Showing posts with label 1978. Show all posts

1978 - The Jacksons begin a world tour in US & Europe to promote the Goin' Places album

1979 - The Jacksons kick off the European leg of the Destiny world tour, performing a concert in Bremen, Germany.

1985 - The first recording session for the song We Are The World was held at Kenny Rogers' Lion Share Recording Studio.

Jackson and Richie began work on the song's creation at Hayvenhurst, the Encino home of Jackson family. For a week, the two spent every night working on lyrics and melodies in the singer's bedroom. They knew that they wanted a song which would be easy to sing and memorable. The pair wanted to create an anthem. Following several months of working together, the duo completed the writing of "We Are the World" one night before the song's first recording session.

The first night of recording had tight security on hand, as Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder and Quincey Jones started work on We Are the World. The studio, on Beverly Boulevard in California, was filled with musicians, technicians, video crews, retinues, assistants and organizers as the four musicians entered. To begin the night, a "vocal guide" of "We Are the World" was recorded by Richie and Jackson and duplicated on tape for each of the invited performers. The guide was recorded on the sixth take, as Quincy Jones felt that there was too much "thought" in the previous versions.

Following their work on the vocal guide, Jackson and Jones began thinking of alternatives for the line "There's a chance we're taking, we're taking our own lives": the pair were concerned that the latter part of the line would be considered a reference to suicide. As the group listened to a playback of the chorus, Richie declared that the last part of the line should be changed to "We're 'saving' our own lives", which his fellow musicians agreed with. Producer Jones also suggested altering the former part of the line. "One thing we don't want to do, especially with this group, is look like we're patting ourselves on the back. So it's really, 'There's a choice we're making.'" At around 1:30 am, the four musicians ended the night by finishing a chorus of melodic vocalizations, including the sound "sha-lum sha-lin-gay". Jones told the group that they were not to add anything else to the tape. "If we get too good, someone's gonna start playing it on the radio", he announced.

1988 - Rehearsals for the BAD world tour's second leg took place at the Pensacola Civic Center in Pensacola, Florida between January 22 – February 18, 1988.

Following Australia, the BAD world tour finally hit the U.S. For the U.S. and European dates, a whole new show was created. Earlier in January, Michael attended a performance 'Beyond Belief Show' of Siegfried and Roy at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. Impressed by their show, Michael met German-bom magicians, after the show and spent the next day at their home. Together they worked on illusions to be included in Michael's new performances.

In return, Michael wrote The Mind is the Magic, the theme song for Siegfried and Roy's performances at the Las Vegas mirage Hotel. A tape of Michael performing the song opens each of their shows.

2004 - Michael Jackson's customized 2001 Bentley sedan was removed from a car auction.

Jackson's management team notified auction officials that Jackson wanted the sale postponed. The Bentley Arnage Red Label Turbo was featured in Jackson's video for the song "What More Can I Give." The interior roof of the metallic blue car was signed by a host of celebrities including Jackson. The vehicle itself is valued at $150,000.

1978 - The Jacksons released their third album on the Epic label, DESTINY, on December 17, 1978. Having parted ways with the Gamble & Huff production team (1977’s Goin’ Places was a poor seller), Michael and his brothers had more creative control than ever.

Destiny album eventually peaked at #11 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart and #3 on the Billboard Black Albums chart and went on to platinum status cementing it as the first RIAA-certified platinum seller by the Jacksons as most of their Motown recordings were uncertifiable despite their huge success on the charts, and over 2 million copies worldwide.

A party was held to celebrate the album's success and to present the group with a platinum copy of Destiny. Los Angeles mayor Tom Bradley declared "Jacksons Day" and a celebration was held in a bank vault specially equipped with a dance floor at the City National Bank of Beverly Hills, Michael's date for the occasion was Tatum O'Neal, his first real love, as Michael says, "after Diana."

All of the songs on Destiny, with the exception of one, was written by the Jacksons, or by Michael and Randy. Michael and Randy wrote together most often because they were the only two brothers still living at home. The only song on the album that was not written by the Jacksons was the first single, "Blame It On The Boogie", which was co-written by Michael Jackson. This Michael Jackson however, is white and from England. Despite its catchy disco beat and lyrics, "Blame It On The Boogie" reached only a disappointing #54 on the pop singles chart. The single did however, reach #3 on the black singles chart.

The most successful single from Destiny was the 2nd release, "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground", co-written by Michael and Randy, became a signature tune of the disco age. This infectious dance tune peaked at #7 on the pop singles chart and #3 on the black singles chart. Michael, in a rare interview for a radio program, recalled writing the song with Randy. "Randy was going around the house humming a tune and I liked it. I asked him what it was and he said, 'It's nothing.' I said, 'No, it's something.'" Michael went on to write the melody and lyrics for "Shake Tour Body". "I don't know where it came from. God, I say."

