Detroit City Council has canceled Friday's street naming event to honor Michael Jackson. There is a misunderstanding between the council and the other members of the Jackson 5.
Michael Jackson Avenue was originally scheduled to be unveiled on a stretch of Randolph Street in Detroit City's theater district. The street naming ceremony was first announced last month, and the surviving members of the Jackson 5 were invited to perform at the event.
Why Was The Street Naming Event Canceled?
However, the members of the group were caught off guard when they recently found out that they will not be honored as part of the street naming event. They learned that the gathering was organized to only honor the late pop icon.
According to reports, an amendment was passed on by the Detroit City Council last year to prohibit ceremonial street designations for groups or members of organizations. This is why the council to just honor Michael individually.
As of late, no solution or compromise has been made between the Jackson 5 and the Detroit City Council. As such, they have decided to cancel the event altogether.
"We're still working through the process. The amendment to the ordinance is fairly new, and we're trying to understand what we can do. We still plan to do something for the Jackson 5," said Stephen Grady, chief of staff for council president Brenda Jones.
Jackson 5 To Perform At Detroit Music Weekend
In related news, the surviving members of the Jackson 5 will headline the second annual Detroit Music Weekend this week. Detroit plays a special part in the lives of the Jackson brothers.
Even though the majority of their songs were recorded in Los Angeles, it was in Detroit that they auditioned for Motown. It was also in the city that the Jackson 5 got signed by Berry Gordy in 1968.
"We've always made it clear, Motown introduced us to the world, but it was Bobby Taylor - and Gladys (Knight) - who found us and brought us to Motown. From there, it just happened. Matter of fact, we were in the studio with Bobby Taylor first, before anybody," said Marlon Jackson.
Michael Jackson's Death
Jackson 5 consists of Randy, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie Jackson. Michael was the youngest member of the group, but he passed away in 2009 due to cardiac arrest.
Toxicology reports also confirmed that a fatal cocktail of medications was found in his system. There was also an excessive amount of propofol in his body. Michael died at the age of 50.
