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​​​​Happy 80s Birthdays

​1944 - Albert Hammond (Singer)
1946 - Reggie Jackson (Baseball)
1947 - Gail Strickland (Actress) 
Protocol
1949 - Rick Wakeman (Keyboardist) 
Yes
1950 - Mark Mothersbaugh (Singer)
1951 - Richard Clapton (Singer)
1951 - Jim Sundberg (Baseball)
1952 - George Strait (Singer) 
“King of Country”
1958 - Toyah Wilcox (Singer)
1967 - Rob Base (Rapper)
1969 - Marta Marrero (Singer) 
Kids Incorporated​

Fun Fact!
Reggie Jackson is the Only Player to Lead the League in Home Runs With 3 Different Teams

Oakland A’s

New York Yankees

California Angels

Nicknamed "Mr. October" Because of All the Home Runs He Hit During the Playoffs and World Series

​1987 - The Final Episode of Fame (TV Series) Aired
* Ran 6 Seasons with 136 Episodes


Did You Know?
Madonna Auditioned as a Dancer for Fame, But Unfortunately Didn’t Make It

Mount St. Helens Erupted

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<- May 17th            May 19th ->


Back To The 80s Home Page


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Did You Know?
The Largest Volcanic Eruption in History Was Mount Tambora (Indonesia)
* Over 100,000 Deaths

​1985 - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds Became the #1 Song in America
#1 Song in America from May 18 - 24
* Also Hit #1 in Canada and Netherlands

Theme Song For The Breakfast Club (1985)

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​​​​Other Notable Birthdays

Pope John Paul II
May 18, 1920 - April 2, 2005
Passed Away at Age 84 from Heart Failure


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Passed Away
(On This Day)

Ian Curtis (Singer)
Passed Away on May 18, 1980 at Age 23 from Suicide (Hanging)

Lead Singer For the Punk Band, Joy Division

Elizabeth Montgomery
Passed Away on May 18, 1995 at Age 62 from Colon Cancer
Played Samantha on Bewitched

Ken Osmond
Passed Away on May 18, 2020 at Age 76 from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Played Eddie Haskell on Leave it to Beaver


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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)

​1983 - Moon in the Gutter
Director:  Jean-Jacques Beineix
Starring:  Gerard Depardieu and Nastassja Kinski
Budget:  N/A

Box Office:  $4.7 Million

1984 - Making the Grade
Director:  Dorian Walker
Starring:  Judd Nelson, Jonna Lee, Gordon Jump, Walter Olkewicz, Ronald Lacey and Dana Olsen
Budget:  N/A

Box Office:  $4.5 Million


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80s Television
(On This Day)

​1984 - Season 7 Finale of Dallas Aired on CBS
Episode:  “End Game”
* Bobby Ewing Found Himself in the Crossfire as a Rival Tried to Shoot His Brother J.R.

Dallas Was the #1 Show in America in 1981, 1982 and 1984

1987 - Final Episode of Fame (TV Series)
Seasons:  6

Episodes:  136
Network:  NBC


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80s Music
(Albums Released On This Day)

1981 - Knights of the Sound Table
Cameo (7th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #44

1983 - In Your Eyes
George Benson (19th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #27

1987 - Exit 0
Steve Earle (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts:  #15

1989 - Nearly Human
Todd Rundgren (12th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #102


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80s Sports
(On This Day)

1981 -Fernando Valenzuela (Los Angeles Dodgers) Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title:  “UNREAL”

1982 - Detroit Tigers Outfielder Larry Herndon Hit 4 Consecutive Home Runs
* Herndon Hit a Home Run In His Last At-Bat in the Previous Game Against the Twins, Then Hit 3 in a Row Against the A’s

1985 - Pat Day Won the Preakness Stakes Aboard Tank’s Prospect
Trainer:  D. Wayne Lukas
Owner:  Eugene V. Klein
* Tank’s Prospect Finished 7th in the Kentucky Derby (11th at Belmont)

The Winner's Purse For the Preakness Went From $400,000 to $700,000


1987 - Detroit Pistons Guard, Isiah Thomas Was on the Cover of Sports Illustrated
Title:  “Mr Clutch”

1988 - Oakland A's Pitcher, Dave Stewart Set a Major League Baseball Record With 12th Balks in a Season


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In Other 80s News

1980 - South Korean Students Began Protesting in Gwangju, Calling For Democratic Reforms

#1 Songs in America

(May 18th)


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 - "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Simple Minds
5/18 - 5/24

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

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Headlines

(May 18th)


1980 - Mount St. Helens Erupted in the State of Washington
* Killing 53 People

​1980 - Joy Division’s Lead Singer, Ian Curtis Hung Himself in His Macclesfield Home at Age 23
* Happened One Day Before Joy Division Was Scheduled to Begin Their First U.S. Tour

May 18th in 80s History

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Other Notable Dates

(On May 18th)


1860 - Abraham Lincoln Won the Republican Party Presidential Nomination Over William H. Seward
* Seward Became the United States Secretary of State

1912 - The Shree Pundalik by Dadasaheb Torne Was Released in Mumbai
* First Indian Film

1953 - Jackie Cochran Became the First Woman to Break the Sound Barrier
* The Most Prominent Racing Pilots of Her Generation
Won 11 Military Awards

Jackie Cocharan Was Elected to 5 Different Hall of Fames

National Aviation Hall of Fame
Florida Women's Hall of Fame
Motorsports Hall of Fame of America
National Women's Hall of Fame
Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame