio fratello mi ha detto che Michael è stato bene con noi e ci ringraziava.
Sono triste perchè ho perso il contatto con Michael Jackson, Martin Lawrence il suo "You So Crazy" tour subito. Inoltre sono stato in tour con Martin Lawrence per la maggior parte dei 18 mesi. Quella fu l'ultima volta che ho visto Michael Jackson, presso il Cirque du Soleil, a Santa Monica, a metà degli anni '90. Ricorderò per sempre quel pomeriggio di Sabato.

( http://williambranca.blogspot.com/2009/06/cirque-du-soleil-with-michael-jackson.html )