Born in Florida, he formed the Jonzun Crew in Boston with Steve Thorpe and Gordy Worthy.[1] In the early 1980s, the group recorded electro dance tracks including "Pack Jam (Look Out for the OVC)" and "Space Cowboy".[2] The former was inspired by Michael Jonzun's distaste toward the popular Pac-Manvideo game.[3]
He made several more LPs in the 1980s, but with less commercial success. He also produced many recordings by other artists. He collaborated with his brother, Soni Jonzun, and with collaborator Maurice Starr, contributed to early tracks by both groups.[4] He also worked on Peter Wolf's Lights Out and Tom Browne's Rockin' Radio. In 1986, he left the band to pursue a solo career and released an album on A&M Records.
In 2012, Jonzun sued the estate of Michael Jackson for $24 million, claiming co-writing credit on "This is It," a song Jackson recorded in 2009 with Paul Anka. In March 2014, a federal judge dismissed the suit. [5]
Discography
Albums
Lost in Space (1983)—Jonzun Crew—songs written and produced by Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records)
Down to Earth (1984)—Jonzun Crew Featuring Michael Jonzun (Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records) (rereleased by A&M/PolyGram Records with a completely different track listing)
