The 97th Academy Awards delivered a moment for Michael Jackson fans as Queen Latifah took the stage to honor Quincy Jones with a performance of “Ease on Down the Road.”
Jones, who passed away in November, was not only a music icon but also a key figure in Michael Jackson’s career. As the producer behind MJ’s groundbreaking albums Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad, his influence on the King of Pop’s sound is undeniable. Over his illustrious career, Jones earned 28 Grammy Awards, including six for his 1990 album Back on the Block.
Latifah’s tribute was extra special for MJ fans—it featured longtime Michael Jackson backup singer Dorian Holley and an electrifying ensemble of dancers, capturing the joyful spirit of The Wiz. Jones originally produced “Ease on Down the Road” for the 1978 film, where Michael Jackson and Diana Ross brought the song to life with their iconic duet.
The performance was a heartfelt salute to Jones.
To also note that the 3 first people to stand up and dance during the performance were, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both from the movie “Wicked” and Colman Domingo who is playing Joe Jackson in the upcoming biopic “Michael”.
Also if you watched the full Oscars, you will have noticed that “Heal The World” was playing and it seems the Estate of Michael Jackson gave permission to Michael Bearden, long time collaborator to Michael Jackson but also Musical Director for the Oscar.
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