“Got to Be There” enters the charts — Michael Jackson’s first solo single

Twelve-year-old Michael’s solo career begins with “Got to Be There”. The single, released by Motown on 7 October, enters both the Black and Pop singles charts at the end of October and would peak at number four on both. It marked his first record released outside the Jackson 5 group context, and laid the foundation for the Got to Be There LP that followed in January 1972.