This episode centers on artists whose lives and careers ended far earlier than they should have, with Michael Jackson as the anchor point. Leslie and Tim start with the upcoming biopic Michael, starring Jackson’s nephew Jafaar, and use it as a springboard to revisit the arc of Michael’s career — from the Jackson 5 to Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad, and beyond.

They talk about the early Motown years, the family dynamic, and the first time the world saw the moonwalk during Motown 25. Tim walks through the Quincy Jones era and the studio musicians who shaped those albums, including Toto’s Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro. Leslie shares memories of seeing the Jacksons in concert as her very first live show, and the two of them revisit the Pepsi commercial accident, the This Is It documentary, and the shift in Michael’s life and music afterward.

The episode also digs into the craft behind the songs — the bass lines, the stereo mixes, the production choices, and the difference between hearing a song and listening with intent. It’s a mix of nostalgia, discovery, and appreciation for an artist who changed pop music and left far too soon.

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The post 11. Gone Too Soon – Michael Jackson first appeared on Mosaic of Music.