January : Michael is on the cover of Rock & Soul Magazine.
Michael works on new songs for “Off The Wall”.
The Jacksons rehearse for The Destiny Tour. Their new show include 4 songs from their new album (Things I Do For You, Destiny, All Night Dancin’ & Blame It On The Boogie).
Motown releases Boogie, a collection of unreleased songs from the Jackson 5.
January 11 : MCA releases the single “You Can’t Win” from the soundtrack of The Wiz.
January 17 : Just before leaving for Europe with The Jacksons for the 1st leg of the Destiny Tour, Michael poses for a photoshoot with Jim McCrary in Los Angeles for his upcoming solo album « Off The Wall »
January 22+24+26 : The Jacksons kick off the European leg of Destiny tour at the Bremen Germany Musical Theater in Bremen, Germany. While in Bremen, The Jacksons perform “Blame It On The Boogie” on Musikladen TV show.
January 27 : Concert at the Jahrhunderthalle in Frankfurt, Germany.
January 28+29+30 : Concert at the El Teatro Monumental in Madrid, Spain.
While in Madrid, The Jacksons tape a performance of “Destiny”, “Blame It On The Boogie”, “Goin Places” and “Shake Your Body” on Spanish TV show Aplauso (which airs RTVE on February 3, 1979).
January 31 : Concert at the Martiniplaza in Groningen, Netherlands.
February : The single “Shake Your Body” is released by Epic and becomes a huge success. It will peak at #7 on Hot 100 Billboard.
February 1+2 : Concert at the Koninklijk Theater Carré in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
While in Amsterdam, The Jacksons tape a performance of “Shake Your Body” for Dutch TV show TopPop (which is aired on February 24)
The Jacksons are on the cover of Jet Magazine.
February 2 : In Amsterdam, The Jacksons tape a performance for a Dutch television show, “Sonja’s Goed Nieuws Show,” a talk show hosted by Sonja Barend. The group perform “Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)” and “Blame It On The Boogie” at De Mirandabad, near the wave pool, as part of its inauguration.
February 3 : Soul Train’s episode with the Jacksons is aired on US TV. The group performs “Shake Your Body”, “Things I Do For You” & “Push Me Away”.
February 6+7+8+9 : Concerts at the Rainbow Theatre in London.
While in London, The Jacksons tape performances of “Shake Your Body”, “Blame It On The Boogie” & “Destiny” on Top Of The Pops. They also perform “Shake Your Body”, “Things I Do For You” & “Destiny” on Midnight Special. Jermaine joins them on stage for the last song.
February 10 : Concert at the Brighton Center in Brighton, England.
ABC airs American Bandstand featuring The Jacksons performing “Shake Your Body”, “Push Me Away” & “Things I Do For You”.
February 11 : Concert at the Guildhall in Preston, England.
February 12 : Concert at the Wakefield Theater Club in Wakefield, England.
February 13 : Concert at the Fiesta Club in Sheffield, England.
February 14+15 : Concerts at the Victoria Hall in Geneva, Switzerland.
While in Switzerland, The Jacksons perform “Destiny”, “Shake Your Body” & “Blame It On The Boogie” for an Abba Special.
February 16 : Concert at the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland.
February 17 : Concert at the Manchester Apollo in Manchester, England.
February 18 : Concert at the Bingley Hall in Birmingham, England.
February 19 : Concert at the Civic Theatre in Halifax, England.
February 20 : Concert at the De Montfort Hall in Leicester, England.
February 21 : Concert at the Sophia Gardens Pavillon in Cardiff, England.
February 23+24 : Concert at the England Rainbow Theatre in London. The first concert is filmed for television and aired later on.
February 25 : Concert at the Poole Arts Centre in Poole, England.
February 26 : Concert at the Koninklijk Theater Carré in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
February 28 : Concert at Le Palace in Paris, France.
February 29 : Last concert of the European leg at the Théâtre des Carmes in Avignon, France.
