Story by Julian Rivera
Pictured above is the dubbed First Lady of West Virginia Gospel Music, Ethel Caffie-Austin, performing, "His Eye is on the Sparrow," in 1999.
Ethel Caffie-Austin is no stranger to the gospel music scene. However, you may not know her; as she is only regionally popular in West Virginia. She is called the "First Lady of West Virginia Gospel Music" for a reason, and it's definitely not a self-title.
Austin was born in 1949 near Bluefield, W.Va. & began her career in the early 1960s, forming the Collegiate Gospel Choir at West Virginia Tech. She then began performing across the state, with little commercial success.
To cut to the chase, CMH garnered an interview with Caffie-Austin, now inactive, at her home in Charleston, West Virginia. The interview was conducted telephonically.
CMH asked Caffie-Austin about any celebrity friendships she has attained during her career, in which she brought up her previously unknown, revelatory friendship with Michael Jackson which she maintained up until his death in 2009.
This particular section of the interview will focus on Caffie-Austin's friendship with Michael Jackson. Today, June 25, 2014, marks five years since the passing of the King of Pop. His legacy is still alive throughout the music industry as a whole.
During the interview, Caffie-Austin answered CMH writer Julian Rivera's question regarding any celebrity friendships she attained as a result of her career. Caffie-Austin immediately said "Michael Jackson" and Michael Jackson only, which is the only celebrity you would have needed to be friends with anyway to have bragging points.
Caffie-Austin said she remembered the exact day she met Jackson, "June 20, 1992," she said. Caffie-Austin said she was attending the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Atlanta. Jackson was also in attendance. Caffie-Austin said she recognized Jackson, casually went up to him, introduced herself, said Hello and hugged him, whispering "God bless you, Michael." Caffie-Austin was familiar with Michael Jackson, but wasn't very familiar with his music, only hearing it on the radio or playing in a store sometimes, but she knew he was the most famous person on Earth at that time.
Caffie-Austin said she thanked him for his influence on the World, and went on her way. However, Jackson called Caffie-Austin back to his seat. Caffie-Austin noted Jackson saying she seemed like a "powerful" woman and asked her to pray for him before he embarked on his "Dangerous" World Tour, which was set to begin 7 days later in Munich, Germany. Caffie-Austin notes laying her hand on Jackson's shoulder and praying for his safety as he traveled on his tour, and the ability to make a joyful noise.
Caffie-Austin said Jackson thanked her very kindly, in his soft voice, and in a rare occurrence, swapped phone numbers with her, writing each of their numbers on napkins.
Caffie-Austin noted Jackson saying he wants her to be his "prayer partner," and noted Jackson saying softly, "I'd like that."
Caffie-Austin continued to receive calls from Michael up until the late 2000s, with the King of Pop never forgetting West Virginia's First Lady of Gospel Music.
However, Caffie-Austin said it was hard keeping her friendship with the singer private, and said because of Michael's fame, she would likely receive unwanted attention.
