Joseph Jackson severe his ties with Richard Arons and hires the management team of Freddy DeMann & Ron Weisner as partners in managing The Jacksons.
Michael becomes friend with Paul MacCartney & Gregory Peck.
In Culver City, Michael films a “1580-KDay Radio” Television Commercial where he is seen dancing. KDay’s radio station rents out a studio that has a sound stage ready for filming.
January 19 : Michael, James Earl Jones & Diana Ross attend the opening night of the play ‘Robeson’ at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater in New York City.
January 22-May 18: The Jacksons embark on a world tour in the US & Europe to promote the Goin Places album.
January 22 : first concert, place unknown.
February: The single “Find Me a Girl” is released by Epic.
February 19 : Concert at the Newcastle City Hall in Newcastle, England
February 20 : The Jacksons arrive in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated 11 kilometres (6.8 miles) off the coast of northeastern Venezuela. They check in the Hilton Hotel with their tutor Rose Fine. They are welcomed by concert promoters Frank Martineau and his brother Claude.
The Jackson brothers visit John John, Laventille, one of the impoverished neighborhoods in Trinidad. Michael, relaxed, stepps out of the car, walked along the road, shakes hands, and chatts with surprised people who were relaxing at their homes. By the seaside, the brothers stop near the fishermen, engage in conversations with them, and take photos.
The Jacksons also visit the Belmont orphanage, another disadvantaged neighborhood in Port of Spain, where they spend time with the children and attend a Calypso competition at the Belmont school.
The brothers also greet Alderman M. McCollin, the mayor of the city of Port of Spain, as well as the employees of City Hall.
February 23 : At their Hilton Hotel, Michael & The Jacksons meet and pose for pictures with Janelle « Penny » Commissiong, the first black woman named “Miss Universe”.
February 24+25 : The Jacksons perform concerts at Grand Stand, Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. During the concerts, Michael sings « Sugar Bum Bum » from Lord Kitchener, a very popular artist in Trinidad.
February 26 : Concert at the Skinner Park in San Fernando, Trinida and Tobago.
March : The Jacksons go the Gower Studios in Hollywood to tape a performance of “Even Though You’re Gone,” a track from the album Goin’ Places, which will serve as a music video for the song’s promotion. At the time, Reginald Garcia, a student at Caltech and a freelance photographer is asked to take pictures of the brothers during this session. He spends the day with the group and takes numerous photos.
March 3 : Concert in Oakland, California.
March 10 : Michael, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Randy, LaToya and Janet participate to the first Rock N Roll Sports Classic at the University of California in Irvine, close to Los Angeles. The show, inspired by the ABC program “The Battle of The Network Stars” (which pits television actors against each other), will be broadcast on May 3 on NBC. Hosted by Alex Karras and Ed McMahon, the events take place on the grounds of the University of California, Irvine, with the cheerleaders of the Dallas Cowboys. Michael participates in the 100-meter race and the swimming relay. Michael gives a short interview in which he explains that he is not a great athlete but that he enjoyed participating in these events.
May 3 : Concert in Oakland.
May 13 : Concert at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
May 18 : Concert in Nashville.
June/July/August : The Jacksons record the “Destiny” album in Los Angeles after recording song demos at their Hayvenhurst home studio.
June 16 : Birth of Autumn Jackson, second child of Jermaine & Hazel.
July 16 : Dee Dee gives birth to Tito Jackson Jr (TJ).
July 29 : Michael performs Different Kind Of Lady and Greatest Love Of All during Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen International at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles. Harrisonburg High School English teacher Melody Wilson : “‘Michael was actually a judge when I competed and Jermaine was the host […] .I never really got to meet Michael until the year that I gave up my crown”. TheTalented Teen’s International Scholarship competition would “allow minority young women an opportunity to display their talents before the world, an opportunity denied them”.
August : The Jacksons film their first music video “Blame It On The Boogie” directed by Peter Conn.
The Jacksons do two photoshoots with Jeffrey Henson Scales. The first session takes place in a photo studio in Beverly Hills and resulted in portraits, most of them in color. The second series of photos takes place at the Record Plant Studios, where the group is working on the Destiny’s album mixing.
Michael attends Elektrik Rock Orchestra (ELO)’s concert in Anaheim and meets the band backtage.
August 3 : Michael does a phone interview from California with Lisa Robinson. They chat about The Wiz and life in NYC.
August 17 : The Jacksons do a publicity photo shoot with Gregg Cobarr (1st session). The first photoshoot takes place outside the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (5905 Wilshire Blvd) on August 17, 1978. The Jackson brothers pose in front of “Phoenix,” a 1974 modern red sculpture by Russian artist Alexander Liberman, installed in the gardens of the famous LACMA.
