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"First Annual American Music Awards"

Date confirmed in “Billboard” magazine advertisement (archived) (“To be telecast Tuesday, February 19, 1974”)

Rodney Allen Rippy, co-host, “The Orange County Register” (July 21, 2009) (archived)

“The Orange County Register”: You are known for your friendship with Michael Jackson years ago. How did that come about?

Rodney Allen Rippy: I was about 5 and at the American Music Awards. I came in with my mom and sat down behind a chair that was marked with a sign that said, ‘Michael Jackson.’ He was about 15 at the time.

Just before the show started he came in and my mouth dropped open. I said, ‘You’re Michael Jackson.’ He turned around and said, ‘You’re Rodney Allen Rippy.’ We exchanged phone numbers and he used to call me every Saturday morning, at 10 a.m.

That was just before the ‘Off the Wall’ album. After that, he spun off into a new universe of fame and we didn’t talk as much.

Donny Osmond, co-host, “Entertainment Tonight” (June 25, 2010) (archived)

"My fondest memory with Michael, we were both 14 years old, and it was right after the first American Music Awards; we presented an award," Donny tells ET. "And we thought, 'We're hungry!' So we hopped in the back of my limo, drove to Jack-in-the-Box, and we were sticking our heads out the moon roof eating tacos and driving down Sunset Blvd. We were both laughing our heads off."