"Through the ages, the peacock has been honoured and praised for its attractive, illustrious beauty. In all the bird family, the peacock is the only species that integrates all colours into one, and displays this radiance of fire only when in love. We like the peacock, try to integrate all races into one, through the love and power of music." [from dedication also included on "Triumph" written by Michael and Jackie Jackson for Peacock Productions]

1988 - Michael perform 4th of 9 dates at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo during the Japanese leg of Bad tour.

1992 - Michael perform 3rd of 8 dates at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo during the Japanese leg of Dangerous tour attending 45,000 fans.

1996 - Michael perform HIStory concert at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo dattending 45,000 fans.

1997 - Michael visits british boxer Prince Naseem at a gymnasium in New York. While in New York, he meets Puff Daddy to speak of a possible collaboration together.

1978 - The Jacksons perform Shake Your Body, Destiny & Things I Do For You at American Bandstand.

In his sky blue outfit, Michael was now suddenly much taller and thinner than he was in Blame It On The Boogie just one year earlier.

1979 - The Jacksons perform Destiny tour in Oakland, USA.

2003 - Michael Jackson's album Number Ones was certified Gold by the RIAA.

1978 - The Wiz, the musical film produced by Motown Productions and Universal Pictures, was released by Universal.

The Wiz was a retelling of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz featuring an entirely African-American cast. The film follows the adventures of Dorothy[Diana Ross], a shy schoolteacher from Harlem, New York who finds herself magically transported to the wonderland of Oz, which resembles a fantasy version of New York City. Befriended by a Scarecrow[Michael Jackson], a Tin Man[Nipsey Russell], and a Cowardly Lion[Ted Ross], Dorothy travels through the world of Oz to seek an audience with the mysterious "Wiz", who they say has the power to take her home.

Diana Ross and Michael Jackson attend the premiere & opening night party of the movie The Wiz, at the Paramount, Los Angeles, October 24, 1978.

At the Pitt’s Century Plaza Theater in Century City (Los Angeles) with the Jackson family & Diana Ross among others.
The Wiz had its premiere in New York City, over a year after filming began. It was received with poor reviews and lukewarm box office returns, failing to recoup its expensive budget. Michael took the film’s failure personally, especially in light of the fact that his father and brothers had tried to discourage him from making it.

Michael Jackson's performance as the Scarecrow was one of the only positively reviewed elements of the film, with critics noting that MJ possessed "genuine acting talent" and "provided the only genuinely memorable moments." Of the results of the film, Michael stated: "I don't think it could have been any better, I really don't." In 1980, Michael stated that his time working on The Wiz was "my greatest experience so far...I'll never forget that."

Michael says: "It was incredible, wonderful. I learned so much from [Diana Ross]. We’re like brother and sister, really."

1987 - Bad hit #1 in US charts.
The second single released off of the BAD album was the title track. It became the album's second #1 single. Bad stayed at the top of the Hot 100 for two weeks. Bad also went to #1 on the black singles chart. The extended version of the Bad video aired on MTV for weeks with the air times announced each day. Later, an edited version of the video was aired.

1988 - Michael performs BAD tour at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit [US].

At the end of October, the BAD tour moved into Motown-Detroit, Michigan. Michael was scheduled to perform at the Palace of Auburn Hills on October 24-26. The first of the three night stand in Detroit was a benefit concert for Detroit's Motown Museum. The two story house, Hitsville USA, where Berry Gordy originally started Motown, had been declared a historical landmark earlier in the spring. Since Motown relocated to Los Angeles, the building has been turned into a museum, organized by Berry Gordy's sister, Esther Edwards.

When Berry Gordy was preparing to sell Motown Records to MCA and Boston Ventures, Michael was touring Europe. He wanted to do something for Berry and for Motown. Gordy suggested he do something for the Motown Museum. Michael did. He called Esther Edwards in Detroit from Hong Kong. The result was that Michael donated all of his proceeds from his first concert in Auburn Hills to the Motown Museum Historical Foundation. Michael has been a very strong supporter of the development of the museum since its inception.

1993 - Michael arrives in Mexico to perform 5 concerts at Azteca Stadium from 29th October to 11th November.


1996 - Michael performs HIStory concert at Singapore National Stadium in Singapore attending 65,000.

In the States, Michael’s mini-movie Ghosts, which cost an estimated $7-9 million, premiered at the Motion Picture Academy Of Arts in Beverly Hills, California, alongside Stephen King’s full length horror movie Thinner.

