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To : Michael Jackson

Saturday, Jul 4, 2009 3:52PM / Standard Entry

To : Michael Jackson

LETTERS FROM THE HEART

LETTERS FROM THE HEART ARE REAL STORIES THAT HAPPENED TO REAL PEOPLE, I HOPE EVERYONE CAN BENIFIT FROM THEIR EXPENIENCES.

I BELIEVE UNTIL YOU CAN PRACTICE MEDITATION ON A DAILY BASIS, YOU CANNOT BEGIN TO KNOW THE VALUE OF WHAT IT COULD DO FOR YOUR LIFE.

THE PAST IS WHAT IT IS .... THE PAST. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES AND NOT TO REPEAT THEM.

BEFORE I CAME INTO THE LIGHT AND WISDOM OF MEDITATION, I MADE CERTAIN DECISIONS THAT I STILL AM RESPONSIBLE FOR TODAY.

MY LIFE NOW IS DEDICATED TO THE CAUSE OF WORLD PEACE. I THOUGHT THAT BECAUSE I HAD PROBLEMS I COULD NEVER BE A SPOKES PERSON FOR WORLD PEACE. BUT NOW I KNOW THAT BECAUSE OF MY PROBLEMS IS WHY I WAS CHOSEN. I DO MY BEST TO FILL THE REMAINING DAYS OF MY LIFE ON EARTH WITH MERITS AND GOOD DEEDS. THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH PEOPLE WITH PROBLEMS, THIS IS WHY I TRY TO SHARE AT LEAST A SMILE WITH OTHERS EACH DAY.

NOW I AM IN LOVING KINDNESS ADDRESSING MY PAST ACTIONS IN WISDOM AND IN LOVE FOR THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU FOR READING.

Dear Michael,

My Daughter Sarah woke me up this morning at 7am to tell me of your passing. I was hoping this was some type of publicity stunt that only you or Houdini could pull off.

I remember the first day we met in the summer of 1979 when my family as on tour with your family. The Jacksons and The McCrarys. Did you know we used to be called The McCrary 5? Oh never mind, long story.

When my sister Charity introduced me to you with my brothers Alfred and Sam

at that swanky Texas house party you asked me if I was married and I told you I was separated from my wife Chaye and we were going through a divorce. That's when you folded your hands and said, "I will be praying for you." Then you introduced me to your beautiful cousin Jackie and folded your hands again and said, "I'll be praying for you."

10 minutes later you went to the other side of the room and made the praying gesture and smiled as you pointed at your cousin. I remember you doing this two more times before finally saying good night again saying I will be praying for you.

Michael right now I am praying for you. I am praying for you beautiful parents you introduced me to at The Omni Hotel in Los Angeles on your 45th private birthday party the evening your sister Janet asked me to play 'Triste' and her fiancée Mr. Dupree seemed a little upset as she held both my hands to thank me from her heart for 2 or or three full minutes for playing one of her favorite songs. It was so good to see Jackie that night and Tito and Randy too. Latoya was looking so beautiful as well. Every member of your family are so beautiful and gifted. I remember meeting up with Jermaine at Cocscos and as we shopped together we would talk all about you.

Do you remember that Christmas morning at your home in Beverley Hills when you and your children wanted to hear the children sing?

Seth Riggs called me and at your request asked me to arrange a choir of 12 children to sing at your home on Christmas morning.

I called my sister Charity and we contacted 12 of the best singing kids we knew, of course some of them being our own family members.

We had less than 48 hours to rehearse an coordinate this private production before the children got into the limousines from me and Tammy's home from Sherman Oaks to be convoyed to your Beverly Hills Estate.

Seth proudly was there that morning to vocalize all the young ones as I conducted as the children sang with charity accapella, 'Heal The World, Silent Night, Santa Clause Is Coming to Town ( Jackson style)' amongst other songs as they sang on you staircase and you and your children and family sat in that grand foyer combined with the Cathedral like acoustics I could hear additional voices of angels that morning. It was a sacred moment for us all.

As you hugged Charity and I to thank us we did a group hug with Seth and sumptuously enjoyed The Christmas Buffet you prepared for all of us. For these children it was a Christmas dream come true. If any of you children are reading this letter please share what that morning meant to you.

Your children Michael looked like cherubs.You were such a loving father.

Michael I could never understand how could the press could be so ruthless towards you. You are Michael The Angel.

I will never forget when I had the joy to work with Andre and Sandra Crouch on your Dangerous CD at Westlake Studio and we were recording the background vocals on 'Keep The Faith' and as Andre was conducting we came to an impasse for over 20 minutes until Andre turned to me and said, "Howard fix it!"

So I gave out the parts to the ascending figure of the word 'FAITH' leading to the release and you jumped up and down in the control room saying, "I Love It!"

