Michael Jackson highlights

March 25, 1983: The TV special ‘Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever’ is taped. The Jackson 5 perform a medley of their hits, then Michael sings “Billie Jean” (from ‘Thriller’) by himself, premiering his “moonwalk” dance move. The show airs on May 16, and Jackson’s’ segment is a highlight. March 31, 1983: “Beat It,” by Michael Jackson - which features a blistering Eddie Van Halen guitar solo - is premiered on MTV. Its high-energy fusion of rock and soul drives it to the top of the charts. December 2, 1983: MTV debuts Michael Jackson’s 14-minute “Thriller” film. ‘The Making of Michael Jackson’s Thriller,’ released in time for Christmas, becomes the largest-selling music home video ever. February 27, 1984: MTV world premieres the Jackson’s Pepsi commercial and presents an interview with director Bob Giraldi. August 8, 1987: “I Just Can’t Stop Loving You,” a duet between Michael Jackson and Siedah Garret, is released in advance of the album ‘Bad.’ It is the seventh #1 single of his solo career. August 31, 1987: ‘Bad,’ by Michael Jackson - the followup to Thriller and therefore the most hotly anticipated album in history - is released. It tops the charts for eight weeks and yields seven hit singles. December 23, 1989: MTV CEO Tom Freston and MTV VJ Adam Curry present Michael Jackson with “Video Vanguard Artist of the Decade” award in Los Angeles. November 14, 1991: Michael Jackson’s controversial 11-minute “Black or White” video debuts on television. It is a teaser for ‘Dangerous,’ his third #1 album in a row and the source of seven more hit singles. February 10, 1992: MTV kicks-off its first global sweepstakes with “My Dinner with Michael.” Winners from around the world attended a dinner party hosted by Michael Jackson on the set of his music video “In the Closet.” January 31, 1993: Michael Jackson’s halftime performance at Superbowl XXVII draws the largest viewing audience in the history of American television. February 24, 1993: Michael Jackson receives the Living Legend Award at the 35th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, and 1.2 million people worldwide view his performance and acceptance. Advertisement

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