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Michael Jackson's father responds to Quincy Jones claim that he 'stole a lot of stuff' from other artists

Father of the late artist said if Jackson's songs did borrow from other artists then Jones himself was to blame

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Sunday 18 February 2018 10:49 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Michael Jackson’s father Joe Jackson has claimed Quincy Jones was “jealous” of his son “because he’s never worked with someone with all of that talent”.

Jones, who has produced and worked with artists including Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Paul Simon and Miles Davis among others, caused controversy with a frank interview with Vulture earlier in February.

During the talk, he claimed Jackson “stole a lot of stuff” from other artists, and alleged that the iconic bass riff on his hit single “Billie Jean” was lifted from “State of Independence”, recorded by Donna Summer in 1982.

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“The notes don’t lie, man. He was as Machiavellian as they come,” Jones said. Asked how, he responded: “Greedy, man. Greedy. “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” — Greg Phillinganes wrote the c section. Michael should’ve given him 10 percent of the song. Wouldn’t do it.”

Joe Jackson told Page Six that if there is a similarity between Michael and Summer’s songs, then Jones himself is to blame.

“He says my son stole it, but he was the producer on both [‘Billie Jean’ and ‘State of Independence’], so if anybody is wrong it would be Quincy,” he said, reiterating that he believed that no part of “Billie Jean” was lifted.

Other members of Jackson's family spoke to Page Six and claimed Jones had "quietly carried a vendetta" against Jackson after they reportedly fell out more than 30 years ago.

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