It was that day you invited me up to the green room with my son Darius who was 12 years old at that time .He was part of a new TV sitcom called Family Matters and you told him, "I hear you have been hanging out with Bobby Brown, he is not a good influence. Here take my number and call me anytime. If you need someone to talk to or spend time with, I'll be there. The only thing is when you call don't ask for me or they won't put you through, ask for Norma Jean, it's the code name."

For the rest of that day at West Lake Studios he spent with you and was in heaven.

All the way home he held your private phone number in his hands aglow and raving about his new awesome friend.

As soon as we got home he asked if he could call you and I said yes of course.

So very excitedly Darius dialed the number and ask for Michael...click! Then he remembered the code name, called back and asked for Norma Jean...click!

Even still to this day he talks about that wonderful day he spent with you at the studio and learned the lesson of how important it is to follow instructions.

Once again and lastly when you went to trial in Santa Barbara and it seemed like the whole world turned their backs on you at another session producer Bruce Swedien pulled my sister Linda and I to the side and said,

"Howard and Linda , don't believe The Press. Michael is an angel... he would never hurt the children."

I never stopped believing in you or the pure soul that you are. I remember when you thanked my sister Charity and I for bringing 10 busloads of ministers and some of their members to support you during your trial at The Santa Barbara Courthouse. We had singers singing on behalf of you innocence and ministers interceding on your behalf for justice.

Thank you for graciously hosting all of us at Neverland not once but twice as we came to show you how much we loved you and believed in your innocence.

It is an outrage what some people will do for money. Greed, Delusion, and Anger is something you wanted to see our world healed of. Michael it's not too late. I know there are others like myself who believe in your dream that we can have a better world if we only Keep The Faith.

As I began writing this letter the sun was shining in Hong Kong and now as I close we are in a Typhoon...strange but Michael...I am not surprised you were always bigger than life and now we know that you are.

You and your music, your smile, your dance, but most of all your message will live in our hearts forever.

You not only are 'The King of Pop', you are also...'The King of Hearts'

We Love You Michael !

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQKFWwCQcsg

God Bless you,

Howard

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"I Love You"

Wednesday, May 27, 2009 8:02PM / Standard Entry

Greetings One and All,

With the remaining years of my life, I am endeavoring to fill it each day with good memories and good friends.

This is why I am sending this to you to thank you for being in my life.

Ivy and I wrote this song "I love you" with you in mind.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQKFWwCQcsg
(Please watch it in HQ)

Please enjoy and cherish the love.

Yours Truly

Howard

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Happy Birthday to Patrick

Monday, Jan 21, 2008 1:43PM / Standard Entry

This past Saturday night I went to Patrick's Birthday Party.It was a blast! We were greeted by Roseanne of 2R and there was a host of new friends Ivy and I met Patrick also introduced me to Jan of 'SoWhat'.

My good friend Justin and his beau Lindsey was there also with his brother Scott and his lady.I also met one of Jet Li's martial arts contemporaries, He Jingde. Terence Yin and Roseanne Wong brought out the birthday cake. It was a who's who of Hong Kong B'day party. The room was star filled to pay homage to The Dream Weaver.

Happy Birthday Patrick and may all your dreams come true in 2008!!!

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My First Hong Kong Blog

Friday, Dec 14, 2007 12:01PM / Standard Entry

Welcome to the official Howard McCrary Blog on alivenotdead.com, when I have more time I will write more but for now to learn more about who I am please read the 'About Me' section and also have a browse through my photos. I look forward to sharing my moments, thoughts and experiences with you all.

Howard Mac*

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Howard McCrary

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Traversing the worlds of gospel and secular music, multi-talented Howard McCrary has built a solid reputation as an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and musician whose resume includes some o...
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Traversing the worlds of gospel and secular music, multi-talented Howard McCrary has built a solid reputation as an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer and musician whose resume includes some of the most prestigious and important artists in contemporary music. Whether working with the likes of Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Edwin Hawkins or Andrae Crouch; performing in the popular gospel show Don't Get God Started; writing for the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra; or participating in successful animated cartoons like Mighty Joe Young, Howard McCrary brings a mix of artistry, enthusiasm, skill and positive energy to each and every project.

Born in Youngstown, Ohio, Howard grew up in a decidedly musical atmosphere: "My parents Luealfred and Charles McCrary had a great influence on my life. My mother played piano and my father was a choral master and we were associated with the Catherine Kuhlman Foundation, an interdenominational church. That's where I started singing," he recalls. One of ten siblings, Howard became a part of the family group known as The McCrarys with two of his brothers and two of his sisters. The team's initial work was in the gospel field. In the early '70s, the group performed throughout the U.S. Canada and on U.S.O. tours, recording one album Sunshine Day for Light Records.