August 18 : The Jacksons, along with their younger sister Janet, do a photoshoot with Gregg Cobarr (2nd session) in Westlake Village, a small town in the northern suburbs of Los Angeles, on the shores of the private lake where Jackie Jackson, owns a house.
August 22 : To promote their “Destiny” album, Michael and The Jacksons give an interview to Randy Tarraborelli at Hayvenhurst. They also pose for pictures.
August 23 : Epic releases the first single from “Destiny” titled “Blame It On The Boogie.
August 25 : Michael attends a reception for the Robert Kennedy Tennis Tournament at the NBC Building in New York City. Michael poses for pictures with John F. Kennedy Jr. and Caroline Kennedy.
August 29 : Michael purchases his first Rolls Royce for his 20th birthday.
September/October : At Hayvenhurst, Michael records song demos for his upcoming solo album including “Workin’ Day & Night” & “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” with Randy & Janet as percussionists!
September 18 : MCA releases the soundtrack of The Wiz featuring Michael on 6 tracks.
September 21 : MCA releases the single “Ease On Down The Road”, a duet between Michael & Diana Ross from the soundtrack of The Wiz.
October 6 : Michael attends a charity dinner at Shubert Theatre, California & a benefit performance of the play, ‘Annie,’ where an American National Theatre and Academy National Artist Award was being presented to Fred Astaire.
October 21 : Michael attends the 3rd Annual American Image Awards at the New York Hilton in New York City.
October 23 : Michael poses for pictures in his hotel room and gives an interview prior to the release of “The Wiz”.
Later, he visits the famous toy store F.A.O Schwartz in Manhattan.
Michael and Georgia State Senator Julian Bond are photographed at a party at Hilton Hotel in New York City.
October 24 : In NYC, Michael tapes an apperance on CBS’s “A Special Sesame Street Christmas” special (which airs on December 08).
“The Wiz” is theatrically released in the US. The film receives generally negative reviews from critics, with many unfavorably comparing the film to its source material. Some critics criticize the casting of Diana Ross as Dorothy, while others criticize the direction of Lumet who was considered a poor choice for directing a musical.
Michael, Second lady Joan Mondale and NYC Mayor Ed Koch ride a special subway train from 42nd Street to The World Trade Center for the after party of ‘The Wiz’ premiere on in New York City. Michael attends the after party of ‘The Wiz’ premiere at Windows on the World in New York City with Sidney Lumet, Leslie Uggams, Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Berry Gordy Jr, Berry Gordy Sr and Quincy Jones among others. Later that night, Michael is spotted dancing with model Tamara Dobson at ‘The Wiz’ after party at Studio 54.
October 25 : Michael takes a flight from NYC to LA. At night, he attends the premiere & opening night party of “The Wiz” at the Pitt’s Century Plaza Theater in Century City (Los Angeles) with Katherine, Joe, Janet & Latoya & Diana Ross among others.
October 26 : Michael is on the cover of JET magazine with the cast of ‘The Wiz’.
November 01 : Michael and Quincy sign a contract to co-produce Michael’s upcoming first solo album later known as “Off The Wall”.
November 18 : Billboard magazine’s issue on The Jacksons 10th Anniversary with interviews of The Jacksons and their entourage.
Early December : Michael starts recording the album “Off The Wall” with producer Quincy Jones and sound engineer Bruce Swedien at Allen Zentz Recording, a nondescript studio in Hollywood. Bobby Holland is hired by Ed Eckstein (who runs Quincy Jones Productionsà to shoot casual, not-posed photos of Jackson and Jones working in the recording studio, for publicity purposes.
The Jacksons launch their first productions company named Peacock Productions and they start rehearsing for their upcoming Destiny World tour.
The Jacksons sign a contract with Dr Pepper. They record “Be A Pepper”, a one minute version of “Blame It On The Boogie” with lyrics about the Dr Pepper drink. The song is used for radio and TV commercials in 1979 and eventually released on 1995 (25 Years of Dr Pepper Music).
December 05 : Tito, Michael, Jackie, & Marlon give interviews to the press and pose for pictures at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.
December 08 : Michael is a guest star on CBS’s A Special Sesame Street Christmas.
Mid-December : The Jacksons tape performances of “Shake Your Body” and “Things I Do For You” on The Midnight Special at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California (aired on February 02, 1979).
December 16 : The Jacksons tape performances of “Shake Your Body”, “Push Me Away” & “Things I Do For You” on American Bandstand and Soul Train (aired on February 10, 1979)
December 17 : Epic releases “Destiny”, the first album for which The Jacksons had total creative control.
The Jacksons tape performances of Shake Your Body, Things I Do For You & Push Me Away on Soul Train and give an interview. plus a Michael’s interview. (aired on February 3, 1979).
Jackson Dynasty 