The Wiz (film) certain we didn't use anything from it. They made a brilliant movie, and even though our concept is different – they're Kansas, we're New York; they're white, we're black, and the score and the books are totally different – we wanted to make sure that we never overlapped in any area." Michael Jackson, a former Motown star and close friend of Diana Ross was cast as the Scarecrow. By the start of development on "The Wiz" in 1977, he and his brothers The Jacksons, had left Motown for Epic Records, though Jackson had yet to make a solo album since
Michael Lee Jackson Michael Lee Jackson Michael Lee Jackson is an American guitarist, photographer and attorney. He was part of Ian Gillan's backing band on the Deep Purple frontman's US solo tour in August and September 2006. He also performed on guitar and acted as musical director for Gillan's CD/DVD "Gillan's Inn" (2006), "Live in Anaheim" also on CD/DVD (2008), and "One Eye to Morocco" (2009). He has been Gillan's creative manager for solo projects since approximately 2005. In 2010-11, Jackson scored and engineered the sound track to the indie feature film, "The Bad Penny", directed by Todd Bellanca. Jackson also played guitar