JACKSON ACTION
JOE JACKSON is celebrating his 89th birthday — and we’re told a big present could be in store. The Jackson family patriarch will be in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park, Ill., on Saturday, where friends and family will help the controversial talent manager belatedly mark his big day. But the other celebration that Joe’s friends are talking about took place in Las Vegas on Tuesday when the Jackson Five founder caught up with attorney John Branca, who manages Michael Jackson’s estate. According to one source, it was a “big deal” that these two were seated together at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas because Joe was famously left out of Michael’s will. We’re also told that Jacko’s kids Paris and Prince want their dad’s estate “to help their grandfather.” The meeting in Vegas took place during the “One by Cirque du Soleil Show” celebrating what would have been The King of Pop’s 59th birthday. We’re told that Joe had been spending more time in Las Vegas as of late, though whether or not he has property, or access to a property there, remains unclear. Among Michael Jackson’s known heirs are his mom Katherine, his brother Jackie, who works for the estate, and T.J. Jackson, who is the co-guardian of Michael’s children. Michael died in June 2009 in his Los Angeles home. He was 50. The pop star’s relationship with his father was famously strained. Joe has admitted to frequently spanking Michael as a child, but has denied being abusive. Himself a guitarist, Joe also found work as a steelworker and a prize fighter in his younger days. He was known as a strict taskmaster who would stop at nothing to make sure the Jackson 5 was a success. Joe’s Saturday night party is being hosted by his best friend Marshall Thompson, who is best known as the drummer for the Chicagobased band The Chi-Lites.