Being the only woman not a family member to ever record a duet with Michael Jackson (Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin all turned down such opportunity) may be the most notable distinction of the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Siedah Garrett.

She did so with her 1987 #1 Billboard hit “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” but it certainly is not the only one. Since being discovered by the legendary producer/band leader Quincy Jones in 1983, Garrett has also managed to become the only Black female in Academy Award history to be nominated twice for Original Song written for a Motion Picture for “Real In Rio” – 2011 film “Rio” and “Love You, I Do,” from the 2006 film “Dreamgirls.” (For the latter Garrett won a Grammy Award.)

She is also the only female to write a #1 song recorded by Michael Jackson with “Man In The Mirror.” Many have felt that Siedah’s successful association with the King of Pop on two single hits on MJ’s record-breaking “Bad” album in 1985 may have been too much for any artist to come out of Jackson’s shadow and launch a solo career. Too much expectation may have been there for Garrett to transition into stardom, even on her own highly rated merits.

Siedah Garrett and Michael Jackson in the 1980s

Though Garrett has had other hits on a duet with Dennis Edwards (Temptations) in 1984 with “Don’t Look Any Further” and success with The Brand New Heavies (briefly replacing N’dea Davenport) on their 1997 “Shelter” album, over her almost 30 years in the recording industry, Garrett has only released two solo albums to date, “Kiss of Life” in 1988 and “Siedah” in 2003, both mild successes.

But that statistic will soon change with the upcoming October release of Siedah’s third solo project “The Answer’s Always Love” leading with its first single “Keep On Loving You,” a tribute to Jackson, in mid-September. Garrett has explained that “Keep On Loving You” is her way to publicly and musically pay homage and respect to and show love for Michael.

The single’s release comes just prior to a number of Michael Jackson-related projects: on September 18th comes the release of Michael Jackson’s “Bad 25,” which celebrates the original groundbreaking album’s silver anniversary; then later in the fall comes the corresponding Jackson behind-the-scenes documentary of the making of “Bad” directed by Spike Lee.

Garrett has recently had opportunity to share her personal and professional experiences with Jackson at two breakfast events held in New York and Los Angeles, respectively. In New York, Siedah met with members of Michael’s Official Fan Club, and in Los Angeles she held her own MJ breakfast at Westlake Recording Studio where their duet was recorded with the audience of their mutual fans. The latter event also gave fans an opportunity to first hear the final edit of “Keep On Loving You” prior to its release.