In Michael, Suzanne de Passe discovers the Jackson 5 in Chicago in 1968.
The film presents the Chicago performance as a turning point for the brothers. The Jackson 5 had already spent months rehearsing and performing at local gigs after Joe Jackson assembled Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael into a group in 1966. Their appearance in Chicago brings them to the attention of Suzanne de Passe, a Motown talent executive.
The discovery is followed by the group’s signing with Motown in 1969. Chicago is sometimes confused with Detroit because Detroit was strongly associated with Motown’s musical identity and corporate history. In the film’s story, however, Chicago is the city where de Passe notices the Jackson 5 before their Motown breakthrough.