Suzanne de Passe on Jackson Five's Rise

0:00It's April 25th. This is Entertainment and Celebrity News today, driven by AI, what everyone's talking about. Susanne de Passe played a huge role in launching the Jackson 5 to start them back in the late 1960s. As a creative assistant to Motown Boss Barry Gordy, she spotted the young group performing a capella, and knew they were special. She pushed Gordy hard, even though he was skeptical about Kid Axe after dealing with Stevie Wonder's antics. She first saw them at producer Bobby Taylor's place, where the five brothers Jackie, Tito, Germaine, Marlon, and Michael blew her away with four songs. Formed in 1964, they hid big with, I want you back, at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 by 1969. De Passe wouldn't quit until Gordy gave them that audition. Michael was just a playful kid back then, only five when the group started in 10 by signing time. De Passe remembers him hiding in her hotel room on tour, peeking out with a boo, earning

1:00him the nickname Casper, the friendly ghost. She called Marlon Dudley, like the straight arrow cartoon character, for three decades straight. At the Hollywood premiere of the new Michael Biopic on April 20th, the now 79-year-old producer praised Far Jackson for nailing his, Uncle Michael's essence. She says that's what makes the film stand out. From the production and cast, De Passe herself appears in the movie, played by Laura Harrier, calling it good, but weird. Catch Michael in theaters now, it's a nod to that Motown magic she helped spark.