Triumph Tour

The Triumph Tour was a concert tour by the Jacksons, covering the United States from July 8 to September 26, 1981. The tour grossed a total of $5.5 million, setting a record breaking 4 sold out concerts in Los Angeles.

History

By 1981, the Jacksons had regained success as a platinum-selling recording group with two albums, Destiny and Triumph. Additionally, lead singer Michael Jackson was in the final stages of promoting his multi-platinum album, Off the Wall. This tour allowed Michael to bring in new show production ideas more to his liking. Inspired by Earth, Wind & Fire's live shows, Michael created the costumes and designed the stage. He and his brothers also collaborated on an intro that signaled similarities to their "Can You Feel It" music video. As it had been for many years, the choreography was done by Michael, Jackie and Marlon Jackson. The shows included magical elements designed by Doug Henning—for example, Michael disappearing in smoke during Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough.^[2][3][4]

Touring tenure

The Triumph Tour began in Memphis, Tennessee and ended with a sold-out week of shows in Los Angeles. Each show earned highly positive reviews, in part due to Michael's leadership and showmanship. His brothers also earned praise, particularly for Randy's and Tito's musicality, and Marlon's dance ability. The tour marked the last truly integrated group effort, as Michael's solo career would soon eclipse his success with his brothers. The tour was so well-received and popular that Epic had the brothers record one of the shows. It's not entirely clear where the recording took place, at one show or at a variety of other shows that were then compiled for the recording. However, it was rumored that the tracks were recorded during stops in Memphis, New York City, Buffalo and Providence. The live album, The Jacksons Live!, came out in the winter of 1981, and went gold in its initial run. Current sales are two million. After the tour ended, Michael went back to record his follow-up to Off the Wall. It would be three years before the Jacksons would go back on the road again. Rolling Stone later named the Triumph Tour one of the best 25 tours of 1967–1987. To showcase the success of the Triumph Tour, Michael Jackson commented that it was their first show without any marginal material. Michael patterned the Victory Tour and his Bad World Tour after the Triumph Tour.

Stage

The stage was dark and had three groups of strobe lights, all of them containing different colors of lights, facing the stage diagonally. The stage also had a spotlight that followed the main performers. In addition to the lighting, the musicians played their instruments on fixtures (the horn section to the left of the stage, the drums to the center, and keyboards to the right; with the exception of the guitarists and Randy Jackson who played the piano, keyboards, and assorted percussion).

Opening act

• Stacy Lattisaw

Setlist

1. Can You Feel It
2. Things I Do for You
3. Off the Wall
4. Ben
5. This Place Hotel
6. She's Out of My Life
7. Movie Rap
8. Jackson 5 Medley (I Want You Back / ABC / The Love You Save)
9. I'll Be There
10. Rock with You
11. Lovely One
12. Workin' Day and Night
13. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
14. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)

Tour dates

Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Box office score data

Personnel

• Michael Jackson: vocals
• Jackie Jackson: vocals, percussion
• Tito Jackson: guitar, vocals
• Marlon Jackson: vocals
• Randy Jackson: vocals, congas, piano, keyboards
• Drums: Jonathan Moffett
• Bass: Mike McKinney
• Guitar: David Williams
• Synthesizer: Bill Wolfer
• Horns: Wesley Phillips, Cloris Grimes, Alan (Funt) Prater, Roderick (Mac) McMorris (East Coast Horns)

References

1. ↑ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Community Development Project. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved January 2, 2017. 
2. ↑ https://books.google.com/books?id=yb_ghov9uEMC&pg=PA32&lpg=PA32&dq=Doug+Henning+michael+jackson+-wind+triumph&source=bl&ots=CYjPESXwxN&sig=87gplJqNd8ymjNDW0OpKc8_w1fc&hl=en&ei=heOkS-ScJ4b60wT39sT0CQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Doug%20Henning%20michael%20jackson%20-wind%20triumph&f=false
3. ↑ http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/era/off-the-wall/index.html
4. ↑ http://www.michael-jackson-trader.com/biography/thejacksons-years.html
5. ↑ "It's a Jacksons' Summer! They're taking off again". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93: 28–29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
6. ↑ "The Jacksons - Triumph Tour (1981)". The Michael Jackson Fan Club. June 2013. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2016. 
7. ↑ Ralston, Jeannie (July 29, 1981). "The Jacksons: All Eyes Were on Michael Last Night". Evening Independent. 74 (230). St. Petersburg, Florida: Times Publishing Company. p. 8B. Retrieved September 3, 2016. 
8. 1 2 "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (29): 37. July 25, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
9. 1 2 "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (33): 40. August 22, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
10. 1 2 "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (35): 45. September 5, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
11. 1 2 3 "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (34): 38. August 29, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
12. ↑ "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (40): 44. October 10, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016. 
13. ↑ "Billboard Top Boxoffice". Billboard. New York City, New York: Billboard Publications, Inc. 93 (42): 34. October 24, 1981. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved September 26, 2016.