The White House, Drunk Driving Campaign, Pepsi, Hollywood Star, The MJ Doll, “Victory Tour” – 1984

Michael launched his own company MJJ PRODUCTIONS with Bill Bray & Miko Brando as his first employees.

• January 10:

Michael visited the burn center at Brotman Memorial Center Hospital in Los Angeles .

• January 11:

At the first annual Black Gold Awards, produced by Dick Clark, Michael won four awards.

• January 16:

Michael attended the American Music Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles with Brooke Schields and Emmanuel Lewis. He won an unprecedented eight awards including the special award of Merit presented by Diana Ross. The ceremony was watched by over sixty million people.

• January 24:

Michael & The Jacksons filmed a Pepsi commercial named ‘Street’ directed by Bob Giraldi and featured the group dancing in the street (including Alfonso Ribeiro & Siggy Jackson) on a Pepsi version of Billie Jean.

• January 26:

“Somebody’s Watching Me” by Rockwell Gordy featured Michael on the title track was released by Motown.

• January 27:

It was announced that Jackie Onassis would publish Michael’s autobiography.

During the filming of a second Pepsi commercial named ‘Concert’, directed by Bob Giraldi, a pyrotechnic failure caused an accident. Michael suffered second and third degree scalp burns. He was rescued by Miko Brando and was rushed to to Cedar Sinai Medical Center where on arrival, caused a media frenzy. All the Jackson family joined him at the hospital. Michael was transferred to Brotman Memorial Hospital for treatment at the burn center.

• January 28:

Michael was released from the hospital.

• February:

“Thriller”, the seventh and last single from the album was released by Epic.

• February 1:

Michael received an official letter from US President Ronald Reagan wishing him a speedy recovery.

• February 5:

Michael made his first public appearance since his burn injury when he visited the Los Angeles zoo with Emmanuel Lewis.

• February 6:

Michael & Emmanuel Lewis were on the cover of Jet magazine.

• February 7:

Michael went to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Natural History to receive awards from CBS & The Guinness Book Of World Records celebrating “Thriller” as the largest-selling album of all time (25million at the time).  Among the many guests, were Brooke Schields, & the whole Jackson family.

• February 25:

Michael attended the premier of the Jacksons’ Pepsi commercial at a black-tie event for 1000 bottlers at New York City’s Lincoln Center .

• February 27:

Michael & Brooke Schields were on the cover of Jet magazine

The Pepsi commercials premiered on MTV.

• February 28:

In the company of Brooke Schields & Emmanuel Lewis, Michael attended the Grammy Awards ceremony broadcast live from the Shrine Auditorium of Los Angeles.

He won an unprecedented 8 awards. On stage he shares his triumph with producer Quincy Jones and even invited his sisters Janet, LaToya & Rebbie to join him.

The Jacksons Pepsi commercials were aired during the telecast and became the most popular ads ever

“And for the girls in the back..”

• March:

Michael was on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.

• March 19:

Michael was on the cover of TIME magazine with a nine page article.

• March 20:

Michael hired Frank Dileo, Vice President of Promotions at Epic as his new manager.

• March 23:

Michael appeared on the cover of Jet magazine.

• March 29:

The Jackson family selected Frank Russo to run the Victory Tour in association with Danny’O Donovan.

• April:

Liza Minnelli accompanied Michael to Swifty Lazar’s Oscar Night Party

Jermaine Jackson’s first album for Arista contains a new duet with Michael titled “Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin” but Epic does not give permission to Arista to release it as a single.

• April 9:

David Smithee, a terminally ill child was invited to visit Michael at the Encino family house thanks to the ‘Make A Wish Foundation’.

• April 14:

Michael attended a Martell foundation dinner.

• April 17:

Michael underwent reconstructive scalp surgery at Brotman Memorial Hospital by his plastic surgeon Dr Steven Hoeffin

• Late April :

The rehearsals for the Jacksons’ “Victory Tour” began in Los Angeles .

• May:

Michael was on the cover of Ebony magazine.

Motown released the album “Farewell My Summer Love”, a collection of old material.

Frank Russo filed a $20 millions lawsuit against the Jacksons for going back on their verbal agreement to make him manager of the Victory Tour.

• May 5:

The Jackson family organized a surprise party to honor Katherine at the Bistro Garden . Michael gave her a Rolls Royce

• May 8:

Michael attended a performance of Cats.

• May 11:

Michael attended a Kool and The Gang concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City accompanied by Tatum O’Neal heavily disguised in a beard and wig!

• May 12:

Michael visited Shirley Maclaine backstage after her performance in Broadway.

• May 14:

President Ronald Reagan hosted a ceremony to launch the Drunk Driving campaign & present the Presidential Humanitarian Award to Michael in a garden ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C.

• May 21:

The Jacksons were on the cover of Jet magazine.

• June:

Michael met with other supporters of Camp Good Times in Malibu such as OJ Simpson, Dustin Hoffman, David Soul, Neil Diamond & Richard Chamberlain.

• June 5:

The “Victory Tour” contract was signed by Don King, Chuck Sullivan and Joe & Katherine Jackson.