March 6+7+8+9+10 : The Jacksons kick off the African leg of Destiny Tour Concerts at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
March 12+13+14+15 : Concerts at the Stade de l’Amitié in Dakar, Senegal.
March 16 : Concert at the Aliff Gymnasium in Nairobi, Kenya.
March 19+20+21 : Concerts at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Late March : Back to Los Angeles, Michael resumes the recording of the album Off The Wall with Quincy Jones.
April 14+15 : The Jacksons kick off the US leg of Destiny Tour at the Music Hall in Cleveland. They add “Shake Your Body” to the setlist as the final song.
April 19+22 : Concerts at the Valley Forge Music Fair in Devon.
April 25+26+27 : Concerts at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago.
Michael, Joe & the Jacksons meet concert promoter Leonard Rowe.
April 28 : Concert at the Mill Run Theatre in Niles, Illinois.
May 3 : Concert at the Bayfront Center in St. Petersburg.
May 6 : Concert at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Jacksonville.
May 10+12 : Concert at the Music Hall in Houston.
May 11 : The single “Destiny” is released (only in the UK).
May 16 : Concert at the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham.
May 17 : Concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Columbus.
May 18 : Concert at the War Memorial Auditorium in Nashville.
May 19 : Concert at the Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta.
May 20 : Concert at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis.
May 24 : Concert at the Saenger Theatre in Pine Bluff.
May 26 : Concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.
May 27 : Concert at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth.
May 28 : Concert at the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in Shreveport.
June 1 : Concert at the Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.
June 3 : Concert at the Township Auditorium in Columbia.
June 8 : Concert at the Belk Gymnasium in Charlotte.
June 9 : Concert at the Capital Centre in Landover.
June 10 : Last concert of the first US leg at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro.
Late June : Michael, Quincy & Bruce complete the recording & mixing of the album Off The Wall at the Westlake Studios in Los Angeles.
The Jacksons start recording songs for the Triumph Album.
Michael makes several photoshoots for the “Off The Wall” album cover with Mike Salisbury and Steve Harvey as Mike Salisbury recalls : “After a shoot at the Griffith Park Observatory under the Hollywood sign that didn’t work for me, we tried a re-shoot in photographer Steve Harvey’s Hollywood studio. Nothing was happening. The photograph in the theatrical tuxedo, with the Gene Kelly white socks and loafers, needed something more than just a white background. I needed a background to support the metaphorical symbolism of the tuxedo and the young kid with the big talent. In an urban alley against an old wall of real brick, I directed Michael to be more animated in his pose. And I told him to smile. Voila! Off the Wall. Perhaps after the Great Wall and the Berlin Wall, one of the most famous walls in the world. A wall I picked to be our backstage, the alley door of a Broadway theater”
July : Michael shoots a video for the song “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” with a new short hair.
Leonard Rowe becomes the concert promoter for the next leg of the Destinty Tour and he meets Michael and the Jacksons at Hayvenhurst several times.
July 1 : Mayor Tom Bradley declares “Jackson Day” in Los Angeles in honour of the group achievements. Some 300 guests attend a party in the City National Bank Vault in Beverly Hills including Katherine, LaToya & Janet. The Jacksons receive a Platinum Record for Destiny. Michael’s date for the night is actress Tatum’ O Neal. Michael performs “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” .
July 10 : The single “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” is released. It peaks at #1 on Hot 100 Billboard.
August 10 : Epic releases the album “Off The Wall” (N°1) A huge success thanks to the genius of Michael Jackson combined with the musicians of Quincy Jones. With four Top Ten singles and more than 15 millions records sold, Off The Wall has become a classic in pop history.
August 16 : Michael is on the cover of Jet Magazine with an exclusive interview.
August 20 : Michael is on the cover of Soul Magazine with an exclusive interview.
August 29 : Michael and his brothers make a photoshoot with photographer Mathew Roltson.
