When Did Michael Jackson Go Solo?

1979

He went solo at the age of 14 in 1972

Michael released Got to Be There his first solo album in 1972 on Motown. The album where Michael really started to make a solo career for himself was Off the Wall in 1979 when he teamed up with Quincy Jones for the first time.

The question is not as simple as it may seem. While performing as a child with the Jackson 5, Motown had MJ record  and release some singles as a solo artist. The first of these, Got to be There, hit #4 on the charts in 1971. Other popular solo singles by MJ in the early 1970s included Ben (a #1 hit), Rockin' Robin (#2), Who's Lovin You?, and I want to be Where You Are. Motown also released an album called "Forever Michael" that included some other solos. In 1978-79 he broke away from his brothers to do his first album, Off the Wall, as an adult solo artist.

In 1979