In 1979, Michael Jackson released Off the Wall and proved he was much more than the young singer people remembered from the Jackson 5. The album gave him four Top 10 hits. “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” and “Rock With You” both reached number one. Michael had finally become a major solo star.
Then came the 1980 Grammys. Michael won his first solo Grammy for “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.” Still, Off the Wall was not even nominated for Album of the Year. For an album that had already broken records, one award did not feel like enough. Michael later made it clear that he believed the album deserved much more recognition.
Michael Jackson’s First Solo Grammy Hit
Instead of accepting that result, Michael raised his goal. He wanted his next album to be so big that nobody could place him in one box. He returned to the studio with Quincy Jones. The new project mixed pop, rock, R&B, and funk. That album became Thriller, released in 1982.
Off the Wall had given Michael something to prove. Thriller gave him the answer. All seven singles from the album reached the Billboard Top 10. “Billie Jean” and “Beat It” both reached number one. The album spent 37 weeks at number one and became a success far beyond anything Michael had done before.
Michael Jackson Makes History at the 1984 Grammys
On February 28, 1984, Michael returned to the Grammys and won eight awards in one night, a record at the time. Thriller won Album of the Year. “Beat It” won Record of the Year. Michael also won across pop, rock, and R&B categories. Four years earlier, he had walked away with one Grammy. Now he could barely carry them all.
Michael could have spent years arguing that Off the Wall deserved more. Instead, he went back to work. The disappointment became fuel, and the result was Thriller. One Grammy did not stop him. It pushed him toward the biggest album of his career. Follow Michael Jackson on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.