I watched the Michal Jackson movie last weekend.
I’ve always liked Michael Jackson. In fact, I was such a fan that the very first piece of music I ever bought was a tape with music from his Victory Tour with the Jacksons.
His talent for music, dance and choreography were stellar and beyond comparison, and that alone made him special in my eyes.
But his kindness and compassion put him in a different league altogether.
He was not just a brilliant artist and entertainer. He was a gift to humanity.
I was just a kid when ‘We Are the World’ came out, but the song and the message behind it will stay with me forever.
Add to this the meaning behind the lyrics to some of his songs such as ‘Man in the Mirror,’ ‘Heal the World’ and ‘Earth Song,’ and you quickly understand why he meant so much to so many throughout the world.
It was plain to see that he cared very deeply for our planet, its people and for all the creatures that lived on it.
So for me, watching the movie was a treat, as it reminded me of the wonderful person that he was.
But what stood out for me in this movie wasn’t Michael Jackson at all.
It wasn’t even the actors, or the wonderful job that the creators of the movie had done.
It was something totally unexpected. It was someone that I didn’t even know about. And that person was Bill Bray, the man who had been Michael’s bodyguard since Michael was a child.
When I left the cinema, the dominant thoughts on my mind were about Bill Bray: how decent a human being he was and how kind and supportive he had been to Michael.
So I had to look him up when I got home.
But there wasn’t much about him.
There were some write ups (linked below) and even a few videos featuring images of Bill put up by other people, but there was nothing in the nature of what you’d expect: no ‘tell all’ biography, no magazine photoshoot, and not even one single interview!
A man who had known Michael since he was a child, travelled the world with him and seen every aspect of Michael’s life for decades…nothing!
But what I did see, only confirmed what I’d already learned: when the whole world was ready to either profit from Michael or tear him down, Bill was always there to do the opposite.
A quiet and stabilising presence, he was someone who never wanted to take but was there to give: to watch over Michael, keep him safe and be a father to him.
And what a beautiful thing that is!
I am so very grateful to that movie, and to the people who created it, for introducing me to the wonderful human being called Bill Bray.
Thank you so much Bill for being there for Michael and for being a shining example of what it means to be a decent human.
Michael is the undisputed King of Pop, but you Sir, have won a special place in my heart reserved for absolute legends.
I hope that you’re both together again, in heaven.
P.S. This video on Youtube contains lots of photos that show the closeness and the connection these two people shared:
Michael Jackson and Bill Bray his friend and head of security for 20 years
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