Tyuawn Brown poses with Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel.
Tomorrow night at Comerica Park, before the evening’s game between the Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays, tribute artist Tyuawn Brown will dazzle the crowd with his impersonation of Michael Jackson.
Brown has done it before, and says he’ll usually perform near the Tiger dugouts around 5:30 p.m.
“Usually, what I do is to geek the crowd up and have everybody going. Just having it going, man. It’s major. They do the big Jumbotron with me on it and everything.”
Brown will do his portrayal of the Dangerous-era Michael Jackson, dancing and strutting to the song “Billie Jean,” which is something of a standard for the performer, although he says, “I’m very flexible as far as songs, you know.”
How did Brown get into such a niche line of work? “I’ve been doing it a long time,” Brown says. “In 2009 (when Jackson died), that was the big break for me. I got a call from my sister, and she said, ‘Listen, get to the Motown Museum. They’re doing a tribute to Michael Jackson!’” After performing at Hitsville, U.S.A., Brown says, “Next thing I know, I get a call from Motown saying, ‘We want to make you official Michael Jackson impersonator.’”
In the six years since, Brown has opened up for a wide range of acts, from the Dramatics and the Temptations to Insane Clown Posse.
“It’s been a blessing,” he says. “When I dress up, man, people tell me ‘You look exactly like Michael!’”
Brown will also perform at the Motown Museum on Aug. 29, as part of an event celebrating the King of Pop’s birthday.
For more information about Brown, see his Facebook page.
Watch the video from Brown performing at the Motown Museum below:
