Jeffrey Daniel reveals how he introduced Michael Jackson to the moonwalk after performing it on Soul Train, and their surprising family connection.
Jeffrey Daniel has reveals how he introduced Michael Jackson to the moonwalk, sharing the story in an exclusive interview on Channels TV on Thursday.
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The legendary dancer and Shalamar member is widely credited with pioneering the backslide — the dance move that Michael Jackson later popularised as the iconic moonwalk.
Daniel first showcased the move in 1979 on the influential show Soul Train while performing with his group Eclipse. It was there that a young Michael Jackson first noticed him.
“Well, it’s funny because now it’s in a totally new context. Michael saw me doing the backslide in ’79 on Soul Train,” Daniel recalled.
In 1980, Jackson visited Disneyland to watch Eclipse perform, bringing along his sister Janet Jackson. The Pop Legend then asked Daniel to teach him how to dance.
“Michael brought little Janet and they stood in the wing watching us. Then he asked me to teach him to dance,” Daniel said.
Over the next two decades, Daniel worked closely with Jackson, choreographing some of his most memorable videos, including “Beat It” and “Smooth Criminal.”
He also travelled with Jackson to Brazil for the video shoot of “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” and contributed to the film Ghosts.
“I worked with Michael for over 20 years, and my last job in America was at MJJ Music, his record company, as A&R and creative consultant,” Daniel explained.
In a surprising revelation, Daniel shared that he and Michael Jackson were actually cousins — a fact they only discovered years later.
“My father didn’t raise me, but in 2008, he showed me our family tree. I found out I’m Michael’s cousin. So all the years we worked together, I didn’t know we were related,” Daniel said.
He added, “Now we call each other cousin all the time. Jermaine, Janet, Randy, and the older sister Rebbie — we’re family.”
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Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, revolutionised music and dance worldwide. Daniel’s choreography significantly influenced Jackson’s electrifying performances and timeless music videos, helping shape pop culture history.
Source: Read more at iretura.com
Ibrahim Onipede is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
