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Brian Johnson
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April 1st in 80s History
1985 - Villanova Beat Georgetown 66 - 64 to Win the NCAA National Championship
Location: Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky
Head Coach: Rollie Massimino
Most Outstanding Player: Ed Pickney (Villanova)
Top Scorer: Chris Mullin 110 (St. Johns)
On April 1, 1984 David Lee Roth left Van Halen to Pursue a Solo Career
Other Notable Dates
(On April 1st)
1976 - Steve Jobs and and Steve Wozniak Founded Apple Computer
* The Apple I Sold for $666 (Equivalent to $3,000 Today)
On April 1, 1980 Brian Johnson Became the New Led Singer for AC/DC
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The "New Kids on the Block" Released Their Debut Album
#1 Songs in America
(April 1st)
1980 - "Another Brick in the Wall, Part II
Pink Floyd
3/22 - 4/18
1981 - "Rapture"
Blondie
3/28 - 4/10
1982 - "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
3/20 - 5/7
1983 - "Billie Jean"
Michael Jackson
3/5 - 4/22
1984 - "Footloose
Kenny Loggins
3/31 - 4/20
1985 - "One More Night"
Phil Collins
3/30 - 4/12
1986 - "Rock Me Amadeus"
Falco
3/28 - 4/18
1987 - "Lean on Me"
Club Nouveau
3/21 - 4/3
1988 - "Man in the Mirror"
Michael Jackson
3/26 - 4/8
1989 - "Eternal Flame"
The Bangles
4/1 - 4/7
Happy 80s Birthdays
1952 - Annette O’Toole (Actress) 48 Hrs.
1954 - Jeff Porcaro (Drummer) Toto
1960 - Jennifer Runyon (Actress) Charles in Charge
1961 - Mark White (Keyboardist) Vice Versa
1965 - Mark Jackson (Basketball)
Fun Fact!
Mark Jackson Was the 18th Overall Pick in the 1987 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks
* Won 1987 Big East Defensive Player of the Year at St. John's
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1978 - Space Invaders Was Released in Japan
* Released in America in November
Air Jordan's Went On Sale
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1989 - "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles Became the #1 Song in America
* #1 Song in America from April 1 - 7
Also Hit #1 in the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, Norway, Netherlands and Australia
On April 1, 1986 The First Nike "Air Jordan's" Went on Sale to the Public
Price: $65
Other Notable Birthdays
Debbie Reynolds (Actress)
April 1, 1932 - December 28, 2016
Passed Away at Age of 84 From a Stroke
Best Known as Kathy Selden in the 1952 Film, Singin' in the Rain
* The Mother of Carrie Fisher (Princess Lea)
Phil Neikro (Baseball)
April 1, 1939 - December 26, 2020
* Played 24 Seasons of MLB Baseball (20 Years with the Braves)
318 Wins (Most by a Knuckleballer)
Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 (5th Ballot)
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Passed Away
(On This Day)
Marvin Gaye (Singer)
April 2, 1939 - April 1, 1984
Shot and Killed by His Father (During an Argument) at Age 44
Best Known For the 1966 Hit Song "I Heard it Through the Grapevine"
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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)
1980 - The Baltimore Bullet
Director: Robert Ellis Miller
Starring: James Coburn, Omar Sharif, Bruce Boxleitner and Ronee Blakley
Budget: N/A
Box Office: N/A
1983 - Heart Like a Wheel
Director: Jonathan Kaplan
Starring: Bonnie Bedelia and Beau Bridges
Budget: $7.5 Million
Box Office: $272,000
1983 - Screwballs
Director: Rafal Zielinski
Starring: Peter Keleghan, Lynda Speciale and Linda Shayne
Budget: $800,000
Box Office: $2 Million
1986 - Miracles
Director: Jim Kouf
Starring: Teri Garr, Paul Rodriguez, Christopher Lloyd and Tom Conti
Budget: N/A
Box Office: N/A
1988 - Bright Lights Big City
Director: James Bridges
Starring: Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates, Dianne Wiest and Jason Robards
Budget: $25 Million
Box Office: $16.5 Million
1988 - The Seventh Sign
Director: Carl Schultz
Starring: Demi Moore, Michael Biehn, Peter Friedman and Jürgen Prochnow
Budget: N/A
Box Office: $18.8 Million
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80s Television
(On This Day)
1983 - Baby Makes Five Premiered on ABC
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 5
Starring Peter Scolari
1983 - Final Episode of Hit Man (Game Show)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 65
1983 - Final Episode Just Men! (Game Show)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 65
Host: Bette White
Bette White Won an Emmy Award as the Host
1984 - Al TV Premiered on MTV
Episodes: 10
Starring Weird Al Yankovich
1987 - Mariah Premiered on ABC
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 7
1987 - Roxie Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Spinoff From Kate & Allie
1987 - Take Five Premiered on CBS
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Starring George Segal
1988 - Final Episode of Blackout (Game Show)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 65
1989 - Mel Gibson Hosted Saturday Night Live
Musical Guest: Living Colour
1989 - Final Episode of She’s the Sheriff
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 44
Starring Suzanne Somers
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80s Music
(On This Day)
1981 - Reckoning (Live Album)
The Grateful Dead
Billboard Charts: #43
1981 - Rock Steady with Flo & Eddy
Flo & Eddie (6th Album)
1982 - Rhythm of Youth
Men Without Hats (Debut Album)
1983 - Havana Moon
Carlos Santana (5th Album)
1984 - Self Control
Laura Branigan (3rd Album)
Billboard Charts: #23
1986 - Book of Love
Book of Love (Debut Album)
1986 - New Kids on the Block
New Kids on the Block (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #25
1987 - Solitude Standing
Suzanne Vega released (2nd Album)
Billboard Charts: #11
* Hit #1 in Sweden
1989 - Stuck in Wonderamaland
Dramarama (3rd Album)
1989 - City Streets
Carole King (15th Album)
Billboard Charts: #25
Singles Released
"Rosanna"
Toto
Reached #2 on the US Billboard Charts
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80s Sports
(On This Day)
1980 - Wayne Gretzky Broke the Single Seasons Assist Record (103)
* Broke Bobby Orr's Record
1983 - Mike Bossy Scored His 60th Goal of the Season
* First Player in the NHL with 3 Consecutive 60 Goal Seasons
1984 - USC Beat Tennessee 72 - 61 to Win the Women’s NCAA National Championship
Most Outstanding Player: Cheryl Miller
Coach: Stan Morrison
1984 - Fred Couples Won the PGA Tournament Players Championship
* Beat Lee Trevino by 1 Stroke
1985 - Villanova Beat Georgetown 66 - 64 to Win the Men’s NCAA National Championship
1985 - George Plimpton’s Hoax Article on Sidd Finch Was Published in Sports Illustrated
1989 - A. Bartlett Giamatti 7th Commissioner of Baseball
* Replaced Peter Ueberroth
1989 - The NCAA Final 4 Began at the Seattle Kingdome
#3 Seed Seton Hall Beat #2 Seed Duke 95-78
#3 Seed Michigan Beat #1 Seed Illinois 83-81
Michigan Beat Seton Hall 80 - 79 in the Championship Game
Head Coach: Steve Fisher
Most Outstanding Player: Glenn Rice
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Headlines
(April 1st)
1984 - Marvin Gaye Was Shot and Killed by His Father During an Argument
* The Day Before Marvin's 45th Birthday
1986 - The New Kids on the Block Released Their Debut Album
* Reached #25 on the US Billboard Charts
David Lee Roth