How I Played on "Thriller," "Bad," & Daft Punk's Biggest Hit! -Paul Jackson Jr.

One Of The Most Recorded Guitarists Alive: Paul Jackson Jr. drops Masterclass Stories! 🎸🔥 Welcome back to The TrevBeats Show! Today, we are sitting down with absolute royalty. If you have listened to the radio at any point over the last 40 years, you have heard this man’s guitar playing. We are talking about the incomparable, insurmountable, and legendary Paul Jackson Jr. From laying down iconic grooves on Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Bad, to working with Whitney Houston, Daft Punk, and The Weekend, Paul’s musical DNA is woven into the soundtrack of our lives. In this exclusive interview, Paul shares mind-blowing behind-the-scenes stories from the golden era of studio sessions, including: What happened when Michael Jackson called his childhood house and his mom thought it was a prank caller! 📞😂 Working alongside Quincy Jones and how they crafted the legendary guitar parts for "P.Y.T." Playing on massive hits 35 years apart—from Thriller to Daft Punk's Random Access Memories. The "Science of the Groove" and why a great guitar player needs to think exactly like a drummer. Embracing modern technology (Kemper & Tone Master Pro) to stay ahead of the game. Paul has spent 48 years at the highest level of the music industry, and today he's passing down the mentorship, wisdom, and real-world advice that every rising musician needs to hear. ✨ Check out Paul Jackson Jr.'s Web App: Learn exactly how he crafted his most iconic parts! Charts, tracks, and breakdown videos are available now: Paul Jackson Jr.'s "This Is How I Did It" Paul Jackson Jr. Discography: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/paul-... CHAPTERS: 00:00 Paul Jackson Jr.’s Mom Hung Up on Michael Jackson 01:22 Welcome to The TrevBeats Show 02:15 Legacy, Longevity & Working Across Generations 03:31 Booking Sessions Through His Mom Before Cell Phones 04:33 The Michael Jackson Phone Call Story 05:15 Growing Up in L.A. and Choosing Session Work 06:13 Learning from Lee Ritenour, Greg Poree & Frank Wilson 07:16 Paul’s First Released Record Became an E-40 Sample 07:47 Ray Parker Jr. Opens the Door 08:52 The Small-Circle Magic of L.A. Musicians 10:29 48 Years of Sessions and Relationships 11:03 Joe Sample, The Crusaders & Barry White 12:20 How Paul Started Working with Quincy Jones 13:28 Getting the Call for Thriller 14:36 Inside the Thriller Sessions 15:06 Creating the Iconic Guitar Parts on “P.Y.T.” 16:20 Quincy Jones’ Genius: Catch People in 10 Seconds 17:43 The “Ear Candy” Behind P.Y.T. 19:02 Herbie Hancock Said Paul Could Play Anything 19:30 Paul’s Cold-Call Session Gear Setup 20:46 Reading Music, Listening & Studio Awareness 21:24 The First Rule: Make the Music Feel Good 21:50 Why Guitar Players Should Think Like Drummers 23:24 “The Drummer Is Always Right” 24:47 Kemper, Tone Master Pro & Modern Guitar Tech 26:59 Embracing Technology and Quiet Stages 28:11 From Tape Machines to Remote Tracking 28:37 Why 90–95% of Paul’s Sessions Are Remote 30:42 How Technology Changed Recording 31:23 Paul Jackson Jr. on AI in Music 31:47 How Paul Uses AI for Research and Teaching 32:54 “Garbage In, Garbage Out” 33:51 Mentorship, Patrice Rushen, Ray Parker Jr. & USC 34:36 Why Mentorship Matters 35:37 No. 1 Records 35 Years Apart: Thriller to Daft Punk 37:10 Bringing Real-World Sessions Into the Classroom 38:21 Why Music Students Need Teachers Who Have Done It 40:30 Paul’s Favorite Guitar Parts 40:51 Why “P.Y.T.” Is His Favorite Part 41:13 Thriller, Ella Fitzgerald, Daft Punk & The Weeknd 41:49 How Paul Ended Up on “I Feel It Coming” 42:32 Michael Jackson Sang the “Heartbreak Hotel” Guitar Solo 43:13 Paul’s First Solo Album and Grammy Nomination 43:47 Becoming a Frontman and Solo Artist 44:33 Jazz Funk Soul, New Music & Still Grinding 45:19 Paul Jackson Jr.’s Iconic L.A. Career 46:03 Paul’s “This Is How I Did It” Web App 46:17 Breaking Down P.Y.T., Heartbreak Hotel & More 47:12 Giving Paul Jackson Jr. His Flowers 47:39 Trevor and Paul Talk Firearms & Range Safety 48:28 Final Thanks to Paul Jackson Jr. 48:43 Closing Message from Trevor #PaulJacksonJr #MichaelJackson #QuincyJones #TrevBeatsShow #StudioMusician #GuitarLegend #Thriller #PYT #DaftPunk #MusicMentorship 🎥 ECAMM LIVE https://www.ecamm.com/mac/ecammlive?f... Use code TREVBEATS15 for 15% off your first payment. 🔔 CONNECT / SUPPORT / RESOURCES Subscribe:    / @trevbeats   Official Site: https://trevorlawrencejr.com Instagram:   / trevorlawrencejr   All links, apps, e-books, music, gear & resources: https://linktr.ee/TrevBeats E-BOOKS: THE ENDORSEMENT PLAYBOOK -https://endorsement-playbook.netlify.... VIBE CODING FOR MUSICIANS AND CREATIVES- https://vibe-coding-trevbeats.netlify... Backstage Membership:    • Introducing Backstage: A New Way to Connect 🥁   Like. Subscribe. Share.