New Masterclass: "I'll Be There", Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey

"I'll Be There" is a soul song written by Berry Gordy, Hal Davis, and Willie Hutch. It produced two U.S. #1 hit singles: the original 1970 recording by American vocal quintet The Jackson 5 and a 1992 live version by American R&B singers Mariah Carey. The opening melody is simply stunning and I rearranged the mid section to keep the interest of both the player and the audience high. 

The Jackson 5 interpretation was recorded for Motown Records, and released as the first single from their Third Album in 1970. Produced by the songwriters, "I'll Be There" was The Jackson 5's fourth #1 hit in a row. "I'll Be There" is also notable as the most successful single released by Motown during its "Detroit era" (1959–1972). The Mariah Carey cover was recorded during Carey's appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1992, and released as the first single from her EP MTV Unplugged in the second quarter of 1992. "I'll Be There" became Carey's sixth #1 single in the U.S., and her biggest hit elsewhere at the time. Visit the Masterclass