• June 9:

Michael attended the unveiling of a wax statue of himself at The Guinness Museum of World Records in San Francisco, California

• June 13:

The first single from the Victory album, “State Of Shock”, a duet between Michael & Mick Jagger, was premiered on radio stations.

• June 26:

Michael and his brothers arrived in Birmingham for secret pre-tour rehearsals.

• June 29:

During the Victory Tour rehearsals in Atlanta , Michael & his brothers greeted a crowd of over a thousand fans.

• July:

The single “Centipede” by Rebbie Jackson was released on Colombia Records. The song is written and produced by Michael who also sang backing vocals.

The album “Victory” was released by Epic. For the first time, the 6 brothers were reunited with the return of Jermaine.

• July 5:

Michael held a major press conference with his brothers to announce a change in the tour’s organization and also that the ALL of his share of the proceeds from the Victory Tour would be donated to charity.

THE VICTORY TOUR 1984 PROMO VIDEO:

• July 6/7/8:

The Jacksons kicked off the Victory Tour in Kansas City, Missouri

The whole Jackson family and Reverend Jesse Jackson attended the concerts.

• July 13/14/15 :

Concerts in Dallas, Texas  attended by Prince & Emmanuel Lewis among others. During the second concert in Dallas , Eddie Van Halen joined Michael on stage to play his solo guitar on Beat It

• July 16:

Michael was on the cover of Newsweek.

• July 20:

Publicity of the Michael Jackson doll began.

• July 21/22/23:

Concerts in Jacksonville, Florida

• July 29/30/31:

Concerts in East Rutherford, New Jersey attended by Katherine, Janet, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, & Bob Girladi among others.

• August:

The single “Torture” was released by Epic. It’s a duet between Michael & Jermaine but neither of them participated in the video

• August 4/5:

Concerts at the Madison Square Garden in New York City attended by many celebrities such as Andy Warhol, Mayor Koch, Cyndi Lauper, Brooke Schields, Bette Midler, & Emmanuel Lewis. During his stay in New York , Michael had dinner with Katherine Hepburn at her city townhouse.

• August 7/8/9:

Concerts in Knoxville

• August 17/18/19:

Concert in Detroit, Michigan

Michael filmed a home video at Pontiac City Hall, Michigan with a troop of police officers.

• August 20-24:

Michael visited Disneyworld with Emmanuel Lewis in Orlando, Florida

• August 25/26:

Concerts in Buffalo, New York

• September:

Michael was on the cover of Life magazine.

• September 1/2 :

Concerts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania  attended by Selvester Stone & Bruce Spingsteen.

• September 5:

Frank Dileo held a press conference to read a statement on behalf of Michael

• September 7/8:

Concerts in Denver, Colorado.

Michael visits with Elton John.

• September 14:

Michael won three awards at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards but was not present at the ceremony.

• September 15:

Michael went shopping with Quincy Jones on Montreal ()

• September 16:

Michael attended Sunday service at the Kingdom Hall in Montreal .

• September 17/18:

Concerts in Montreal.

• September 21/22:

Concerts in Washington D.C.

While in Washington , Michael visited the Kennedy Center Opera House to see Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova in the touring production of Zorba.

• September 28/29:

Concerts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• October:

The single “Body” was released by Epic. Michael was not  in the video.

• October 5/6/7:

Concerts in Toronto

• October 12/13/14:

Concerts in Chicago, Illinois

• October 19/20:

Concerts in Cleveland, Ohio

• October 26/27:

Concerts in Atlanta

• November:

Michael was on the cover of People Extra.

• November 2/3:

Concerts in Miami, Florida

• November 9/10:

Concerts in Houston, Texas

Michael has a sitting for Madame Tussauds sculptor Jim Mathieson.

• November 16/17/18:

Concerts in Vancouver

• November 18:

Michael was made an honorary member of the new West Minister Police Department while in British Colombia

• November 20:

5000 fans were present for Michael’s unveiling of his Hollywood Boulevard Star on the Walk Of Fame.

November 30/

December1/ 2 :

Concerts at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles .

• December:

Michael was on the cover of Ebony and magazines. He appeared in the video LA is my lady produced by Quincy Jones for Frank Sinatra.

Michael visited Steven Spielbeg on the set of The Goonies movie and befriends Corey Feldman.

• December 6:

Michael was in Chicago to testify in court that he wrote “The Girl Is Mine”.

• December 7/8/9:

The Jacksons played their last Victory Tour concerts at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles . During the last song of the last concert, Janet, & Latoya joined the group on stage with all the nieces and nephews to dance. Michael announced his departure from The Jacksons.

During the 55 concerts, attended by over 2 million people, the tour grossed a record $75 million

Michael donated ALL of HIS portion of the earnings.

January 7, 2009 | Categories: Achievements, Biography, Dancing, Favorite Photos, Favorites, humanitarian, Jacksons, Music, Victory Tour, videos | Tags: Achievements, Biography, dance, Favorites, humanitarian, Jacksons, music, pics, Victory Tour, videos | 1 Comment