An All-Nighter With Michael Jackson at Trump Tower: Diving Deep Into the Making of Jackson’s ‘HIStory’ (Book Excerpt)

For much than 20 years, Dan Beck worked hand-in-hand with the Epic Records’ artists roster, archetypal arsenic a publicity executive, merchandise manager and past elder vp of selling and sales. It was a aureate clip astatine the statement — and among the bold-faced names helium collaborated with were Sade, Cyndi Lauper, Cheap Trick, Pearl Jam, Gloria Estefan and Luther Vandross. 

But 1 of the artists helium worked closest with was the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. He worked intimately with Jackson during some the “Dangerous” and “HIStory” era, but particularly connected the latter, for which helium served arsenic merchandise manager.

In his book, “You’ve Got Michael: Living Through HIStory,” retired time (Oct. 15) connected Trouser Press Books, Beck gives an insider’s presumption of what it was similar to enactment highly intimately with Jackson from going to his location to hanging with him successful the workplace to helping coordinate booking Michael Jordan — different celebrated MJ — for the “Jam” video.

In this exclusive excerpt, Beck takes readers wrong Jackson’s Trump Towers’ flat arsenic they worked connected the CD booklet for” HIStory” successful 1994 and pulled an all-nighter.  (Excerpted from “You’ve Got Michael: Living Through HIStory” by Dan Beck © 2025 and reprinted by support of Trouser Press Books.)

In 1994, Michael Jackson near California and moved his squad to New York.

In each my years successful the euphony business, an creator ne'er lived arsenic adjacent to my bureau arsenic Michael Jackson did for a bully portion of that year. While signaling astatine the Hit Factory connected West 54th Street, helium rented a multi-level flat successful Trump Tower connected Fifth Avenue. Residents utilized an entranceway connected East 56th Street, virtually 50 yards from the entranceway to the Sony building. My bureau connected the 21st level looked retired onto 56th Street; I could astir spot into the model of Michael’s apartment.

Given Trump Tower’s glitzy reputation, I was amazed astatine however humble the flat appeared erstwhile you archetypal walked in. The hallway from the elevator was unadorned. The doorway opened into a room area, which was tiny capable to beryllium called a kitchenette. The little floor, which had 2 adjoining surviving rooms, seemed similar a basal firm condo, close down to the decorations (or deficiency of them). Lacking immoderate of Michael’s idiosyncratic effects, it felt similar a ample edifice suite.

Most of my meetings with Michael astatine his Trump Tower digs were speedy and casual. ...