Today in MJJ HIStory

1979 – The Jacksons perform their Destiny Tour in London, UK.

1980 - Off The Wall enters the Black singles chart peaking at #5 and remains their for 13 weeks.


1988 - The U.S. leg of the Bad World Tour began at Kansas City’s Kemper Arena in front of 16,960 fans.

Michael performed his first ever U.S. solo concert in Kansas City. The newly revised shows included more songs from the BAD album than did the shows in Japan. Michael left the sold out house of about 17,000 spellbound with moves that weren't around until he invented them. When not dumbfounded the fans cheered and waved their arms in response to the Gifted One's world-class talent and showmanship.

For the first few shows, there were also surprise appearances by Tatiana Thumbtzen for the performance of The Way You Make Me Feel. It was also a surprise for Tatiana, who was contacted by Michael's secretary only one week before the tour's opening. She was glad to be a part of the show, describing it as being like Christmas in February.

A month into the tour, Michael – finally ready to leave his family’s Encino home – bought a property he had been looking at for some time, a 2,700-acre ranch in the Santa Ynez Valley near Santa Barbara that he would christen “Neverland”.

Although Michael’s tour would keep him away from his new home for most of 1988, the purchase gave him time to refurbish it into a magical space, complete with amusement rides and a petting zoo. It was a deeply symbolic move for the 29-year-old man who saw himself as a “Peter Pan” figure, a committed champion for the happiness of children.

1985 – Michael Jackson is on TV Guide


1995 - "The National Association of Recording Merchandisers" (NARM) rewards Michael with the "Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award", at the 37th annual NARM Convention in San Diego, Ca.

The award recognizing efforts to advance social change. Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter and dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger. On that occasion, Michael gives a special preview of several new songs off of his forthcoming album, "HIStory".

2002 - Michael won three awards [out of six nominations] at the "33rd Annual NAACP Image Awards" which took place at the Universal Amphitheatre, Universal City, CA. Michael won for Best Variety Special: "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration", Best Performance in a Variety Special: "Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration" and Best Music Video: "You Rock My World". However, Michael did not attend the ceremony.

2010 - Return of the Captain EO.
The groundbreaking 3D movie called “Captain Eo”, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by George Lucas. Jackson writes and records two songs for the 17 minute epic: “We Are Here to Change the World” and “Another Part of Me”. He also helps create a “Captain Eo” ride for Disneyland. The movie enjoy great success and run ran for 8 years at Disneyland and 10 years at Epcot. It also released at Tokyo Disneyland where it ran for 9 years and Disneyland Park in Paris - for 6 years.

The attraction, now entitled Captain EO Tribute, re-opened at Disneyland Park on February 23, 2010. The attraction returned to Discoveryland at Disneyland Park (Paris) on June 12, 2010, returned to Epcot at Walt Disney World on July 2 and to Tokyo Disneyland on July 1.