I don’t think there’s a person alive that won’t admit that Janet Damita Jo Jackson is one of the greatest entertainers in history.
The tenth and youngest child of the famous Jackson family, she made her debut on stage at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas Nevada. She also starred in the variety television series, The Jacksons, in 1976. Janet went on to appear in various television sitcoms throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. A few of her most notebale roles included, Penny on Good Times, Charlene on Diff’rent Strokes, and Cleo Hewitt on Fame.
After signing a recording contract with A&M Records in 1982, Janet became a pop icon. Her rise to fame helped with the release of her third and fourth studio albums Control in 1986 and Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989.
Janet has been teasing her residency in Las Vegas on social media, and with that unofficial promise, fans have been anxiously awaiting her announcement of dates. I am very excited to find out when she will perform in The Valley. However, I had the pleasure of experiencing Janet in a private concert at the Las Vegas Convention Center sponsored by Nationwide Pet Insurance and SHRM who was celebrating their 75th anniversary at their annual conference.
Following a retrospective slideshow of Janet Jackson through the years, she took the stage while “Damita Jo,” played in the background. She was draped from head to toe in a purple hooded cape that fell to the floor. She appeared through a cloud of smoke illuminated by a single spotlight. Mimicking her brother, Michael Jackson, Janet stood still as the small crowd of about 10,000 people screamed in excitement. Her dancers, dressed in purple coveralls, appeared on a two-tiered platform behind her ready to set the tone for the show.
Some of the most famous choreography of music video history was re-enacted live on stage. With incredible precision, Janet Jackson confidently stalked the stage. The crowd sang word-for-word to the lyrics of “Miss You Much.”
Janet had about four wardrobe changes, and never missed a beat. The music never stopped and neither did the screams from her fans in attendance. This was incredibly special to me as I viewed the entire show from my front row seat. And I even managed to get Ms. Jackson’s attention during the night. Janet gave me a smile and she even waved at me.
