Seshmi Robertson
Central Florida on Demand
When Michael Jackson's album Thriller took the world by storm in the 1980's there one local music guru who played a major role in the album's success. He says from the first time he met Michael, he knew there would never be another King of Pop.
"My wife Bea came down from the house, and she was in tears already, and she said - Michael's gone. And it was a horrendous shock," said legendary recording engineer and music producer Bruce Swedien.
For Swedien news of Michael Jackson's death was more than losing a pop superstar, but losing a friend, he worked with everyday. "Every minute of every day," said Swedien.
Swedien worked as a recording and mixing engineer on many of Jackson's early albums including Thriller, Bad, and Off the Wall.
"Did you know that then, when you were with him, that this man's going to be a phenomenon?” I asked.
"No question about it. I could tell from how different Michael was. There's some people that come to the studio half-steppin. Not really well prepared - never the case with Michael. Michael was the top. Absolute best," said Swedien.
Working with the best since 1977, Swedien's Ocala studio is like a portrait of Jackson's career, and pop history.
"In this room you'll see a whole lot of gold and platinum. More platinum than gold. Now here's a really unusual one, every flag that you see here is one of 22 countries where the Bad album was platinum. Isn't that something," said Swedien.
Swedien writes about his time with Michael in his new book called In The Studio With Michael Jackson, where he chronicles the time that they spent together over the years. The book was set to be released in October but since Michaels death that release date has been pushed up to July 27.
This was just a taste of Swedien’s remarkable stories. On Central Florida on demand, the music producer gives us a tremendous insight into Michael Jackson as a recording artist and the creation of the Thriller Album. Tune to our special Michael Jackson tribute section on Central Florida on Demand, Bright House Channel 300.