In the later part of 2011, Joe Vogel’s long awaited book Man in the Music was published. Expectation had been high in the preceding weeks, because we had been promised a book that was not only positive, but one that also exposed Michael Jackson’s creative process and showcased his extensive body of work, which had been often ignored and undervalued by some critic’s. The book quickly became a promise well-kept, and the few who did criticize its merit, were soon silenced by the roar of approval from those who embraced it as an important and definitive piece of literature. Right upon its heels, another young author published his book, one which delves into a very close friendship spanning 25 years. Frank Cascio’s, My Friend Michael, is as different to Man in the Music, as it is to any other book that has been written, because it comes from a personal perspective owned solely by Frank. Yet, despite suspicion and criticism from fans, overall,...

 It happened almost the minute I walked off the plane. There was a feeling of familiarity, and of stepping back in time to 2010.I greeted friends that I had met last year, and met others for the first time. It was wonderful, yet strange to see the faces of those I had only communicated with via the internet and by telephone.Yes, this was familiar ground to me. Last year, I had left behind a piece of my heart and soul, and I expected to feel the same emotions I had at that time, but I didn’t. I expected to find Michael where I had felt his presence last year, but I didn’t. Instead, I sensed a difference in the air; a difference in me. Perhaps it was because the grief and pain wasn’t quite so raw and new, not so all-consuming. There was silent resignation within me that he had physically departed, and no more would we see the life-force shine from eyes that had on lit up our world. I know deep down inside I had already reached that acceptance long before my trip, but being...