![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
40 Years Later, Thriller's Grammy Sweep Still Resonates Professors Lil John Roberts and Mimi Jones, part of the team leading the upcoming Michael Jackson Ensemble concert, share their thoughts on the most successful album of all time.
By
Daniel Pesquera
February 28, 2024
Lil John Roberts serves as the concerts executive musical director.
Image courtesy of the artist
Image by Benjamin Brown
February 28 marks 40 years since Michael Jackson's game-changing album Thriller took home eight trophies at the 1984 Grammy Awards. His wins that night included Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Engineered Recording. This historic moment confirmed what many music fans already knew: Thriller was not only an all-time record (one that still holds strong as the best-selling album ever with over 50 million certified copies), but a masterpiece that would alter the direction of mainstream entertainment.
On April 12 and 13, Berklee will present Michael Jackson Ensemble: Human Nature as part of the college's spring Signature Series. Tia Fuller, professor of ensembles, is the shows executive director, along with Lil John Roberts, professor of ensembles and percussion, serving as executive musical director, and Mimi Jones, associate professor of ensembles, as director. Roberts previously worked with Jackson and toured extensively with Janet Jackson during her 1998 Velvet Rope tour.
In recognition of the anniversary, we spoke with Roberts and Jones about why Thriller has remained such a force that continues to inspire generations of artists.
This interview was edited for length and clarity.
How did this album change peoples perception about how a record could impact the global culture?Mimi Jones: Thriller set a new standard in multimedia across the board for music, music videos, cinematography, choreography, and storyline for a song. The production of the music was a great combination of pop/funk with elements of other genres. It was classic and revolutionary at the same time. Could you imagine creating a 13-minute music video at that time and even in our present day? Videos after this would now take more time to create an actual storyline and incorporate a much higher level of cinema instead of a cheesy ad for the song. It was also rare to see an African American man and his African American girlfriend admired and be the stars of the video, where they both were depicted in a beautiful and normal light, when so many movies still had Black people looking angry, menacing, or on drugs.
The album took home eight Grammys, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Engineered Album. Is there an aspect of Thriller that still stands out to you as particularly singular or genre-defining, such as the songwriting and the production?Lil John Roberts: The things that stand out to me is the production blend of programming and live musicians. They found a way to marry both and have it grooving so hard. The players were tight! My buddy Jerry Hey on the horn arrangements, David Paich, Tom Bahler, Brian Banks, Greg Phillinganes, David Foster, Jeff Porcaro, Steve Porcaro, Steve Lukather, and many, many others made profound contributions to the album. It changed the way that pop music sounded.
Professor Roberts, youve worked with Michael Jackson, and you toured extensively with Janet Jackson as well. What would you say are the essential hallmarks of successful entertainers such as Michael and Janet Jackson from the standpoint of creating and sustaining success as a performing artist?Roberts: The things that stood out to me working with Michael and Janet was how hard they worked and their dedication to the art, striving to reach perfection the best way they could. Even if it wasn't perfect, you had to bring your A-game all the time, and push past that to be even greater. We would rehearse for hours, days, weeks, months before we hit the road. We knew the parts in our sleep, and every night just got better and better! I didn't get to tour with Michael, but I did a session in the studio for him, and later on he reached out to me asking if I was interested. I was elated just being asked by him.
Do you have a favorite song from the record and why?Jones: This is such a difficult question; I seriously love every song on the record. The storytelling, harmonic movement, and production of all the sounds integrated in Human Nature were done so succulently, its like fine chocolate. Michaels voice is hypnotic. [It felt like] everyone needed this in their lives. The groove alone in Billie Jean gives us all an empowered feeling. Even if we didnt understand all the lyrics or what the song was about. Its edgy and kind of angry. I love that it has so many strings playing but has more of a rock edge.
Roberts: OMG! It's so hard to pick one song from that album that I like the most-they are all amazing! One that stood out to me was P.Y.T. because of the syncopated groove and those chipmunk-ish sounding background vocals in the chorus. But Billie Jean because of the video with the lighting up floor tiles was outstanding. But Thriller ? No question that is the one! The groove, the theatrics of the song, accompanied by the video of course. Game changing!
Talk to us about the upcoming Michael Jackson Ensemble concert at the Berklee Performance Center.
Members of the Michael Jackson Ensemble.
Image courtesy of the artists
Roberts: I'm very proud of the work that we are all putting in for the MJ Ensemble tribute, from the professors Tia Fuller, Mimi, Jhony Keys, Anthony Burrell, and myself; along with the creative team, the band, and the students (vocalists and band, programmers, dancers)-it's a lot! We have a working list of almost 50 songs! We would need a lot more time to really dig into the production and theatrical side of things. We're trying to teach the songs and
More from Berklee
26/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2024 Emmy Awards Twenty-one Berklee alumni received Emmy nominations this year for music composition, sound mixing, and sound editi...
23/07/2024
Alum Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 The most recent news from your fellow alumni.
July 10, 2024
Emily McGuire B.F.A. '18 of Glendale, CA, found a new love f...
18/07/2024
Faculty Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 Recent accomplishments, releases, and events by Berklee faculty.
July 8, 2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Assistant Pro...
