Las Vegas Weekly

August 27, 2009 · 12:42 PM

LaToya Jackson steps in for Michael’s manager for Saturday’s events

By Robin Leach

Joe Jackson, right, with Kerry Simon at Palms Place.

Photo: Courtesy

Sad to report that Michael Jackson’s manager Frank DiLeo is unable to attend the Saturday celebrations planned here due to a sudden medical emergency. However, LaToya Jackson has agreed to join family patriarch Joe Jackson and eight other family guests at the various events being held at the Palms.

Joe, LaToya and their group will arrive shortly before the 3 p.m. musical tribute to Michael. The two-hour show at The Pearl in the Palms will feature numerous Strip entertainers, and you can get the full and latest rundown at VegasLovesMJ.com.

My friend and fellow celebrity journalist Steve Friess and Jersey Boys star Erich Bergen, who portrays Bob Gaudio in the hit musical at the Palazzo, organized the concert, which is a fundraiser for our Clark County schools’ music development programs.

I’m told that everybody from the TV cameras of E! Entertainment to the print journalists of Rolling Stone have been assigned spaces on the red carpet for the 7 p.m. unveiling of Michael’s Celebrity Star on the Brenden Theatres Walk of Fame at the Palms. I’ll host and emcee that dedication ceremony, and Palms President George Maloof and Brenden Theatres owner Johnny Brenden will be in the official party.

Michael’s star will go alongside those of Sylvester Stallone, Hugh Hefner, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Johnny Brenden’s grandmother, legendary Golden Age cinema actress Rhonda Fleming.

I can reveal that plans for the star had been discussed the past two years before Michael died on June 25. Michael had finally agreed to accept the star himself after the run of London This Is It concerts. The star will be presented to his father on what would have been Michael’s 51st birthday. A rare screening of Michael’s film Moonwalker, presented by our colleagues at CineVegas, will be screened after the star presentation.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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