1978 Photoshoot
Michael Jackson was just 18 when he and the rest of the Jackson 5 had a daylong photo session with Gregg Cobarr in 1978 on a private lake in Westlake Village. Michael was relaxed, smiling and polite as he and his brothers chatted on the dock and tooled around on an electric boat.
Having just left Motown to work with Epic Records, the group was preparing for the release of “Destiny.”
“They were very excited about a new level of their career, new opportunities,” photographer Gregg Cobarr recalls of the
Jackson brothers and little sister Janet on that warm summer day in 1978.
31 years later, he still can recall details about the day, and about the very special young man he encountered in Michael Jackson.
Cobarr had been hired by Epic for the promotional shoot. A few of the photos were used in promotional materials, but the vast majority never saw the light of day — until now.
Teaming with Fine Art Management Corp., Cobarr has chosen to make a number of rare photos from that shoot available for online viewing and purchase. In addition, he has an exhibit of the photos up at the David W. Streets Beverly Hills gallery. Up since July 8, the solo exhibit will remain open through mid-August in the Contem-porary Art & Photography wing of the gallery at 9411 S. Santa Monica Blvd. The photos “pretty much have not been released for the public to see.”
To those who question his motives, Cobarr responds:
“I think people would think, ‘Oh look, they’re opportunists,’ but it’s not that at all. I want people to see the real Michael. They don’t know this Michael existed. They only relate to contemporary images.
The way the media got hold of him and twisted so many things about him. I wanted to let people see what I saw just this nice, gentle soul.”
To see the photos online, visit http://www.fineartmanagementnews.com.
Source: MJFC / http://www.venturacountystar.com / Images copyright Gregg Cobarr.