Ronald Reagan is elected the 40th president of the United States.
Eric Heiden wins five gold medals at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, NY
Richard Pryor sets himself on fire while freebasing cocaine.
The United States boycott the Summer Olympics in Moscow due to the Soviet Union’s involvement in Afghanistan.
Music artist that debut in 1980:
Air Supply
The Clash
Christopher Cross
The Pretenders
Survivor
38 Special
Whitesnake
The B-52’s
Grammy- Record of the Year-
“Sailing”, Christopher Cross
Academy Award Winners-
Best Picture; Ordinary People
Best Actor: Robert De Niro, Raging Bull
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek, Coal Miner’s Daughter
Popular TV shows:
Alice
The Dukes of Hazzard
The Jefferson’s
Private Benjamin
Three’s Company
Notable Deaths:
Bon Scott (AC/DC) – 2/19/80, alcohol poisoning; 33
John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)- 9/25/80, alcohol poisoning; 33
John Lennon (Beatles) – 12/8/80, gunshot; 40
Source:
Nite, Norm N.. Rock on almanac: the first four decades of rock ‘n’ roll : a chronology. United Kingdom, HarperPerennial, 1992.
