Triumph Tour

infobox concert tour
concert_tour_name = Triumph Tour


artist = The Jacksons
start_date = July 9, 1981
end_date = September 26, 1981
number_of_legs = 1
number_of_shows = 42
altArtist = Michael Jackson
last_tour = Destiny Tour (1979)
this_tour = Triumph Tour (1981)
next_tour = Victory Tour (1984)

The Jacksons' 1981 Triumph Tour began in Memphis, Tennessee, and concluded in Los Angeles. The Jacksons set a record breaking 4 sold out concerts in Los Angeles. Katherine Hepburn, a close friend of Michael's, attended a Jacksons concert at Madison Square Garden. The Triumph Tour was a 39 city tour of the U.S.A.

Overview

History

By 1981, the Jacksons had regained success as a platinum-selling recording group with two albums, "Destiny" and "Triumph" and lead singer Michael Jackson was in the final throws of promoting his multi-platinum hit, "Off the Wall". Embarking on this tour provided Michael to bring in new ideas as to how the group can produce a show to his liking. Inspired by the live shows by Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael created the costumes and designed the stage and alongside his brothers collaborating, created an intro that signaled similarities to their "Can You Feel It" music video.

Touring tenure

The "Triumph Tour" began in Memphis, Tennessee and ended with a sold-out week of shows in Los Angeles, California. The tour was given great reviews upon every show mainly because of Michael's leadership and showmanship. The tour also marked the beginning of the end for the Jacksons ironically as Michael's solo career eventually eclipsed his success with his brothers. The tour was so well-received and popular that Epic had the brothers record one of the shows (though it's not entirely clear where the recording took place in one show or on a bevy of other tours that were put together for the recording). The live album, "The Jacksons Live!", came out in the winter of 1981 and eventually went gold. After the tour ended, Michael went back to record his follow-up to "Off the Wall". It would be three years before the brothers would go back on the road again. "Rolling Stone" later named the "Triumph Tour" one of the most talked-about tours of the 1980s.

tage

The stage for the Triumph Tour was known as one of the best stage designs ever made. It 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).

etlist

#Intro/"Can You Feel It"
#"Things I Do for You"
#"Off the Wall"
#"Ben"
#"This Place Hotel"
#"She's Out of My Life"
#Movie And Rap, Including Excerpts of: "I Want You Back"/"Never Can Say Goodbye"/"Got to Be There"
#Medley: "I Want You Back"/"ABC"/"The Love You Save"
#"I'll Be There"
#"Rock With You"
#"Lovely One"
#"Working Day and Night"
#"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
#"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)"

Tour Dates

Lead Performers

*Jackie Jackson: vocals, percussion
*Tito Jackson: guitar, vocals
*Marlon Jackson: vocals
*Michael Jackson: vocals
*Randy Jackson: vocals, congas, piano, keyboards

Band Members

*Drums: Jonathan Moffett
*Bass: Michael McKinney
*Guitar: David Williams
*Synthesizer: Bill Wolfer
*Horns: (East Coast Horns): Wesley Phillips, Cloris Grimes, Alan (Funt) Prater, Roderick (Mac) McMorris

External links

*Watch the [http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=730F0E5AF07FB743 Triumph Tour Live in Los Angeles] on YouTube