Former record distributor remembers Jackson

Special Section: Remembering Michael Jackson

BARRINGTON, R.I.—Jack Sager was having the time of his life as an independent record distributor, representing a number of labels who got radio stations to play records.

Then he took a new label featuring Diana Ross and the Supremes, Mary Wells and other talent at Motown Records headed up by Berry Gordy in the 1960s.

“Something was happening,“ said Sager, who now lives in Barrington. “I felt it.“

While at the annual Motown dinner convention in 1968, he was treated to a performance by The Jackson 5.

“They were something special. It was incredible,“ he said.

After the show, Sager was backstage watching Randy Jackson play a conga drum when 10-year-old Michael Jackson walked up to him.

“He said, ‘That man over there tells me you’re a distributor. What’s that? What do you do for us?‘ He picked my brain. The kid was so intelligent, I couldn’t believe it,“ Sager said.

He said he never saw Michael again in person, but followed his career through the years.

“I thought he was going off the deep end. I felt kind of weird about it,“ Sager said.

He said he always in awe of his talent. Then, he heard news of Jackson’s death on the news on Thursday.

“I was heartbroken,“ Sager said. “He was a great singer and a great entertainer. What else can I say? I’m sorry he’s gone.“

Sager’s retired from the music business but said he’ll never forget the close encounters with the superstars, realizing that even though they all had incredible talent, they were, after all, human.

Related Story: AP: Jackson apparently had heart attack
Interactive: Michael Jackson Timeline
Audio Slideshow: Fan Reaction
Audio: Michael Jackson’s No. 1 Songs
Related Link: Michael Jackson Official Site
Question: Favorite No. 1 Jackson Song?
Question: Favorite Jackson Album?