In 1974, when the family decided to move from gospel to secular music, Howard decided to step out on his own, exploring his talents as a writer, arranger and accompanist. Five years later, he rejoined The McCrarys when the group recorded the album Just For You for Portrait Records. "We toured with The Jacksons, Gladys Knight, The O'Jays…and I stayed with the group for about a year," recalls Howard, who co-wrote the song "In Time" for Earth, Wind & Fire's 1980 gold double album, Faces.

Venturing back into gospel, Howard was hired as musical director for the ministry of evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Baker and after two-and-a-half-years working with the couple, Howard expanded his realm of musical activities: "I started working as a producer in 1985 and the same year, I got my own recording deal with Word Records. I co-produced the album, So Good and I was elated when I was nominated for a Grammy for "Best Gospel Performance, Male" for that record."

Establishing himself as a potent force in the gospel world, Howard worked with such notable artists as Larnelle Harris (on the Dove Award-winning album Give Me More Love In My Heart), Edwin Hawkins, Walter Hawkins and Andrae Crouch (all on various album projects).

During the late '80s, Howard traveled intermittently with various different evangelists and in 1987, he was given ASCAP's Duke Ellington award for most promising writer in gospel music and was commissioned to write a special piece (entitled "Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow") for the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra.

In an expression of his diverse talents, Howard became one of the vocalists for the famed California Raisins in 1988 and was featured on four best-selling albums by the group. In 1989, he became musical director and wrote songs for the highly successful play "Don't Get God Started" (starring The Winans and Vanessa Bell Armstrong) which enjoyed a critically-acclaimed run on Broadway.

As the '80s ended and the '90s began, Howard's workload accelerated considerably: he was featured as a background vocalist on Quincy Jones' best-selling Back On The Block: album, sang on records by James Ingram, Curtis Stigers and Andrae Crouch and arranged songs for BeBe & CeCe Winans' 1991 Different Lifestyles album as well as arranging vocal parts for the song "Keep The Faith" on Michael Jackson's 1992 multi-platinum set Dangerous.

He met Manager Tammy in '92 and began working with her sister, the legendary Chaka Khan in 1993 as keyboardist and musical director. In addition to touring with Chaka throughout the U.S., Howard traveled with her to Japan and Europe and it was during a stint in the U.K. that he appeared with her in the popular musical, Mama, I Want To Sing. Howard took up residence in London and toured throughout Europe performing jazz as well as writing the music and performing in the musical Shared Testament. After a couple of years in Britain, he returned to the U.S. in 1995, initially working as assistant to Bill Maxwell, the musical director for the UPN network show Good News.

Since the mid-'90s, Howard's schedule has been busier than ever. He worked with Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer on the film The Power Of One, lending his voice to characters in that movie, in Mighty Joe Young and in other animated cartoons, Hercules, Cats Don't Dance and Once Upon A Forest. Howard's studio activities have included production work with teen idol Jennifer Love Hewitt, soul diva Sandra St. Victor, gospel great Helen Baylor and successful R&B group Changing Faces.

He co-wrote and co-produced two of the tracks on Chaka Khan's 1998 Come 2 To My House album (including the title cut) and has done session work with Earth, Wind & Fire, Bette Midler, Nina Simone, Diana Ross and Huey Lewis & The News as well as participating with Chaka on producer Jermaine Dupri's 1998 set, 12 Soulful Nights Christmas.

Former Music Minister for the renowned West Angeles church in L.A. (from 1984-88) as well as for the Los Angeles True Faith Christian Center in Compton (2000-2002), Howard had contributed his many talents to supporting numerous important social causes. He started Vertex Entertainment, a record label distributed by EMI Records due to debut in 2003. "My role was to oversee the creative aspects of the label," he noted. "He produced some projects as well as recorded an album of his own. His main focus was to help and mentor young artists and support them in developing and enhancing their musical gifts."

Over the years, Howard also appeared on various TV Shows: Amen, the Jamie Fox Show, Good News, Family matters, In living Color, Dear John, General Hospital, The Tracey Ullman Show, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, etc.

Howard also appeared in the Tom Hanks Hit “Lady Killers” as well as in the Movie “Skeleton Key” with Kate Hudson.

For three years Howard has worked as a Vocal Stylist with the Legendary Seth Riggs.

He just recently spent about 2 year in Hong Kong, performing in various places, Music Clubs and Concert Performances.
Commercial Productions with Musicad, Hong Kong.

As a Hong Kong Film debut he performed on the Soundtrack of the Chinese Movie “Confessions of Pain”.

Other plans include launching "a new millennium television network, KX2 which will be youth-oriented with a humanitarian core" and always. As Howard himself says, "I think my main purpose this time on earth is to use my music and my life as a way to bring healing and contribute to world peace. Music is," he notes, "a thread that connects us all, a medium where we can find common ground and celebrate life." As both an entrepreneur and masterful musician, Howard McCrary has much to celebrate as he continues to find new ways to express his boundless artistry and contribute his multiplicity of God-given talents and skills.

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Occupation: Singer , Musician , Composer
Gender: Male
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