1986 - "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston Hit #1 On the U.S. Billboard Charts
* #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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May 17th in 80s History
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1983 - Israel Agreed to Withdrawal Troops From Lebanon
* The Last Troops Left in 1985
Israel Invaded Lebanon on June 6, 1982 to Drive Palestine Liberation Fighters Out of the Country
#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
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
Fun Fact!
Tommy Edwards is the First African-American to Have the #1 Song in America On the Billboard Hot 100 Charts
Date: September 29, 1958
Song: It’s All in the Game”
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1983 - The United States Department of Energy Proved That Oak Ridge, Tennessee's Water Had the World’s Largest Mercury Pollution
* Started by the Manhattan Project
In Other News
(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 Frank Baum'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
Fun Fact!
Ruby Bridges (1960) Was the First Black Student to Integrate an Elementary School (In the South)
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<- May 16th May 18th ->
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Happy 80s Birthdays
1942 - Taj Mahal (Singer)
Birthplace: New York City
1948 - Dick Gaughan (Scottish Singer)
Birthplace: Glasgow, Scotland
1949 - Bill Bruford (English Drummer) Yes
Birthplace: Seven Oaks, Kent, England
1956 - Sugar Ray Leonard (Boxer)
Birthplace: Wilmington, North Carolina
1961 - Enya (Irish Singer)
Birthplace: Dore, Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland
1965 - Trent Reznor (Singer) Nine Inch Nails
Birthplace: New Castle, Pennsylvania
1966 - Danny Manning (Basketball)
Birthplace: Hattiesburg, Mississippi
1968 - Dave Abbruzzese (Drummer) Pearl Jam
Birthplace: Samford, Connecticut
1970 - Jordan Knight (Singer) New Kids on the Block
Birthplace: Worcester, Massachusetts
Fun Facts!
Danny Manning Was the #1 Overall Pick in the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers
Dick Gaughan is Regarded as One of Scotland’s Most Successful Singers
Other Notable Birthdays
Dennis Hopper (Actor)
May 17, 1936 - May 29, 2010
Birthplace: Dodge City, Kansas
Passed Away at Age 74 From Prostate Cancer
* Diagnosed in 2009
A 2x Academy Award Nominee
Easy Rider (1969)
Hoosiers (1986)
Bill Paxton (Actor)
May 17, 1955 - February 25, 2017
Birthplace: Fort Worth, Texas
Passed Away at Age 61 From a Stroke
* Had a Damaged Coronary Artery
Best Known For Playing Chet in the 1985 Film Weird Science
Bob Saget (Actor and Comedian)
May 17, 1956 - January 9, 2022
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Passed Away at Age 65 From a Head Trauma
* Played Danny Tanner on Full House
The Original Host of America’s Funniest Videos
Pascual Perez (Baseball)
May 17, 1957 - November 1, 2012
Birthplace: San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
Passed Away at Age 55 From Head Injuries During a Robbery at His Home in the Dominican Republic
MLB Seasons: 12
Position: Pitcher
Selected to the 1983 All-Star Game
Paul Di’Anno (English Singer)
May 17, 1958 - October 21, 2024
Birthplace: Salisbury, Wiltshire, Eng;and
Passed Away at Age 66 From Heart Failure
* Had Been Troubled by Several Health Issues Restricting Him to Perform in a Wheelchair
The Former Lead Singer For Iron Maiden
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Tony Randall (Actor)
February 26, 1920 - May 17, 2004
Birthplace: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Passed Away at Age 84 From Pneumonia
* Following Coronary Bypass Surgery
Won an Emmy Award in 1975 For His Role as Felix Unger on the The Odd Couple
Grammy Nominations: 6
John Deere (Blacksmith)
February 7, 1804 - May 17, 1886
Birthplace: Rutland, Vermont
Passed Away at Age 82 in His Home
* Unknown Cause of Death
Founded the John Deere & Company
Harmon Killebrew (Baseball)
June 29, 1936 - May 17, 2011
Birthplace: Payette, Idaho
Passed Away at Age 74 From Esophageal Cancer
MLB Seasons: 22 (Minnesota Twins)
* Spent 1-Season With the Kansas City Royals
All-Star: 13
AL Home Run Leader: 6
AL MVP: 1969
Elected to the Pro Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984 (4th Ballot)
Donna Summer (Singer)
December 31, 1948 - May 17, 2012
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Passed Away at Age 63 From Lung Cancer
* Best Known For the Hit Sons "Works Hard For the Money" and Hot Stuff”
Known as the Queen of Disco
Vangelis (Greek Composer)
March 29, 1943 - May 17, 2022
Birthplace: Agria Greece
Passed Away at Age 79 From Heart Failure
* Died in a Paris Hospital While Getting Treated For Covid-19
Won an Academy Award in 1981 For Best Original Score For “Chariots of Fire”
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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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