Bill Bray hires a new bodyguard names Wayne Nagin who will go on working for Michael until 2000!
John Branca becomes Michael’s attorney. Branca’s first course of action is to renegociate Michael’s CBS contract with the company’s president Walter Yetnikoff.
Randy leaves Hayvenhurst and moves in with his girlfriend Julie Mijares.
January 10 : The Jacksons arrive in Honolulu, the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. During his stay on the American island, Michael Jackson visits Paradise Park in Waikiki and crosses paths with Peter Hernandez. A momentary encounter immortalized by a photo that will remain in the archives of the park employee and would probably have never gained any importance if this Peter Hernandez wasn’t none other than the future father of a certain Bruno Mars!
January 11 : The Jacksons perform in concert at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
January 12 : The Jacksons perform in concert at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu.
January 13 : The Jacksons perform in concert at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena in Honolulu. This is the very last concert of the Destiny Tour. Backstage, Michael, Randy & Marlon give a short interview to a local TV station.
January 18 : Michael attends The American Music Awards in L.A where he is presented with three awards for “Off The Wall” and he presents one to the Bee Gees.
January 19 : “Rock With You” hits #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
January 27 : Michael attends the NAACP Awards where The Jacksons receive the Image Award for best singing group of the year.
January 29 : Michael performs Rock With You at a UNICEF benefit concert called « Because We Care » and hosted by Julie Andrews for Cambodian relief at the Dorothy Chandler Pavillon at the Music Center in Los Angeles. Later he attends an after party with John Travolta.The show airs on CBS on February 5, 1980.
Late January/Early February : At Disneyland, Michael tapes a medley of When You Wish Upon A Star, Follow The Yellow Brick Road and Ease On Down The Road for a CBS TV Special celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Magic Kingdom (aired on March 6, 1980).
February 2 : Epic releases the single Off The Wall. It will peak at #10 on Hot 100 Billboard.
February 4 : Randy is seriously injured in a car crash in Hollywood, California. He almost looses a leg but after 6 months and 7 operations, he finally manages to walk again..
February 27 : Michael boycotts the Grammy Awards because Off The Wall was not nominated for best album of the year. He watches the ceremony at home with Katherine, Janet & LaToya. He wins his first Grammy but vows that his next album won’t be ignored…
March : Michael is on the cover of Melody Maker with an exclusive interview given to reporter Steve Demorest at Hayvenhurst in February. During the interview, the reporter asks the questions to a 13 years old Janet who repeats them to Michael.
March 6 : CBS airs Kraft salutes Disneyland’s 25th anniversary starring Dany Kaye with guest stars Michael Jackson, The Osmonds and Adam Rich.
March 23 : Molly Meldrum makes a telephone interview with Michael from his show on Australian television, “Countdown”. Michael talks about the success of his album “Off The Wall” and also mentions the album “Destiny” with The Jacksons.
April : Michael is on the cover of “Black Stars” magazine which features an interview of him at Hayvenhurst by Steve Manning.
April 19 : Epic releases “She’s Out Of My Life” the 4th single from Off The Wall. It will peak at #10 on Hot 100 Billboard. Michael shoots a video for the song directed by Bruce Gowers.
Michael becomes the first solo artist in to chart four top 10 singles from the same album!
May : Dave Mason’s album including the song Save Me featuring Michael on backing vocals is released.
May 6 : In the May 6, 1980 issue of Blues and Soul magazine, Michael gives an interview and reveals he is working on the next Jacksons album : “we are thinking of calling the next album “Foundation” , though we’re not sure right now of that”.
May 26 : LaToya’s debut single “If You Feel The Funk” is released by Polydor.
June 24 : Latoya’s debut album titled “LaToya Jackson” is released by by Polydor.
Janet is one of seven people credited with providing handclaps on LaToya’s track “If You Feel The Funk”. She also co-writes the song “Lovely Is She” with LaToya.
July : Paul Anka invites Michael to visit as a guest of his Carmel by the sea home in Monterey County, California. They spend two weeks together working on songs “Love Never Felt So Good”, “I Never Heard” and “It Don”t Matter To Me”.
July 16 : Epic releases the single “Girlfriend” (written by Paul Mac Cartney) only in the UK.
July 29 : LaToya, Michael, Rebbie, Randy and Jonathan Moffett pose for pictures with the cast of “Blackness” at The Cast at The Circle Theatre in Hollywood.
July 31 : Michael is on the cover of Jet magazine with sister LaToya.
August : “Love Lives Forever” by Minnie Riperton featuring I’m In Love Again in duet with Michael is released.
“Night Time Lover” by LaToya Jackson is released on Polydor. The song was written, composed and produced by Michael who also sings the background vocals. It’s the second single from her first album titled “LaToya Jackson”.
September Michael spends several weeks in New Hampshire on the set of the movie “On Golden Pond” visiting his friend Jane Fonda and while there he forms friendships with the movie’s other stars Henry Fonda & Katherine Hepburn.
At Ashland, New Hampshire, entertainers Art Harriman and Keith Brush of the Smiff Bros., and Al Gould were playing Good Time Music for the “Day In The Park” Celebration. Jane Fonda shows up with Michael.
September 3 : In recognition of their contribution to music , The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce honour The Jacksons with a Star on Hollywood Boulevard’s “Walk Of Fame”. Michael, Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Randy attend the presentation with Joe & Katherine, Rebbie, LaToya, Janet and Joe’s mother Crystal Jackson. Michael is also presented a special plaque in “recognition of 4 Top ten singles from the album Off The Wall”. Later the Jackson family has dinner at Chasen’s restaurant in West Hollywood. Singer Barry White and broadcaster Dick Clark are among the guests.
September 27 : Epic releases “Lovely One”, first single from the upcoming “Triumph” album. It will peak at #12 on Hot 100 Billboard.
October : Michael appears in Gentleman’s Quaterly with a minor interview.
“Hotter Than July” by Stevie Wonder featuring the song “All I Do” with backing vocals by Michael is released on Motown.
October 16 : Katherine, Randy & Janet attack Gina Sprague, Joe’s personal assistant at Joe Jackson Productions.
October 18 : Epic releases “Triumph”, the new album of The Jacksons. It will peak at #10 on Billboard 200.
November : Janet joins the cast of “Diff’rent Strokes” sitcom on NBC. She plays the character of Charlene DuPrey, Willy’s girlfriend.
She also performs “Night Time Lover” on Sold Gold.
November 8 : LaToya performs “If You Feel the Funk” and “Are You Ready” on the Soul Train Show. Janet gives an interview to Don Cornelius on the same show.
November 10 : LaToya performs “If You Feel The Funk” and “Night Time Lover” on Dutch TV show TopPop.
November 12 : Michael attends Stevie Wonder Hotter Than July’s Tour at Madison Square Garden in New York City. At the end of the concerts, he is invited on stage by Stevie and sings “Master Blaster” with Stevie and Gil Scott-Heron.
December 5 : Epic releases “Heartbreak Hotel” 2nd single from the Triumph Album. It will peak at #22 on Hot 100 Billboard.
December 13 : LaToya performs “Night Time Lover” and “If You Feel The Funk” on American Bandstand.
December 31 : “Diff’rent Strokes” ‘s first episode with Janet tirled “first love” airs on NBC.
Jackson Dynasty 