18/07/2024
Jim McNeely and Miguel Zen n Named the 2024-2025 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholars in...
18/07/2024
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the t...
16/07/2024
Dr. Judith Christie McAllister Joins Gospel Performance Summer Program as Artist...
15/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Publications Win CASE Awards The magazine Berklee Today received a gold award and podcast Pass the Mic earned bronze from the Council for Advan...
11/07/2024
Berklee NYC Honors Largest Class of Master Scholars at 2024 Commencement Grammy and Tony Award-winning alum Charlie Rosen delivered the commencement address a...
09/07/2024
Legendary African Musician Youssou N'Dour Receives Honorary Degree at Berkle...
08/07/2024
Berklee City Music Celebrates Three Decades Empowering Young Artists The program has given generations of musicians-sometimes within the same family-the tools...
08/07/2024
Renate Rohlfing Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grant The music therapy faculty member will use the grant to help foster more opportunities to create in-person co...
06/07/2024
Berklee Online Offers Courses to Students in Juvenile Justice Centers To date, Berklee Online classes are offered at nearly 30 such centers across the United ...
06/07/2024
Working to Make Music More Accessible to All New technologies and changing attitudes mean more disabled musicians are playing instruments.
By
Adrian Ananta...
29/06/2024
Students Help Bring Nona Hendryxs Dream Machine to Life at Lincoln Center A group of electronic production and design majors created sonic landscapes for Hend...
28/06/2024
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin Named Chair of the Ensemble Department A renowned vocalist, arranger, and educator, Robinson-Martin is known for developing innov...
26/06/2024
LGBTQ Student Group to Hold Inaugural Pride Music Festival Lavanda, founded by student Emma Whitney, will host Camp Fest, an outdoor music festival and commu...
15/06/2024
What Exactly Is Dad Rock? 21 Songs that Explain the Totally Not Embarrassing Gen...
14/06/2024
Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds Named Dean of the Professional Education Division A renowned jazz vocalist, educator, and Berklee alumna, Hammonds is known for her i...
13/06/2024
Final Exams or NBA Finals? For These Boston Conservatory Students, It's Both Two commercial dance students joined the Boston Celtics dancers for a memorab...
05/06/2024
Taylor Swifts Global Popularity Explained (Berklees Version) Music business, songwriting, and live production faculty weigh in on what makes Taylor Swift unst...
05/06/2024
Professor and Two Alumni Receive Fulbright Awards Faculty member Stacy Mattingly and alumni Shanelle Villegas and Lili Chey Warren have been selected for Fulb...
05/06/2024
Music and Sustainability at Berklee and Beyond Integrating sustainability practices into music not only helps address environmental concerns but also contribute...
24/05/2024
Boston Conservatory Plays a Leading Role at the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards With six wins and eight additional nominations, the Conservatory's theate...
22/05/2024
Berklee's Summer in the City Brings Free Concerts to Boston Area The series will feature Berklee students, faculty, and alumni performing at popular venue...
21/05/2024
Dr. Ray Seol Awarded Grant for Creative Individuals from Mass Cultural Council The grant will expand his Seu Aprendiz project designed to help individuals bui...
15/05/2024
Berklee Artists to Perform at Major US Music Festivals this Summer and Fall The Berklee Popular Music Institute arranged placements at top festivals including...
12/05/2024
Berklee Honors Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa at Commencement This years honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their profound influence as...
10/05/2024
Berklee Announces 2024 Songs for Social Change Contest Winners Student songwriters shine in the annual contest that recognizes music with a socially conscious...
10/05/2024
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2024 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
10/05/2024
Berklee and Audio Engineering Society to Host Symposium on AI in Music The inaugural AES International Symposium on AI and the Musician will highlight excitin...
08/05/2024
Q&A with Visiting Artist Lei Liang The acclaimed composer discusses his collaboration with Boston Conservatory, his work as a research artist, and what it mea...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
02/05/2024
Two Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
By...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
27/04/2024
Berklee's Music and Health Institute Launches Community Health Musician Cert...
25/04/2024
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The accomplished saxophonist secured a spot among the elite winners of this year's ...
24/04/2024
Berklee Online to Hold 2024 Berklee Onsite Music Conference May 31-June 1 The in-person conference is open to Berklee Online students and the music community ...
18/04/2024
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee The theater educator, choreographer, and performer will join Boston Conservator...
18/04/2024
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship Lee, an assistant professor of composition, creates music based on unconventional and nonlinear struc...
17/04/2024
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia Pilon, who has served as Berklee Valencia's interim executive director since March 2023, has a...
17/04/2024
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry Days before his sister Billie Eilishs new album announcement, producer and songwriter...
12/04/2024
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Comme...
12/04/2024
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day The second annual EA Berklee Day celebrated women in the screen scoring industry and presented the Electro...
11/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commenceme...
11/04/2024
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam Grammy-winning producer and singer-songwriter FINNEAS and hitmaker Ashe BM 15 headli...
10/04/2024
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee...
05/04/2024
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards Natalie Toro, Gustavo Borner, and Mark Kelley were recognized for their achievements in ...
05/04/2024
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium The inaugural event will feature scholar, political commentator, and author Dr. E...
04/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
04/04/2024
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Productio...