Today in MJJ HIStory  

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1970 - I Want You Back the Jackson 5ive's first single with Motown from their debut album, Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5ive, was released in late 1969 and the week of January 31, 1970, become their fist number one hit single on Billboard's pop singles chart, where it spent one week. The single also went to number one on Billboard's Black singles chart. And this was only the beginning.

The Jackson 5ive perform I Want You Back on Andy Williams Show

1971 - Goin' Back To Indiana

For the first time since they moved to California, the Jackson 5ive returned to their hometown, Gary. They played two benefit concerts for the re-election campaign for Mayor Richard Hatcher. In return, January 31, 1971, was declared "Jackson Five Day" in Gary. A ceremony was held in front of the family's old home to officially rename their street from Jackson Street to Jackson Five Street.

They came via helicopter and landed in the football field at West Side High School, where their concerts were to be held. As part of homecoming, a plaque was placed at the University of Indiana stating that the Jackson 5ive gave "Hope to the Young". Their Congressman then presented them with the flag from the top of the State Capital.

At the City Hall, Mayor Hatcher presented Mr. Jackson and each of the J5 individual "keys to the city" of Gary. After the ceremonies at city Hall, the honorary denizens of Gary-namely the Jackson 5-rushed back to West Side High School, where they performed two concerts before a capacity crowd of more than 15,000 home town fans.

These award presentations and performances were filmed and later used in their TV special, Goin' Back to Indiana.

1976 - Michael Jackson attends the American Music Awards with Katherine, Janet, Randy & LaToya.


1977 - Michael Jackson attends the American Music Awards at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Santa Monica, California, along with Janet, Fred "Rerun" Berry and Lola Falana. The Jacksons perform Good Times at the American Music Awards.


1983 - Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was certified Gold and Platinum by the RIAA.

1993 - Michael performs a medley of Jam, Billie Jean, Black Or White and Heal The World at the Superbowl Halftime Show in the Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena (California) before an audience of 100,000 in the stadium and 133.4 millions on TV.

January 31, 1993 was Super Bowl Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys faced the Buffalo Bills for Super Bowl XXVII, but more important was halftime. The press had been barred from rehearsals, so no preview of the spectacular was included in any of the pre-game coverage. Expectations were high, and in fact the other networks didn't counter with any real competition for the Super Bowl audience. The 12-ton stage was assembled in under four minutes.

When the time finally came, a giant video screen counted down the last ten seconds and it was announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, Radio City Music Hall Productions and the National Football League are proud to preset an unprecedented Super Bowl spectacular starring Michael Jackson."

Crowds of people gathered around the stage now set up on the middle of the field at the Rose Bowl. A giant video screen in the corner shows Michael dancing. There's an explosion and smoke rises from the top of the screen as Michael appears, dancing now on top of the screen. Just few seconds later the video screen at the opposite side of the field shows Michael again. And again he appears on top of the screen. Following this, fireworks go off at center stage and Michael jumps from beneath the stage and stands motionless amidst the fireworks, smoke, and cheers from the 102,000 fans packed into the stadium. Dressed in black with gold bands across his chest, his right arm in a brace, and wearing sunglasses, he stands virtually motionless for over one minute before turning his head and slowly removing the glasses. More fireworks go off and dancers join Michael on stage for a very short version of "Jam".

He removes his jacket, having a white shirt and t-shirt on underneath. He reaches down for a black fedora that has been sitting on the edge of the stage, places it on his head and begins pumping his hips to "Billie Jean" adding a crotch grab or two to his choreography from Motown 25, complete with the requisite moonwalk.

During the crowd's wild response to "Billie Jean", Michael reaches behind his head and undoes his ponytail, letting his hair down for "Black or White". Smoke and wind machines add great effects to the performance. More fireworks are set off at the song's conclusion.

While it is announced that, "Ladies and gentlemen, the children of Los Angeles have created their own personal drawings as a gift to the children of the world," Michael puts his hair back into a ponytail and is handed a long black wand. As he points the wand at the crowd, all the people in the stadium, section by section, hold up cards which together with the cards of the rest of the people seated in that same section make up a youngster's drawing of a child. Then Michael addressed the crowd, his voice sounding unusually deep:

Today we stand together all around the world joined in a common purpose, to remake the planet into a planet of joy and understanding and goodness. No one should have to suffer, especially the children. This time we must succeed. This is for the children of the world.
Thousands of young people lined the stage as Michael sang "Heal the World" and a huge inflatable globe rose from the center of the stage.

More fireworks ended the truly spectacular, and certainly unforgettable, halftime extravaganza.

With this, Michael made history again: Michael's Super Bowl half-time spectacular performance, televised live on TV, broke a record with the highest-ever viewership of 133.4 million viewers, unbroken up to today! A distinction, which also earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

NBC recognized that Michael was pivotal in making the game the biggest TV attraction in Super Bowl history. Dick Ebersol, NBC Sports President, said of Michael's performance, "He was better than our wildest dreams... He's an enormous name with crossover appeal from kids to grandparents, an enormous curiosity even for those for whom he is not star." Some speculated that to top this halftime performance NBC would need to have Elvis Presley perform the next year!

2010 - Michael Jackson is honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 52nd Grammy Awards, held at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.

Lionel Richie presents the Michael Jackson's Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award to Prince & Paris who give a short and emotional speech.

This entry was posted on 31 January 2011 at Monday, January 31, 2011 and is filed under , , , , , , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

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