In life, Michael Jackson was the undisputed King of Pop who enjoyed enormous attention, unswerving loyalty and undying affection from millions of fans all over the globe.

With his recent demise, the king not only remained as king. He became a demigod who left a lasting legacy to an adoring world of music enthusiasts whose lives he has touched with the magic of his music and the charm of his personal life during a spectacular career spanning more than 30 years.

Nobody else has perpetuated this legacy with greater pride and devotion than the countless singers, artists and performers from several generations whom he has inspired and influenced with his fantastic talent, style and act.

But Jackson not only inspired others. In a class act of nobility, selflessness and magnanimity, he has also acknowledged the influence on him and his music by other musicians and entertainers.

An eloquent affirmation of this fact was the announcement of a new song by Jackson, entitled “A Place With No Name,” whose melody and lyrics bear a similarity to the 1971 classic hit, “A Horse With No Name,” by the legendary group, America.

The song was recently posted on the celebrity news website TMZ.com, three weeks after Jackson’s death and featured a few lines, although it did not mention when it was actually recorded.

As reported on the website, the posting of the song elicited a remark from Jim Morey, the present manager of America.

“The band (America) was honored that Michael chose to do their song and they hope it becomes available for all Michael’s fans to hear,” according to Morey, who became Jackson’s manager from the late 1980s until the early 1990s.

The authentic sound and style of America that inspired the King of Pop to create a song similar to its signature title will be showcased when the celebrated group returns for a series of concerts in Manila and selected cities.

In a rare act featuring an exquisite fusion of classic pop, rock and folk, America will join Ambrosia and John Ford Coley on the same stage during a major show tonight at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley Live!,” which will be mounted by Ovation Productions, will kick off a four-night concert series that will also include solo performances by America at the Nueva Caceres University in Naga City on Aug. 1; Pagcor-Tagaytay City, Aug. 2; and Summit Center, Zamboanga City, Aug. 4.

After the three-in-one act at the Big Dome, Ambrosia will perform solo a longer set during a dinner-show at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City on Aug. 1.

America, which returns to the local concert scene almost two years after its successful five-night tour in 2007, started its musical career in 1972 when a group of three talented, young musicians harmonized its way to the top of the charts with “A Horse With No Name.”

The classic made America a global household name and launched Gerry Beckley, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek as superstars for their timeless sound that assimilated strands of rock, pop and folk elements into an exciting musical brew.

Other hits that followed were “I Need You,” “Ventura Highway,” “Don’t Cross The River,” “Tin Man,” “Lonely People” and “Sister Golden Hair,” which became cornerstones of the ’70s Top 40 and FM rock radio.

The success of the pair as singers, songwriters and musicians continued unabated until the present day as shown by such landmark releases as “Human Nature” (1998) and “Holiday Harmony” (2002), an album comprised of seasonal classics, and the live showcases, “America – Live” (2000) and “Grand Cayman Concert” (2002).

Other hit songs popularized by the tandem were “All My Life,” “Sandman,” “Only In Your Heart,” “Muskrat Love,” “Daisy Jane,” “Inspector Mills,” “Riverside,” “California Dreamin’” and “I Don’t Believe In Miracles.”

Ambrosia, on the other hand, was a Los Angeles quartet that initially made a name for itself with its 1975 self-titled debut album, which spawned the chart singles, “Holdin’ On To Yesterday” and “Nice, Nice, Very Nice.”

It earned a Grammy Awards nomination with its 1976 album, “Somewhere I’ve Never Traveled,” and scored another hit the following year when it covered The Beatles song, “Magical Mystery Tour.”

It made its biggest pop breakthrough in 1978 with “How Much I Feel,” which landed Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and followed it in 1980 with another Number 3 hit, “Biggest Part Of Me,” and the Number 13 follow-up single, “You’re The Only Woman.”

John Ford Coley, on the other hand, will mark his seventh visit to the country since his debut concert here in the ’70s at the height of the popularity of the duo of England Dan and John Ford Coley.

He skyrocketed to worldwide popularity with such hit songs as “Tell Me You Love Me,” “Love Is The Answer,” “Gone Too Far,” “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” “Nights Are Forever,” “We’ll Never Have To Say Goodbye Again,” “Come Back To Me,” “Soldier In The Rain,” “Sad To Belong,” “Simone,” “Westward Wind,” “Part Of Me, Part Of You,” and many more.

He has performed with top-hit makers like Elton John, Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Chicago, Carole King, Bread, Loggins and Messina, Led Zeppelin, Carly Simon, Bill Cosby, Dave Mason, Steve Miller Band, Randy Bachman, Jesse Colin Young, Air Supply and Gordon Lightfoot, to name a few.

He started as a classical and rock pianist in high school and college in Dallas, Texas where he and schoolmate Dan Seals began their acoustic act, Coley and Wayland, which eventually became known as England Dan and John Ford Coley.

“America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley Live!” is presented by Ovation Productions in cooperation with Imarflex, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Jack TV, C/S Origin and RJ 100.3 FM.   

It is also sponsored by Philippine Airlines, Edsa Shangri-La Manila, Chrysler, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, ABS CBN, ASAP Live!, Philstar.com, GetzMo!, Focalcast and OptimaSignsolutions.

Other supporters are 97.9 Home Radio, XFM 92.3, 105.1 FM Crossover, 103.5 Max, Monster Radio RX 93.1, Energy FM 91.5, Mellow 94.7, NU 107 and 105.9 FM Underground Radio.

(Tickets to the Araneta Coliseum show of “America, Ambrosia & John Ford Coley Live!” tonight are available at Ticketnet outlets at all SM Department Stores.)