Jackson close to wrapping relief song

LOS ANGELES — Michael Jackson is close to completing his charity single for Hurricane Katrina relief and hopes to release the song sometime this month, his spokeswoman said Thursday.

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From his new base in the Middle East, Jackson has been working through global satellite and phone connections with the 12 recording artists who are participating, spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain told The Associated Press.

“All that remains is for two or three more artists to do their tracks, and Michael will then add his vocals,” Bain said in a phone interview. “He is now on the fast track, and we’re happy with the progress.”

Last week, Jackson coordinated recording sessions with artists who were visiting Los Angeles for the Black Entertainment Television awards and went to studios to record their parts.

Meredith O’Sullivan, a spokeswoman for rapper Snoop Dogg, and Sonia Muckle, who represents singer R. Kelly, said those artists have participated in the recording sessions.

Jackson is the writer and producer of the track, Bain said.

She added that Jackson has rewritten the song several times and is changing the title from the original, “From the Bottom of My Heart,” to a new, undisclosed title. Jackson found he did not need as many artists to participate as originally planned, she said. The final tally will be about 12, she said.

Jackson’s plan is to provide disaster aid through three funds: the Bill Clinton-George Bush Katrina Fund, the Push-Excel Hurricane Katrina College Relief Fund and a disaster fund set up by the National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences.