'Tough' talking Michael Jackson

Sep 18, 2009, 9:17 GMT

US singer Jermaine Jackson, brother of late pop star Michael Jackson, speaks at a press conference in Central London\'s Kensington Garden\'s Orangerie, Britain, 09 September 2009. He has announced the details of a Michael Jackson tribute concert in Vienna, Austria, which is to be held on September 26, with a number of international performers playing and singing Michael Jackson\'s music. EPA/STR

Michael Jackson "talked tough" and had a deep voice.

According to one of the late pop superstar's closest friends, concert promoter David Gest, Michael's real voice was heavy and powerful and nothing like the high-pitched whimper he used when speaking publicly.

David said: "I'm showing an interview I did with Michael that shows him talking in his real voice, like, 'C'mon David, let's get it done now.' "

Mimicking Michael's famous high-pitched tone, he added: "You know - he doesn't talk like, 'Hi, how are you?' He talks very, very tough. I'm telling you the truth."

Fans were shocked earlier this year when Michael announced his 'This Is It' London residency in an unusually deep voice - which prompted speculation as to whether an impersonator had appeared instead of the 'King of Pop'.

David, 56, is making a documentary called 'My Best Friend Michael' which he promises will show this real side of the 'Thriller' singer.

Since his untimely passing in June, David has been in regular contact with the Jackson family, and revealed Michael's mother Katherine is struggling with the loss of her son.

Appearing on British TV show 'Live From Studio Five', David - who had Michael as his best man when he married Liza Minnelli in 2002 - said: "I went to the funeral about two months ago and I speak to his mother about every week.

"It's very hard on Mrs. Jackson, to bury a son when a son's supposed to bury a mother. She's trying to cope, but she's a very strong woman, she helped raise me when I was a kid."