Jon B has opened up about one of the most memorable moments of his career, creating an official remix of Michael Jackson’s you are not alone as he celebrates 30 years since his debut album.
speaks to PEOPLE in front of his Still have love Spring/Summer Tour, the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and producer, 51, was aware of the importance of the collaboration.
“I remixed the song You are not alone for Michael Jackson. And it was an official remix. It wasn’t like I was just doing it on the side. They asked me to do it and I was honored.”
He added that at the start of his career he was also managed by the same company as Jackson, deepening the connection between the two artists.
Although he has yet to see the new Michael movie starring Jaafar Jackson, Jon B has fond memories of working with the King of Pop in person.
“It’s an incredible honor,” he said, emphasizing that the collaboration happened “in the same room, real collaboration, not over the phone or via text or anything like that.”
He placed these sessions in the context of a wider career defined by personal creative partnerships with legends.
“That’s really my name in the game as far as using the opportunity I have as an artist to live out my dreams. The first thing for me was, okay, I want to work with all my favorite people.”
That list included Tupac Shakur and many others.
Jon B’s debut album Bonafide was released in 1995 and produced the breakthrough single Someone to love featuring Babyface, who first appeared on the Bad Boys soundtrack.
“To [be featured] on my record, my very first song that I ever released was a huge honor for me,” he said of working with Babyface, whom he described as “the pinnacle of all artists that I want to work with.”
His follow-up single from 1997 They don’t know from the album Cool Relax remains a live highlight three decades on.
“It’s still being sung in the club. Everyone’s singing it word for word, and you’re just like, ‘Man, it started with me throwing my feelings out’. As a songwriter, it’s very satisfying.”
He calls it the song he’s most proud of.
Jon B’s latest album Waiting for you was released in March 2025 and features Tank, Rick Ross, Donell Jones and Alex Isley. His next tour stop is May 10 in Palm Springs.
