The Jackson 8: A Thriller at the Grammys

From The Times: Feb. 29, 1984

Michael Jackson set a Grammy record Tuesday night by finishing first in eight categories in the record industry's 26th annual awards ceremony.

The victories during a nationally televised program at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles shattered the Grammy mark of six established by Roger Miller in 1965, the year his "King of the Road" dominated charts.

Accepting the best album award for "Thriller" early in the program, a nervous and generally taciturn Jackson, said, "This is a great honor…I'm very happy."

When he later picked up the record-breaking Grammy, the 25-year-old pop sensation took off his dark glasses in a victory salute.

The awards show was held on the same stage where Jackson suffered second- and third- degree burns Jan. 27, when his hair caught fire during the taping of a television commercial.

Jackson, whose "Thriller" is the biggest-selling album ever at 27 million, was also cited for best record ("Beat It") and as best vocalist in three areas: pop, rock and rhythm and blues.

He also won best children's album ("E.T. the Extraterrestrial"), best rhythm and blues song ("Billie Jean") and best record producer, an award he shared with Quincy Jones.

Jackson's sweep overshadowed the four victories in the classical competition by Sir Georg Solti. The awards gave Solti a career total of 23 Grammys, three more than the former leader, Henry Mancini.

Police Win Four

"Thriller," a stylish blend of pop, rock, rhythm and blues strains has produced an unprecedented seven Top 10 singles. Until now, no solo album contained more than four Top 10 singles. Epic Records spokesmen believe that the Grammy exposure and the excitement generated by an upcoming Jackson tour eventually will push worldwide sales beyond the 35 million mark. No other solo album has sold more than 12 million copies.

Other key winners in the presentations by the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences were the rock group Police, which won four honors, and producer Quincy Jones, whose four victories pushed him into a fourth-place tie with Stevie Wonder on the all-time Grammy list with 15.

Before the program, industry observers debated whether Jackson's enormous success with "Thriller" would lead to a sweep or a backlash. The sweep was tipped off before the telecast began when Jackson won in three of four secondary categories. His only losses were for best pop song and for best group vocal. Jackson had been nominated in the latter for his duet with Paul McCartney on "The Girl Is Mine."

Police lead singer and bassist Sting's "Every Breath You Take" was judged best pop song. Sting was also honored for best rock instrumental performance, and his band scored in pop group vocal and rock group vocal fields.

Other multiple winners were singer Chaka Khan, who won three Grammys, and the rock group Duran Duran and composer-producer Giorgio Moroder, with two each.