1986 - "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from May 17 - June 6
Also Hit #1 in Canada, Ireland and Australia
"Greatest Love of All" Became the #1 Song in America
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1983 - Israel Agreed to Withdrawal Troops From Lebanon
* The Last of the Troops Left in 1985
Israel Invaded on June 6, 1982 to Drive Palestine Liberation Organization Fighters Out of the Country
Other Notable Dates
(On May 17th)
1972 - The New York Stock Exchange Was Formed
1875 - Oliver Lewis Won the First Kentucky Derby Aboard Aristides
1900 - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum Was First Published in the United States
* The First Copy Was Given to the Frank’s Sister
1954 - The United States Supreme Court Outlawed Racial Segregation in Public Schools
* In the Case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas
Won by Unanimous Decision
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#1 Songs in America
(May 17th)
1980 - "Call Me"
Blondie
4/19 - 5/30
1981 - "Bette Davis Eyes"
Kim Carnes
5/16 - 6/19
1982 - "Ebony and Ivory"
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
5/15 - 7/2
1983 - "Beat It"
Michael Jackson
4/30 - 5/20
1984 - "Hello"
Lionel Richie
5/12 - 5/25
1985 - "Crazy For You"
Madonna
5/11 - 5/17
1986 - "Greatest Love of All"
Whitney Houston
5/17 - 6/6
1987 - "With or Without You"
U2
5/16 - 6/5
1988 - "Anything For You"
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
5/14 - 5/27
1989 - "Like a Prayer"
Madonna
5/13 - 5/19
Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards
1983 - The United States Department of Energy Proved That Oak Ridge, Tennessee Had the World’s Largest Mercury Pollution
* Started by the Manhattan Project
Fun Fact!
Ruby Bridges (1960) Was the First Black Student to Integrate an Elementary School (In the South)
Other Notable Birthdays
Dennis Hopper
May 17, 1936 - May 29, 2010
Passed Away at Age 74 from Prostate Cancer
Bill Paxton
May 17, 1955 - February 25, 2017
Passed Away at Age 61 from a Stroke
Played Chet in Weird Science (1985)
Bob Saget
May 17, 1956 - January 9, 2022
Passed Away at Age 65 from a Head Trauma
Played Danny Tanner on Full House
Pascual Pérez (Baseball)
May 17, 1957 - November 1, 2012
Passed Away at Age 55 from Head Injuries (During a Home Robbery)
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Tony Randall
Passed Away on May 17, 2004 at Age 84 from Pneumonia (After Coronary Bypass Surgery
Played Felix Unger on The Odd Couple (TV Series)
Harmon Killebrew (Baseball)
Passed Away on May 17, 2011 at Age 74 from Esophageal Cancer
* Played 22-Seasons with the Minnesota Twins
13x All-Star
6x AL Home Run Leader
1969 AL MVP
Hall of Fame (1984)
Donna Summer (Singer)
Passed Away on May 17, 2012 at Age 63 from Lung Cancer
"Works Hard For the Money"
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1985 - Ordeal by Innocence
Director: Desmond Davis
Starring: Donald Sutherland and Faye Dunaway
Budget: N/A
Box Office: N/A
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1980 - Steve Martin Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guests: Paul McCartney, Linda McCartney and 3D
1985 - Season 8 Finale of Dallas Aired
Episode: “Swan Song”
* Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy) was on his deathbed after his crazed ex-sister-in-law Katherine Wentworth (Morgan Brittany) ran him down with a car
1986 - Jimmy Breslin Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guests: Level 42 and E.G. Daily
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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)
1981 - Tinsel Town Rebellion (Live Album)
Frank Zappa
Billboard Charts: #66
1988 - Tougher Than Leather
Run-DMC (4th Album)
Billboard Charts: #9
1988 - Battalions of Fear
Blind Guardian (Debut Album)
* Reached #53 in Germany
1988 - In the City of Angels
Jon Anderson (5th Album)
1988 - Ram it Down
Judas Priest (11th Album)
Billboard Charts: #31
1989 - Cycles
The Doobie Brothers (10th Album)
Billboard Charts: #17
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Angel Cordero Won the Preakness Stakes Aboard Codex
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Owner: Tartan Stable
* Codex Did Not Run in the Kentucky Derby (Finished 7th at Belmont)
1982 - Seattle Mariners Pitcher Gaylord Perry Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title: “300!’
1983 - The New York Islanders Swept the Edmonton Oilers to Win Their 4th Straight Stanley Cup Finals
Series: 4-0
MVP: Billy Smith
Coach: Al Arbour
1986 - Alex Solis Won the Preakness Stakes Aboard Snow Chief
Trainer: Melvin F. Stute
* Snow Chief Finished 11th at the Kentucky Derby (Did Not Run at Belmont)
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Headlines
(May 17th)
1983 - The New York Islanders Won Their 4th Straight Stanley Cup Finals
* Swept the Edmonton Oilers (4 - 0)
The Islander Are the Last Team to Win 4 Consecutive Stanley Cup Finals
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May 17th in 80s History
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1942 - Taj Mahal (Singer)
1948 - Dick Gaughan (Singer)
1949 - Bill Bruford (Drummer) Yes
1956 - Sugar Ray Leonard (Boxer)
1958 - Paul Di’Anno (Singer) Iron Maiden
1961 - Enya (Singer)
1963 - Page McConnell (Keyboardist) Phish
1965 - Trent Reznor (Singer) Nine Inch Nails
1966 - Danny Manning (Basketball) #1 Overall Pick 1988 (Los Angeles Clippers)
1968 - Dave Abbruzzese (Drummer) Pearl Jam
1970 - Jordan Knight (Singer) New Kids on the Block
Fun Facts!
Dick Gaughan is Regarded as One of Scotland’s Most Successful Singers