1978 - Michael visits the famous toy store F.A.O Schwartz in Manhattan.

1987 - Michael Jackson's one-day trip in Chinese mainland.

When Michael Jackson's China fans are groaning that they will never see the King of Pop on their homeland, it is rarely known to the public the pop icon actually dropped by a tourist attraction once in Guangdong during his vacation in Hong Kong in 1987.

Liu Guangzhi, Jackson's guide then, couldn't hold back his excitement speaking of the megastar's one-day visit of a guided trip in his hometown.

"I didn't know whom I was going to pick up until they gave me the tourists' name list. Michael Jackson's name was right there, the first on the list," Liu, 23 then, recalled.

"For most of his fans here, it's a pity he never visited Chinese mainland, but hardly have they known that he was here once 22 years ago," Liu added.

Michael Jackson is a man with few words but very friendly, Liu said of his first impression of the pop icon. "We are not able to have an in-depth talk on any subject, but he mailed me our photo with his autograph on it through his agent later," Liu continued.

The children and the seniors, who took photos with Michael Jackson during his tour of their village, also received the pictures from him. Many of the villagers still have the photos in house.

Michael Jackson had two of these photos published on his autobiography, commenting under one snapshot "I can't resist babies. In China, 1987".

Liu is grateful to Michael Jackson for the pictures, he said, "it's a cherished memory for us all, and Michael helped us to keep it".

"Though he's not with us any more, I still remember his kindness. He's the unparalleled King of Pop, I'll keep the memory of him in my heart forever."
Source: ChinaTibetNews.com

1988 - Michael presents a check for $125,000 to Esther G. Edwards, president of Motown Museum and Motown founder, Mr. Berry Gordy during ceremonies at the Motown Museum Historical Foundation in Detroit, Michigan, finance sustaining the maintenance of the famed museum, the highest amount of money donated up until that time to the museum.

Michael's black fedora and sequined glove are on display at the Motown Historical Museum at Hitsville U.S.A. in Detroit

Superstar Michael Jackson, in a rare public appearance, visited Detroit's Motown Museum and donated $125,000 to the famed museum. Extensive security measures were taken for Michael's visit to the Museum, West Grand Blvd. was completely blocked off and police officers and mounted police awaited the arrival of Michael and Motown founder Berry Gordy, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young welcomed them to city.

"It’s great to be here. I'm very happy and proud to be back to the soil from which I came," Michael said during the ceremonies outside of the museum. "Berry Gordy is the man that made it all possible for me. I want to say thank you, Berry and I love you."

At least 2,500 fans endured a constant, cold rain to get a glimpse of Michael when he arrived at the museum. They cheered wildly when Michael presented a check for $125,000 to Gordy and Motown Museum President Esther G. Edwards. Michael also donated three items from his personal collection to the museum: a shiny rhinestone glove, a trademark black fedora and stage costume dating from 1972 he wore with the Jackson 5 when he was 13.

During his visit to the museum, Michael joined Gordy on a tour of the modest house where Gordy founded Motown Records in 1959.

Gordy told the crowd: "Michael Jackson knows that success in life is not merely confined to fame and fortune and material gains, but it's also found in a continual awareness of our roots, his roots. These are Michael Jackson's roots, right here. You were the first people that bought Michael Jackson's records," he told the fans. "And he loves you-and he loves you for it."

Gordy called the pop superstar one of the museum's greatest supporters and praised Michael as "a man who is not only the greatest entertainer to come out of Motown, but the greatest entertainer to come out of any town!"

1990 - Michael Jackson and Sir Elton John are awarded the first "Ryan White Award" for outstanding contribution to AIDS programs (award that will be handed over a year later).

1993 - Michael performs at Chile National Stadium in Santiago, Chile attending 65,000.

2009 - Entertainment Weekly magazine[US] featured Michael on the cover with the headline: The New Michael Jackson Movie - The Inside Story Of His Final Performances And the Film That Captures His Last Days.

1978 - Blame It On The Boogie enters the Black singles chart peaking at number 3 and remains on the charts for sixteen weeks.

1984 - The Jacksons performs at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia [Pennsylvania, USA] attending 60,000.

1992 - Michael performs Dangerous tour at Volks Stadium, Bayreuth [Germany] attending 32,000.

A taped poem by Michael Jackson was broadcast on "The Maury Povich Show."

1993 - Cine Tele Revue magazine featured MJ on the cover.



1995 - Michael Jackson's single "You Are Not Alone" debuted at #1 on the US Hot 100 chart.

