1993 Michael Jackson – Gone Too Soon (UK:#33)
“Gone Too Soon“ is a ballad recorded and popularized by American musician Michael Jackson. It was written and composed by Larry Grossman and Buz Kohan. Dionne Warwick first performed the song in 1983 as a dedication to Janis Joplin and Karen Carpenter.
Jackson’s version of “Gone Too Soon” was dedicated to the memory of Jackson’s friend Ryan White, a teenager from Kokomo, Indiana who came to national attention, after being expelled from his school for having HIV/AIDS. This version was produced by Jackson and co-produced by Bruce Swedien for Jackson’s eighth studio album, Dangerous (1991). The song was also mixed by Swedien, and featured instrumentation by artists such as David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Michael Boddicker, Abraham Laboriel Sr and Paulinho Da Costa. The song was arranged and conducted by Marty Paich.
The song was released on December 1, 1993, as the ninth and final single from the Dangerous album. Following its release—on World AIDS Day of 1993—”Gone Too Soon” became a moderate chart success in several countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Switzerland and the UK. The song was released as a cassette single in the US,[2] and became a hit in Zimbabwe, where it charted at number 3. “Gone Too Soon” was not a significant critical success, as it received mixed reviews from music critics.
“Gone Too Soon” was promoted with a music video directed by Bill DiCicco, which showed footage of Jackson and White together, as well as scenes from the latter’s funeral. A live performance by Jackson at Bill Clinton’s inaugural celebration also served as a promotional platform, for both the song and AIDS-related funding. “Gone Too Soon” later received more exposure, following the deaths of both Diana, Princess of Wales, and Jackson himself
Album
Dangerous is the eighth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson. It was released by Epic Records on November 26, 1991. Co-produced by Jackson, Bill Bottrell, Teddy Riley, and Bruce Swedien, the album was Jackson’s first since Off The Wall (1979) to not be produced by longtime collaborator Quincy Jones. Featured appearances include Heavy D, […]
Musicians
Bass | Abraham Laboriel Sr |
Keyboards | David Paich |
Synthesizer | David Paich |
Synthesizer | Steve Porcaro |
Synthesizer | Michael Boddicker |
Percussion | Paulinho Da Costa |
Vocals | Michael Jackson |
Produced By
Michael Jackson
Bruce Swedien
Songwriters
Larry Grossman
Buz Kohan
Charts
US:# –
UK:#33