So did Michael Jackson really steal the moonwalk from Billy Ocean? - Everybody Hates Chris (2005) Discussion

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

Michael Jackson first danced the Moonwalk during a performance of "Billie Jean." Billy Ocean did not invent the Moonwalk--this belief was pure delusion on Tanya's part.

reply

[–] Xsafa 13 years ago

Micheal learned the move from Boogaloo shrimp

Stupid people are too stupid to learn that they are stupid, so they will forever be stupid.

reply

[–] susieq-2 13 years ago

James Brown was doing the moonwalk long before MJ was ever heard of. You can probably find footage of him on youtube. I am also certain that it was being done long before James Brown was ever heard of too.

reply

[–] abajasds 13 years ago

Actually the creator of the moonwalk would be Jackie Wilson, he created it some time in the late 1950's a little while before James Brown became a huge star in the early 1960's. I saw a clip of him doing it on a old video i had to the song called "Work Out". Even in the Jackson 5 movie, they showed how Michael was amazed to see Jackie Wilson perform.

reply

[–] NightinWhiteSatin 7 years ago

Wasnt that Bill Bailey? I Googled Jackie Wilson and it led me to Youtube clips of Bill Bailey and he is indeed doing the moon walk.

reply

[–] NightinWhiteSatin 7 years ago

Wasnt that Bill Bailey? I Googled Jackie Wilson and it led me to Youtube clips of Bill Bailey and he is indeed doing the moon walk.

reply

[–] Navaros 13 years ago

Jacko certainly did not invent the moonwalk. Ronnie Hawkins did it in the 50's, way before Jacko did it in the 80's.

reply

[–] LaWanda74 12 years ago

Michael Jackson didn't "invent" the Moonwalk. He just brought it to the mainstream audience. Young black kids, like myself, had seen it several years before Michael did it on Motown 25.

Unofficial Balehead
Loki: I have an Army
Tony Stark: We have the Hulk

reply

[–] amashlee 13 years ago

He really stole it from the Lockers ( a pop and lock group that got their start on Soul Train). One of the best moonwalkers was Tyrone Proctor. Fred Rerun Berry was in the group also. Just a little moonwalk history.

reply

[–] MariaWB 13 years ago

I think most things have been thought up or done or said by someone else at some point - they just didn't get famous for it.

----------

~Maria

I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier
- The Killers

reply

[–] mattratt512 13 years ago

sorry to ruin it for you all. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Bailey_(dancer)

reply

[–] doktordaoud 12 years ago

OK, okay. Time for some truth...

The Moonwalk was done (and is shown on Youtube) by dancers as far back as the 50's or earlier.

Jeffrey Daniel (later of the soul group Shalamar) was dancer on the show Soul Train and was also a member of the dance group The Lockers which included Shabadoo & Fred "Re-Run" Berry. Daniels and the group were known for doing "THE BACKSLIDE" where you move backwards while apparently stepping forward.

Daniels and the Lockers performed The Backslide on Soul Train and it was seen by Michael Jackson (circa 1979-80). MJ called Don Cornelius of Soul Train and contacted Daniels through him to teach him how to do the Backslide. Legend has it that Michael, being the disciplinarian he is, practiced for hours to get the slide to perfection.

In 1983, during the initial success of MJ's Thriller album, Michael did the Backslide on the Soul Train 25th anniversary show during his performance of hit single Billie Jean and shocked the world. Soon afterwards everyone was asking what was the move and it was named (by MJ I believe) as THE MOONWALK. So being the megastar MJ was & is, he recieved all the credit. Daniels also had cult success with Shalamar and later opened up schools of dance internationally.

And that's the truth, Ruth!

reply

[–] purplenad2004 13 years ago

Although Michael did not steal it from Billy Ocean, he also didn't invent it. People were doing it long before Michael became popular for doing it at the awards show.

reply

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Kayleigh99 12 years ago

MIchael Jackson got the idea from street dancers, but then perfected it.

reply

[–] Lisaluv1 12 years ago

Would reply to OP but doubt they are still interested in subject since thread is from 2011.

A Soul Train dancer by the name of Geron "Casper" Candidate and his dance partner Cooley Jackson taught Michael Jackson the moonwalk (the backslide).

Jeffrey Daniel (from the group Shalamar) was the first person to moonwalk on television, during a performance of Shalamar's "A Night to Remember" on, the British music show, Top of the Pops.

Far as the Billy Ocean statement made ... could not be sure if he ever did the moonwalk or backslide.

reply

[–] jritty 12 years ago

The basis of the moonwalk has been around since black and white films lol you tube it for yourself. Bob Fosse gave the basis for MJ's moonwalk in The Little Prince. Michael obviously saw this movie as a kid because his career bites alot from it. From the look of billiejean/smooth criminal's attires to his actual dance movements. They're ALL from the Little Prince.

reply

[–] raspberryfrost85 11 years ago

exactly right!

reply