Legendary Unforgettable Michael Jackson Glove
LiveAuctionTalk.com: by Rosemary McKittrick
Photo courtesy of Julien’s Auctions.
We’ll never know for sure what demons pulled Michael Jackson backward as he struggled to move forward in his life. What we do know is he left behind an extraordinary legacy of music and dance that’ll be around long after most of us are gone.
On stage Michael was pure magic.
Walter “Clyde” Orange a founder member of the musical group the “Commodores” had an ongoing joke with him. Every time the two met Clyde would ask Michael for his autograph.
“He was always a real prankster, even as a little boy”
Michael in his unassuming way always said no adding that Clyde was more famous than he. Clyde’s relationship with Michael and the “Jackson 5” began in the summer of 1971 when the “Commodores” were the opening act for the “Jackson 5.” Together the groups performed across the country in 40 cities and again on later tours.
The groups were both on deck in 1983 scheduled to perform in the “Motown 25, Yesterday, Today, Forever” tribute television special. Michael had mixed feelings about doing television and had to be coaxed into it.
He performed with his brothers and Clyde said it was like old times. He said Michael stole the show with his solo performance of “Billie Jean.”
It was also the first time he performed his famous moonwalk dance. The dance went on to become a legendary dance technique worldwide.
After the performance Michael walked up behind Clyde and put his hands over Clyde’s eyes.
“Guess who?” he said.
“I knew who it was because I felt the one glove on his left hand and no glove on the other,” Clyde said.
Once again Clyde asked for his autograph and once again Michael said no. Instead he took off his now famous glove covered in Swarovski crystals and gave it to Clyde.
I actually had been wearing the glove for a long time, but it hadn’t gotten a lot of attention until all of a sudden it hit with “Thriller” Michael said in his autobiography.
”He was always a real prankster, even as a little boy,” Clyde said. So he asked Michael if he was serious about Clyde keeping the glove. Michael said yes.
Every time the two ran into each other after that Clyde teased Michael about exchanging the glove for an autograph.
Clyde never did get Michael’s autograph.
“I have taken very good care of this glove since that historic night at Motown 25 and Michael and his family will always have a special place in my heart,” Clyde said.
Clyde told this story in an accompanying letter that sold with the moonwalk glove at auction.
On Nov. 2, 2009, Julien’s Auctions sold the legendary moonwalk glove for $420,000.
Update: 2018—Highest auction price to date for glove.
It went to a Hong Kong businessman. He purchased the glove on behalf of the Ponte 16 Resort Hotel in Macau.
Here are values for other Jackson lots sold in the auction.
Michael Jackson
Aloha Stadium Display; poster; two VIP tickets; two souvenir tickets; backstage passes; The HIStory (sic) World Tour; Jan. 3, 1997; $1,152.
Poster; “We Are the World” signed by musicians including Diana Ross, Willie Nelson, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder; music and lyrics; drawing by Elsie Simerman; 21 ½ inches by 39 inches; $43,750.
Fedora Hat; black; worn during opening performance at the 1995 MTV Video Music Awards; $73,800.
Concert-Worn Jacket; Bad world tour; first tour as solo artist; 1987; black with black straps and silver buckles; $270,000.
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