You Are Not Alone is the first single in the chart's 37 year history ever to debuted at #1 - sets a new Guinness World Record! This record can only be tied but never be broken!!
He smashed his own record which he set with 'Scream' entering at #5, being the then-highest entry of all time.
Michael was honored with the "Billboard Hot 100 Achievement Award" for having the 1st ever single to debut at #1.
'You Are Not Alone' entered R&B singles chart at #1 as well. It also peaked at #1 in UK, Ireland, Wallonia, France, New Zealand, Spain & Switzerland, and became a top ten hit in every major market!
The single's 1st week sales of 120,000 copies earned Michael his 10th Platinum RIAA Sales Award.

1970 – The Jackson 5ive are at Look Magazine, Volume 34 Number 17.

Cover story: JACKSON FIVE: "Bubblegum soul takes off".

THE JACKSON FIVE: The Hottest new group in the record world has to be in bed by ten o'clock. "Led by Michael, 10, the Jackson quintet is an exaltation of earthy songs and hip street dancing that sends teen audiences wild." by Ernest Dunbar, Photographs by Douglas Jones.
Credits: Thanks brendasaller♥


1973 – The Jackson 5ive concert in Los Angeles.

1978 - Michael attended a reception for the Robert Kennedy Tennis Tournament at the NBC Building in New York City.

Jackie [Kennedy] invited Michael to accompany her to the Robert Kennedy Tennis Tournament, where she introduced him to her children; John F. Kennedy Jr. & Caroline Kennedy.

1992 - The first Heal The World European Children’s Congress meets in London, England. Eighty-four children between the ages of 8 and 16 come together to express their views on the world's biggest problems and the solutions, as they see them. Despite a case of laryngitis, Michael arrives at Regent's College after lunch and stays for approximately four hours.

1993 - Michael's Bad and Thriller albums certified 7x and 22x platinum by RIAA.

2008 - The fan-voted album King of Pop was released in Belgium, New Zealand & UK.

UK: On July 18, the United Kingdom version of the compilation was announced. Sony BMG UK teamed up with GMTV and The Sun allowing fans, until August 10, to pick 18 tracks from the song pool. The pool list, at only 50 tracks, is the least diverse; there were no songs included from Jackson's group career. 66,000 people took part in the vote. Despite the pool conducting a possible 18 tracks, only 17 are included. Most notable is the fact that "Scream" is included on the album, as this song had not appeared on any compilation album in the United Kingdom prior due to legal rights with Janet Jackson's label Virgin Records.

New Zealand: On July 3, it was announced that fans in New Zealand would have until July 20, to vote for their version of King of Pop. Fans could vote for five songs in a pool that differed slightly from the Australian song pool. The songs available from Thriller 25 were different; "For All Time" had been replaced by "The Girl Is Mine 2008" and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008". "Todo Mi Amor Eres Tu" from Bad (2001 special edition) was not available. While the Australian pool included seven songs from Jackson's group career, the New Zealand pool had only three: "Blame It on the Boogie", "Can You Feel It" and "State of Shock".

Belgium: On July 26, it was announced the released of the double disc album. Fans could vote for their 5 favorite tracks from a pool of 124, on the web site of the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. This is the only version of the album to contain the single Girlfriend.

1978 - The Jacksons: Marlon, Michael, Tito, Randy and Jackie pose during a publicity photo shoot after the band signed to Epic Records, at Jackie Jackson's home in Westlake Village, California (Photo Credit: Gregg Cobarr).

The band of brothers "Jackson 5ive" with the 10 year-old child star Michael as the lead singer, become the first black teen idols to appeal equally to white audiences. After their departure from Motown to CBS in 1976, the group were forced to change their name from "Jackson 5ive" to "The Jacksons", and Jermaine was replaced with younger brother Randy as Jermaine chose to stay at Motown. After 2 years under the Philadelphia International Records label, in 1978, they signed with Epic Records and asserted control of their songwriting, production, and image, and their success continued into the 1980s with hits such as "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)", "Lovely One", and "State of Shock".

1984 – The Jacksons perform their Victory Tour at Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit, Michigan attending 47,900.

1995 - Michael went 'on-line' via the Sony Music Internet, at the Museum of Television and Radio in Manhatten, for his first ever internet Simulcast conducted on three leading online services--America Online, CompuServe, Prodigy--as well as the Internet. It was the largest ever 'cyber chat' at the time, drew in over staggering 25,000 fans around the world – more than 3 times the previous record for a 'cyberchat'!
Michael devoted 70 minutes to answer around 100 of the questions about his music & life, while MTV airs MJ videos and special programming while simulcasting the chat session on television, in a unique use of split-screen technology (New York City, NY).

