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Other Notable Dates

(February 17th)


1867 - The First Ship Passed Through the Suez Canal
* Connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea and Divides Africa and Asia

On February 17, 1986 The Right Stuff Starring Ed Harris, Scott Glenn and Dennis Quaid Premiered in Theaters

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Happy 80s Birthdays


1935 - Christina Pickles (Actress)  St. Elsewhere
1945 - Brenda Fricker (Actress) 
My Left Foot
1950 - Rickey Medlocke (Musician) 
Blackfoot
1954 - Rene Russo (Actress) 
Major League
1959 - Rowdy Gaines (Swimmer)
1962 - Lou Diamond Phillips (Actor) 
La Bamba
1963 - Michael Jordan (Basketball)
1974 - Jerry O’Connell (Actor) 
Stand By Me​

Fun Fact!

Lou Diamond Phillips Made His Film Debut as Richie Valens in La Bamba (1985)​

#1 Songs in America

(February 17th)


1980 - "Do It To Me One More Time"
Captain & Tennille
2/16 - 2/22

1981 - "Celebration"
Kool and the Gang
2/7 - 2/20

1982 - "Centerfold"
J. Geils Band
2/6 - 3/19

1983 - "Down Under"
Men at Work
2/12 - 2/18

1984 - "Karma Chameleon"
Boy George
2/4 - 2/24

1985 - "Careless Whisper"
Wham!
2/16 - 3/8

1986 - "How Will I Know"
Whitney Houston
2/15 - 2/28

1987 - "Livin' on a Prayer"
Bon Jovi
2/14 - 3/13

1988 - "Could've Been"
Tiffany

2/6 - 2/19
1989 - "Straight Up"
Paula Abdul
2/11 - 3/3


Click Here For More Music Fun Facts and Awards

Footloose Premiered in Theaters

​​​​​​​​​February 17th in 80s History

On February 17, 1980 Tommy Tutone Released His Debut Album

The Right Stuff

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Blame It on Rio

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On February 17, 1986 Blame It on Rio Starring Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, Michelle Johnson and Demi Moore Premiered in Theaters

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Headlines

 (February 17th)


1980 - Buddy Baker Won the Daytona 500

Team:  Ranier-Lundy
Car Manufacturer:  Oldsmobile

Tommy Tutone

1985 - Bill Elliott Won the Daytona 500

Team:  Melling Racing
Car Manufacturer:  Ford​​

On February 17, 1989 The Burbs Starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fisher Premiered in Theaters

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The Burbs

​1989 - Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure Premiered in Theaters
* Starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter

1984 - Footloose Premiered in Theaters
* Starring Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer


Did You Know?

Rob Lowe Was Supposed to Play the Lead Role, But Injured Himself While Practicing Dancing 

Other Notable Birthdays


Roger Craig (Baseball)

February 17, 1930 - June 4, 2023

Passed Away at Age 93 (Unknown Cause)

Manager of the San Francisco Giants From 1985 to 1992

* 3x World Series Champion as a Player With the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodger (1955, 1959)​ and the St. Louis Cardinals (1964)


Buddy Ryan (Football Coach)
February 17, 1931 - June 28, 2016
Passed Away at Age 85 (Lengthy Illness)
* Was Fighting Cancer and a Stroke

Considered the Greatest Defensive Minded Coach in NFL History


Jim Brown (Football)

February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023

Passed Away at Age 87 From Natural Cause

Considered One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time

3x NFL MVP (1957, 1958, 1965)

9x Pro Bowler

8x Rushing Leader

Elected to the Football Hall of Fame in 1971


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Passed Away
(On This Day)

Tony Phillips (Baseball)

April 25, 1959 - February 17, 2016
Passed Away at Age 56 from a Heart Attack​​​​​

Played 18-Seasons in the Major Leagues

Career Hits:  2,023


Rush Limbaugh (Radio Personality)

January 12, 1951 - February 17, 2021
Passed Away at Age 70 from Lung Cancer​

The Host of The Rush Limbaugh Show From 1984 to 2021

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80s Movies
(Released On This Day)

​​1983 - Local Hero​
Director:  Bill Forsyth
Starring:  Peter Riegert, Denis Lawson, Fulton Mackay and Burt Lancaster

Budget:  $2.6 Million
Box Office:  $5.9 Million


1984 - Footloose
Director:  Herbert Ross
Starring:  Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer, Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow, Chris Penn, John Laughlin and Sarah Jessica Parker

Budget:  $8.2 Million
Box Office:  $80 Million


1984 - The Right Stuff
Director:  Phillip Kaufman
Starring:  Ed Harris, Scott Glenn, Sam Shepard, Fred Ward, Dennis Quaid and Barbara Hershey

Budget:  $27 Million
Box Office:  $21.1 Million


1984 - Blame it On Rio
Director:  Stanley Donen
Starring:  Michael Caine, Joseph Bologna, Valerie Harper, Michelle Johnson and Demi Moore

Budget:  N/A
Box Office:  $18.6 Million


1984 - Lassiter
Director:  Roger Young
Starring:  Tom Selleck, Jane Seymour, Lauren Hutton and Ed Lauter

Budget:  $20 Million
Box Office:  $17.5 Million


1984 - Crackers
Director:  Louis Malle
Starring:  Donald Sutherland, Jack Warden and Sean Penn

Budget:  N/A
Box Office:  $129,000


1989 - Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure
Director:  Stephen Herek
Starring:  Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, George Carlin, Bernie Casey and Diane Franklin

Budget:  $6.5 Million
Box Office:  $40.5 Million


1989 - The Burbs
Director:  Joe Dante
Starring:  Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Rick Ducommun and Corey Feldman

Budget:  $18 Million
Box Office:  $49.1 Million


1989 - True Believer​
Director:  Joseph Ruben
Starring:  James Woods, Robert Downey Jr., Yuji Okumoto, Margaret Colin, Kurtwood Smith and Luis Guzman
Budget:  N/A
Box Office:  $8.7 Million


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80s Television

(On This Day)


1986 - Rod Roddy Became the New Host of The Price is Right


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80s Music

(Albums Released On This Day)


1980 - Tommy Tutone
Tommy Tutone (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts:  #68


1981 - Another Ticket
Eric Clapton (7th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #7


1981 - Being With You
Smokey Robinson (11th Solo Album)
Billboard Charts:  #2

* #1 on the R&B

1981 - To Love Again (Compilation Album)
Diana Ross
Billboard Charts:  #32


1984 - Into the Gap
Thompson Twins (4th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #10


1984 - Budapest (Live Album)
Manfred Mann’s Earth Band

1986 - Balance of Power
Electric Light Orchestra (11th Album)
Billboard Charts:  #49


1986 - Fatal Portrait
King Diamond (Debut Album)

1987 - Fighting the World
Manowar (5th Album)

1987 - Lee Aaron
Lee Aaron (4th Album)

1988 - Making Trouble
Geto Boys (Debut Album)


In Other 80s Music News


1989 -  David Coverdale (Whitesnake) Married Tawny Kitaen


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80s Sports

(On This Day)


1980 - Buddy Baker Won the Daytona 500
Number:  28
Starting Position:  Pole
Team:  Ranier-Lundy
Car Manufacturer:  Oldsmobile


​1985 - Bill Elliott Won the Daytona 500
Number:  9
Starting Position:  Pole
Team:  Melling Racing
Car Manufacturer:  Ford​​


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In Other 80s News

(On February 17th)


Krzysztof Wielicki and Leszek Cichy Became the First People to Climb Mt. Everest in the Winter Time


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