Michael celebrates his 21st birthday at the Studio 54 club in New York City.
Michael’s contract with Joe Jackson expires and he now takes control of his own career.
September: The Jacksons are on the cover of Ebony Magazine.
Michael shoots a video for the song “Rock With You” directed by Bruce Gowers.
The Jacksons rehearse for the new leg of the Destiny World Tour and they add new songs to the setlist (Off The Wall, Rock With You, Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough and Shake Your Body).
September 26 : The Jacksons kick off the second US leg of Destiny Tour at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington.
October 2+3 : Concert at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans.
October 4 : Concert at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport.
October 5 : Concert at the Mobile Municipal Auditorium in Mobile.
October 6 : Concert at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville;
October 7 : Concert at the Louisville Gardens in Louisville.
October 12 : Concert at the Spectrum in Philadelphia.
October 13 : Concert at the Rochester Community War Memorial in Rochester.
October 14 : Concert at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena in Pittsburgh
October 15 : Concert at the Saginaw Civic Center in Saginaw.
October 19 : Concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis.
October 20 : Concert at the Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis.
October 21 : Concert at the UD Arena in Dayton.
October 25 : Concert at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Columbus.
October 26 : Concert at the Onondaga County War Memorial in Syracuse.
October 27 : Concert at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo.
October 28 : Concert at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield.
October 31 : Michael attends his friend Jane Fonda’s Halloween Disco Party at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.
November 1 : Concert at the Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo.
November 2 : Concert at the Chicago Stadium in Chicago.
November 3 : Concert at the Public Auditorium in Cleveland.
Epic releases the single “Rock With You”. It will peak at #1 on Hot 100 Billboard.
Rolling Stone Magazine refuses to put Michael on their cover!
November 4+5 : Concerts at the 1979 Detroit Cobo Arena in Detroit.
November 6 : Concert at the Baltimore Civic Center in Baltimore.
November 8 : Concert at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale (filmed for ABC’s 20/20 TV show that will air in January 1980). Backstage, Michael & The Jacksons are presented with gold record awards for Off The Wall’ album with CBS record executive Don Dempsey & Joe Jackson.
November 9 : Concert at the Richmond Coliseum in Richmond, Virginia.
November 10 : Concert at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton.
November 11 : Concert at the Cumberland County Memorial Auditorium in Fayetteville.
November 14 : Concert at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth.
November 15 : Concert at the Riverside Centroplex in Baton Rouge.
November 16 : Concert at the Mississippi Coliseum in Jackson.
November 17 : Concert at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles.
November 19 : Concert at the The Summit in Houston.
November 20 : Concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Columbus.
November 21 : Concert at the Greenville Memorial Auditorium in Greenville.
November 22 : Concert at the Savannah Civic Center in Savannah.
November 23 : Concert at the Macon Coliseum in Macon.
November 24 : Concert at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville.
November 25 : Concert at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta.
November 29 : Concert at the Tingley Coliseum in Albuquerque.
November 30 : Concert at the McNichols Sports Arena in Denver.
December 2 : Concert at the Honolulu International Center in Honolulu.
December 6 : Concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
December 8 : Concert at theSeattle Center Coliseum in Seattle.
December 9 : Concert at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada.
December 13 : Concert at the United States Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino.
December 14 : Concert at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.
December 15 : Concert at the Sports Arena in San Diego.
December 16 : Concert at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena in Oakland.
December 17 . Michael performs “Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough” at the New Age club in Oakland, California. Taped for the Soul Beat Network.
December 18 + 19 : Concerts at the Forum in Inglewood. The whole Jackson family attends the concert. Backstage Michael is presented with multplatinum record awards for Off The Wall. After the concert, the Jacksons attend a party at Chasen’s restaurant in Beverly Hills.
December 21 : Last concert of the year at the Haynes Oval Cricket Ground in Nassau (The Bahamas).
