FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2009
From:
Renee Page,
Publicist,
Believe It or Not Productions, Inc
772-584-1700
Reneelpage@comcast.net
http://reneelpage.blogspot.com/
TONY WILSON “THE YOUNG JAMES BROWN” Releases Song to Support Michael Jackson “WE CALL HIM PETER PAN”
An Original Tribute Song Written by Wilson for his friend in 2005
In the early 1980’s, Tony Wilson began his entertainment career as a Michael Jackson impersonator. He was so good at his job, that he was approached to be a body double and decoy for Michael Jackson during his “VICTORY” tour.
Wilson appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and was crowned the “Best Michael Jackson Impersonator”.
“He would use us for the decoy work,” Wilson said. “I would have on a glove and dark sunglasses in the limousine, and the crowd would come my way…and he’d be able to get in and get out.”
Wilson said he still has one of the microphones that Jackson used on his Victory tour. “What a pleasure it was to meet and work with Michael; the bonus was that I also got to befriend Joe Jackson, who, along with my Godmother Martha Reeves, greatly helped me in my career,” added Wilson.
In the early 90’s, Wilson began working with James Brown in two movies, FUNKPLAST and the BMW Short film, Beat The Devil. James Brown was so taken with Tony, that he officially endorsed him as the “YOUNG JAMES BROWN” and told him to “keep on being me”…and for the past 15 years, Wilson has kept that promise to James Brown, touring nationally and internationally with his Godfather of Soul Band which consists of several of James Brown’s original band members.
Wilson said that the last time he saw Michael Jackson was at James Brown’s funeral in 2006. “For me, personally, Michael’s passing is devastating because of the way people didn’t stand behind him. All these ‘entertainers’ are coming out now …but where were they when he was going through the hardest times of his life?” asked Wilson.
Wilson is referring to the child molestation trials in 2005, where everyone “seemingly abandoned Michael Jackson…not wanting to hurt their own reputations.” added Wilson.
“I never turned my back on Michael, and in fact, I wrote this song, WE CALL HIM PETER PAN, and sang it to my good friends Joe and Katherine Jackson in their living room in 2005. I never released it because the hurricane Katrina hit, exactly on Michael Jackson’s birthday, August 29th, and I was advised by my managers and record label to postpone it.
It was just bad timing, and I didn’t want Michael’s name to be associated with one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the US,” said Wilson.
According to Wilson, “NOW THE TIME IS RIGHT!” Wilson wants everyone to remember Michael Jackson in a positive way. “I hope this song changes the mindset of people and stops the negativity around his life…and death,” said Wilson.
Wilson was inspired to write the song in 2004, because of the Granada Television documentary Living with Michael Jackson with journalist Martin Bashir. It was shown first in the UK on ITV (as a Tonight special) on February 3, 2003 and in the US three days later on ABC, introduced by Barbara Walters.[1] Upon being requested by Bashir during the inventory, Jackson explained that the house’s theme of Peter Pan was so inspirational, because he felt ‘he was Peter Pan in his heart’.
“So many people made fun of Michael after this documentary; and many stars and entertainers rejected and avoided Michael after his statements, saying he was just ‘WACKO JACKO’. That hurt my heart so much, and I was so inspired to defend Michael, and his honor and love for children, that I wrote this song, WE CALL HIM PETER PAN”, emphatically stated Wilson.
Wilson’s goal is that someday, this song will be the inspirational song behind a movie or documentary, but for right now, he’d be happy with people just remembering Michael Jackson as he always saw himself, as ‘Peter Pan’.
Since the release of the song, Wilson has been interviewed by Fox News, and Palm Beach Television stations 12, 25
(http://www.wpbf.com/news/19875488/detail.html)
and 5. WPLTV’s story was picked up by CNN and MSNBC
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31576221/ns/local_news-w_palm_beach_fl/)
Wilson has been tweeting, facebooking, making comments on every site, and sending emails by the hundreds since MJ’s death, all to get this simple message out: “PLAY IT AND PASS IT ON”.
Wilson is not worried any monetary gains at this point; he simply wants the song to be played and the link to be passed on. Wilson has provided a free download on his site for anyone wanting to play it and pass it on.
http://www.box.net/shared/static/5evsi83kmu.mp3
ABOUT TONY WILSON
Tony Wilson, endorsed as the YOUNG JAMES BROWN by the Godfather of Soul himself, is a Chicago native, and has entertainment in his blood. Since a teen, Tony has been performing and electrifying audiences with his own style, showmanship, charisma and especially, his dance moves.
In his 20’s, Tony realized that he had an excellent future as a performer, and began entering contests such as the Apollo, and other venues. Tony was actually crowned the Best Michael Jackson Entertainer, and asked to be on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson’s father, took an interest and liking to Tony, and today, Tony continues to look up to Joe Jackson as a mentor and friend.
From that infamous day on Oprah, Tony’s life changed. Soon, major entertainers such as James Brown himself were calling on him for movie roles, to be a stand-in, or to even back them with his band. James Brown saw Tony perform, and was so impressed with his unique style and showmanship, he asked Tony to be in Tony Scott’s Internet-only short film “Beat the Devil”. Additionally, at James Brown’s behest, Tony was personally selected by James Brown to portray the Young James Brown in “Funk Blast”.
But James Brown was not the only celebrity seeking Tony’s talent; in fact, Tony was not only making a reputation for himself as a versatile singer who could harmonize with the best and belt out anything from Nat King Cole Barry Manilow; Tony was not only being recognized for his unbelievable moves and grooves…..such as moon-walking on his head, doing flips into splits, or spinning 4-5 times around like Michael Jackson; Tony was being recognized by his own peers, celebrities and political leaders, for his musical direction composition and dedication to children.
Tony is currently working on his newest project, the REST IN PEACE TRIBUTE TOUR, as well as with the World Conference of Mayors founder Johnny Ford, to Proclaim May 3rd as James Brown Day and produce Mayor’s Music Festivals in every city. Of course, Tony will regrettably be adding Michael Jackson to his list of songs, and will close out every performance with WE CALL HIM PETER PAN.
Tony Wilson Direct Contact information:
561-541-5765 or YOUNGJAMESBROWN@aol.com
Websites:
LINKED IN: http://www.linkedin.com/in/youngjamesbrown
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/YOUNGJAMESBROWN
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/YOUNGJAMESBROWN
FACEBOOK:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=721091298&ref=name
BLACK PLANET: http://www.blackplanet.com/youngjamesbrown/
Promo Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/godfatherofsoulband
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_699oFZmE1c&feature=related
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=54
source: Tony Wilson & Renee Page
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