André Rieu Touches Jermaine Jackson

JERMAINE  JACKSON

*Jermaine Jackson was born in Gary Indiana on 11 December 1954
*After his number one hit with Pia Zadora in the fall of 1984, he singularly scored a fourth place on the hit parade in the Netherlands with his "Do what you do."
*For a while now Jermaine Jackson is also performing with brothers as "The Jacksons." After the concert of "The Night of the Proms" the four singers will again perform in the Netherlands in the Amsterdam Heineken Music Hall on 7 March 2013.

André Rieu touches Jermaine Jackson

"When André let me listen to the classical version of "Ben" and "The Earth Song" both songs by my brother Michael, I cried. The manner in which the orchestra played the songs of my departed brother, were for me very emotional."

André’s Click With Jermaine

Jermaine Jackson is in Maastricht to work on new songs with André Rieu for a new album by the Johann Strauss Orchestra. The violinist and the American singer totally match musically.

By: Peter van de Berg.
He belongs to one of the best known families in the world. Is everywhere and continuously in the spotlight. He is a star at his best, but behaves quite on the contrary. He is rather a shy man. Through a hedge of cameramen he rather shyly entered the studio of the Johann Strauss Orchestra. He speaks almost in a whisper, just like his departed brother Michael always did. But when he stands next to André singing his number one song "When the rain begins to fall", the artist in him emerges. That is immediately captured on film by orchestra members with mobile phones at the ready. 

For the second time in a few months Jermaine  Jackson (58) is André Rieu’s guest in Maastricht. Their cooperation is being sealed with his contribution to the new album of the Waltz king "André Rieu and Friends." Prior to that he and the orchestra recorded the jazz standard of "Autumn Leaves", and his greatest number "When the Rain begins to fall", originally a duet with Pia Zadora. Jackson is also going to work with Rieu on a new song. "Jermaine already has that in his head, but we first have to see if we can transfer that to the piano" says André Rieu.

One world star meets another, which is how you could describe the cooperation between André Rieu and Jermaine Jackson. "Do you know that Jermaine is a fan of me" quips André after the two have been rehearsing with the Johann Strauss orchestra for two and a half hours. "When he was here in November, his laptop appeared to be filled with my music. I am honored by that."

Jermaine Jackson laughs. The singer, who together with his brothers Michael, Jackie, Tito and Marlon became famous as "The Jacksons", is not in Maastricht for the first time. In 1984 he was in the Limburg capital for a European promotion of "When the rain begins to fall" with which the Maastricht record producer Charly Prick was also involved. And although the Jacksons conquered the world with funky pop, such as "Can you feel it,Blame it on the Boogie and Shake your body (down to the ground), Jermaine  Jackson is also very interested in a classical repertoire. "Michael always told me to sing with an orchestra. I love André’s music. When I was here in November, André let me listen to his version of "Ben" and "The Earth Song". He had especially recorded those after the death of Michael. I cried when I heard those numbers. The passion and emotion in André’s music touched me deeply." 

Jackson and Rieu do not only share their interests in classical music. There is something else that binds them: the greenhouse in the garden of violinist’s castle "Home of the little towers." "André had invited me to his castle and I was immediately sold when I saw that beautiful greenhouse in his garden. At home in America, I also have a greenhouse filled with tropical plants. Nature really talks to me."

In a short period of time Jermaine Jackson has formed a bond with André Rieu. Towards the end of last year, the violinist attended a performance of "The Night of the Proms" by the Jacksons in Antwerp. Prior to the show he was backstage in the dressing room of the four American singers. "And there I noticed a similarity familiar with myself just prior to performing. They were just as nervous." Jermaine Jackson is accompanied by Carmen Boelen while in Maastricht. She has brought Rieu and Jackson together. "I have traveled a lot with Jermaine," she says. "We have known one another from the time when he was in Maastricht with Charly Prick."

The singer from the United States will stay in Maastricht, in southern Limburg until after the end of carnival. Besides his rehearsals he is also enjoying being a tourist visiting the surrounding areas. He popped up in a restaurant in Eijsden where he was photographed with the manager. "Maastricht is a very nice city with lots of historical buildings. In the coming days I am going to visit churches and take pictures." And then of course there is still carnival, the number one folk fest in the southern part of the Netherlands. "I am aware of carnival in New Orleans, which is celebrated there too, but in a different fashion. Will I put on a costume? I think the costume which André always wears when he is on stage is very nice." 

If it depends on Rieu and Jackson, this will not be a one-time collaboration. "I have been received very nicely in Maastricht and the people are all very friendly. In the future I would quite often like to do something." 

Note: Website www.limburger.nl has video and a picture album of Jackson’s visit to Rieu’s studio. 

Our thanks to John for his translation and sending this to us