BY K.B.NAIR

LOS ANGELES, CA - The colorful musician Bappi Lahiri was in the city to record what he claims is the first tribute to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson by an Indian artist.  The recording and the shooting of the video were done at the Rusk Sound Studio in Hollywood. The song has been conceived, written and sung by Lahiri and has been produced by himself, Bikram Choudhury and Dr Chandra Khetani.

Bappi Lahiri got the news of Jackson’s passing away when in London. He had become his fan from the time he visited Mumbai in 1996 and had a meeting with him. He so admired him that he felt compelled to do the tribute to the late singer. Being that Jackson is also such a legend in India, he felt he owed it to both the singer and his admirers to make his endeavor a lasting impression.  The four minute song is entitled “Don’t Say Goodbye” and has being made in both Video and CD format. Lahiri terms it a Hollywood-Bollywood production in which part of the song is in English “Don’t Say Goodbye” and part in Hindi with the same message “Kabhi Alvida Nahin Kehna.”

Two singers who have collaborated with Michael Jackson on his records, Ricky Nelson and Terry Young, as also crooner Glenda Jones have lent their voices in this tribute. Rajashree Choudhury delivers the prelude and closing remarks in prose addressed directly to the King, assuring him he will never be forgotten.

Lahiri told India Journal, the media and Michael Jackson’s admirers in India are eagerly awaiting the tribute. He expects it will be released on all Indian TV channels by August 15th and should be available on Itunes not too much later.