Wax Poetics # 37

Though far from an all-encompassing Michael Jackson tribute issue, we still had to show how much MJ meant to us. We go back to Indiana and explore his hometown, talk to the Mizells about the Corporation, and chat with songwriters that MJ paired with through the years. Also: Wah Wah Watson, Bertram Brown, Nicky Siano.

Featured Articles:
The Corporation
When asked about the breakup of the Corporation, the team of Motown Records songwriters responsible for the Jackson 5's biggest hits, Fonce Mizell is coy, if not straight-up avoidant.
Wah Wah Watson
"Working with Wah Wah is a real collaboration," says Herbie Hancock. "It's not like I had the overview and he was able to come up with different ways to express it. He is part of shaping the overview."
Nicky Siano
"David Rodriguez was my mentor and gave me all these DJ rules," Siano recalls. "Like, don't cut off the record before the vocal finished, and get to know your records."

Also includes:

Re:Discovery
Jermaine Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, the Finger 5, the Jacksons, Charlie Chaplin
The Mackrosoft
Ceremonies of sound from jazz-funk shaman
The Phenomenal Handclap Band
Brooklyn DJs-turned-producers forge rock-dance hybrid
Mayer HawthorneSoul's new breed kicks old-school Detroit harmonies
Illa J
Detroit's baby brother steps to the mic with help from another
Shawn Lee
Prolific producer trades instrumentals for fundamentals
Lee FieldsSoul veteran scores masterpiece with the help of Brooklyn's sophisticated funk
The Emperor Machine
Andy Meecham brings synth sophistication to the dance floor
Record Rundown
DJ Frane basks in a garden of vinyl delights
Goin' Back to Indiana
The sun set on a former steel town as the first family of soul rose to fame
Well-Oiled Machine
The Jacksons churned out hits with Motown's Corporation
Going for Self
With the help of hit-maker songwriters and producers, MJ charted his own destiny
The Transformation
Filmmaker John Landis created a monster with Michael Jackson's Thriller
Funky Vocab
Wah Wah Watson spoke a new language with the rhythm guitar
Incorruptible Message
Producer Bertram Brown kept righteous reggae alive in Greenwich Farm
In the Gallery
New York DJ Nicky Siano made an art of mixing records
Analog OutRoland D-50: distinctive synth of MJ's Bad