The pic may have been intended to capture world famous Michael Jackson chatting with T&T’s Miss Universe 1977 Janelle Penny Commissiong, but the photo-bomber gets catches the eye in this Mark Lyndersay photo. The woman is a young Carol La Chapelle, dancer and choreographer. The year was 1978, when Michael Jackson and his brothers —The Jacksons (formerly The Jackson 5)— came to perform in Trinidad. The American pop group was brought over by the Martineau brothers, extraordinary impresarios at the time, for three shows; two at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port of Spain, on February 24 and 25 and another at Skinner Park, San Fernando, on February 26. MJ even paid a tribute to the country by taking a musical shot at calypso. It’s reported that he did a "reasonably good job" with his version of Lord Kitchener’s hit calypso Sugar Bum Bum. The Jacksons attracted large crowds of fans when they paid a courtesy call at the Port-of-Spain City Hall where they met the mayor and a number of local celebrities such as Miss Universe 1977 Janelle Commissiong. The boys from the lowly west side of Gary, Indiana, were also taken on a visit to John John, Laventille, and the Belmont Orphanage, presumably to inspire the young persons resident in the economically challenged districts. By the time the group came to Trinidad The Jackson 5 had shortened their name to the Jacksons in 1976, having moved from Motown to Epic Records. Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. La Chapelle, graduate of The London College of Dance and Drama, Dartford College of Education, and University of London, went on to earn a Master of Arts at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) Mark Lyndersay’s: 📸 #kingofpop #carnival #jackson5 #trinidad #soca #trinidadandtobago #carnivalcruise #michealjackson #lordkitchener #caribbeanstrong #socalphotograper #trinidadcarnival #laventille🇹🇹 #kaisoo #caribbeanvibes #socamusic #carnivalparty #socatrucks #socado #trinidadandtobago https://www.instagram.com/p/CL3-RuFJPQV/?igshid=5dufzabzj66n