He revealed:

• He doesn’t pay attention to tabloid junk. He is very resilient, and feels like he has a suit of armour around him – like rhinoceros skin.
• If he could be any fictional super hero he liked, he would choose Morph, from The X-Men. Why? Because Morph constantly transforms himself, and can even teleport.
• Among his musical influences are Tchaikovsky, and the great writing of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein.
• The two favourite places he had travelled to are South America and Africa, as he loves the people and the cultures.
• The favourite song he’s recorded is probably Ben, Got To Be There, Heal The World – one of the oldies.
• His dream is to make films; not only to act and sing, but to produce as well.
• One of his proudest musical achievements is We Are The World, a song he is proud of because it reached so many people.
• What he missed most during his childhood was the simple little things that kids do – having a friend over, going to the park, trick-or-treat, Christmas and birthdays.
• If he could meet someone, dead or alive, to talk with them for an hour, he would choose Michaelangelo whom he thinks was a phenomenal artist.
• Among his favourite songs on HISTORY are Earth Song, Childhood, Stranger In Moscow and Little Susie – he loves songs with heart.
• He thinks the technology that allowed him to have a simulchat with his fans is incredible, just amazing! As for why he is doing it – for his fans, because he loves them and wanted to talk to them.

He also announces the existence of the project titled "Michael Jackson: One Night Only": "I’m doing an HBO special, and it’s intimate. It’s close-up. It will allow me to do things I’ve never done before."

Source

2001 - Michael's long-awaited first single off "Invincible", titled "You Rock My World" premièred on the US radio station "Jammin 105.1".

Prior to the singles official release, an unidentified source leaked to two New York radio stations on Friday, August 17, without authorization from Sony Music or Michael Jackson. Immediately after the songs radio airplay the radio stations had received "a herd of [radio] callers asking for more." You Rock My World was first played on the WJTM-FM station at 6 p.m., with WKTU-FM airing the song 45 minutes later. Both stations had played the single every two hours until around 6 p.m. Saturday, when Jackson's record label, Epic Records, called the program director for both stations, Frankie Blue, and asked him to stop. "[They] informed me of the dangers of playing a song too early, [They] said, 'Please do me a favor and take it off the air.'" Blue, a friend of Jackson's, stated on Wednesday, August 22, he would not say how he got the single.

1978 - Lisa Robinson interviewed Michael by phone from California.

L.R. So after filming The Wiz here, you told me you wanted to come back to New York and spend more time.

M.J. I love it—it’s the perfect spot for me, for the things I’m interested in in life. When I’m in New York, I get up early and I’m ready to start the day. You have a whole schedule: I’m going to see this play at this time, and I’m going to have lunch, I’m going to see a movie—that’s what I like about it, so much … energy. Whenever I come back home, I look forward to going back to New York. I love the big stores—I love everything.

L.R. You’ve been seen out with Janelle Penny Commissiong, the former Miss Universe. Is it a romance?

M.J. [Laughter, giggling.] That’s a hard question to answer. Like most of the people you may see me out with, like Tatum [O’Neal] and Janelle, they’re kind of on and off, they’re friends, and [hysterical laughter]... I talk to them. I don’t know how to describe it, really [more laughter]. I don’t know what to say.

L.R. O.K., change the subject. What was it like to work with Diana on The Wiz?

M.J. It was incredible, wonderful. I learned so much from her. We’re like brother and sister, really. She was such a help—she made sure I was O.K. on the set; every morning she’d come to my room and ask if I needed anything. She was very protective. I just loved the world of moviemaking; I love it more than reality. Sometimes I just wish I could wake up in the morning to a big production dance number.

L.R. As for reality, do you still like meeting your fans?

M.J. I enjoy all that sometimes, seeing people who love me, or buy my records. I think it’s fun, and I enjoy meeting my fans and I think it’s important. But sometimes people think you owe your life to them; they have a bad attitude—like “I made you who you are.” That may be true—but not that one person. Sometimes you have to say to them, If the music wasn’t good, you wouldn’t have bought it. Because some of them think they actually own you. Someone will say, “Sit down,” “Sign this,” or “Can I have your autograph?” and I’ll say, “Yes, do you have a pen?” And they say, “No, go get one.” Honestly. I’m not exaggerating. But I just try to deal with it.

L.R. Are you having fun with your new car [a recently purchased blue Silver Shadow Rolls-Royce]?

M.J. Yes, it’s my favorite car. I know how to drive it, but I hate to take pictures in it. You know, you see so many people with their new cars, and it’s a little show-offy. I’m really not like that.

Source: The Boy Who Would Be King

1997 - Michael performs HIStory world tour at Festwiese stadium, Leipzig, Germany