Michael James Jackson

1945 - 2022

June 20, 1945 - July 13, 2022 Born in Chicago, raised in Beverly Hills by his single mom, the smart, creative and colorful Fran Jackson-Harrison, a manager of major recording artists (Peggy Lee and Nat King Cole). Michael loved his "magical" California childhood, surfing and gradually finding his way into the music business that he loved, after studies at UCLA.
Finishing a vagabond world tour from Veracruz to Marrakesh, Michael talked his way into a "stock boys" job at A&M Records and at 23, he launched his ever more successful career as a record producer, engineer and music supervisor for many major films. Best known for his long collaboration with KISS, band founder and guitarist Paul Stanley said "My dearest and best buddy for 40 years, Michael James Jackson, has died. Heartbroken."
Michael produced many other artists including LA Guns, Paul Williams, Lauren Wood, The Animals, Jesse Colin Young, De La Soul, Little Richard, Pablo Cruise and more. Michael received seven Gold and five Platinum RIAA record awards. He was a beacon of intelligent curiosity and literacy in the often tumultuous recording industry.
Michael served as music supervisor on film Ishtar, starring Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty, where he also produced it's memorable music video. Other films included Forever Lulu with Patrick Swayze and Melanie Griffith, Point Break with Swayze and Keanu Reeves, Gleaming the Cube with Christian Slater, Split Decisions with Gene Hackman and the landmark No Nukes documentary with Jesse Colin Young.
In a partnership with Graham Nash, Michael co-authored Off the Record, a remarkable coffee table edition devoted to great songwriter's seminal work, and illustrated by them as well. The book includes David Crosby, Grace Slick, Ben E. King, Waylon Jennings, Graham Nash, John Lee Hooker, Peter Yarrow, Joni Mitchell and others. It sold at Neiman Marcus for years, is now a collectible. More recently, Michael just finished a draft of his autobiography, an insider's look at the music and film business, and the "magical, passionate experience of the Southern California creative life".
He is survived by his devoted life partner of the last eleven years, Cathey Paine; her daughter Rhiannon Bancroft; and his beloved grandchildren, Stella and Willow Bancroft. Of them Michael said "there is at the core of us a genuine longing for tenderness and compassion, without which we would never be whole."
A memorial service will soon be announced, and for those interested in supporting Michael's memory, donations in his name are suggested for the Psychoanalytic Center of California and the Cambodian Children's Fund.