Today in 80s history! What happened on August 30th in the 80s? Find out what happened today in 80s Movies, 80s Music, 80s TV Shows, and 80s Sports! Also find out about celebrity birthdays for the legends, icons and characters we grew up with in the 80s!
TODAY'S 80S BIRTHDAYS
Robert Parish (Boston Celtics) - 73
August 30, 1953
Lewis Black (Comedian) - 78
August 30, 1948
Ricky Sanders (Washington, Super Bowl XXII) - 64
August 30, 1962
REMEMBERING
Ben Jones (Cooter Davenport on The Dukes of Hazzard)
August 30, 1941 - August 9, 2026 (Age 84)
Charles Bronson (Death Wish)
November 3, 1921 - August 30, 2003 (Age 81)
Wes Craven (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
August 2, 1939 - August 30, 2015 (Age 76)
Valerie Harper (Rhoda)
August 22, 1939 - August 30, 2019 (Age 80)
Mikhail Gorbachev (Leader of the Soviet Union, 1985-1991)
March 2, 1931 - August 30, 2022 (Age 91)
Tug McGraw (Recorded the final out of the 1980 World Series)
August 30, 1944 - January 5, 2004 (Age 59)
TODAY IN 80S MUSIC
80s Music Released on August 30th
1989 - "When I See You Smile" (Single)
Artist: Bad English
Billboard Charts: #1
Note: A Diane Warren power ballad sung by John Waite, in a band assembled from the wreckage of the Babys and Journey. Their only #1, and about as 1989 as a song can get.
1986 - "Higher Love" Was #1 in America
Artist: Steve Winwood
Note: Winwood's first solo #1, twenty-two years after he first charted with the Spencer Davis Group at 16. Chaka Khan sings the answering vocal and appears in the video.
1980 - "Sailing" Was #1 in America
Artist: Christopher Cross
Note: The following February, Cross became the only artist ever to win Record, Song, Album of the Year and Best New Artist at a single Grammy ceremony. Nobody has done it since.
1988 - Danzig
Artist: Danzig (Debut Album)
Billboard Charts: #125
Note: Glenn Danzig's post-Misfits, post-Samhain band, produced by Rick Rubin. "Mother" did nothing on release and became a hit five years later off a live video.
TODAY IN 80S MOVIES
80s Movies Released On August 30th
American Ninja (1985)
Release Date: August 30, 1985
Director: Sam Firstenberg
Starring: Michael Dudikoff, Steve James and Judie Aronson
Budget: $1 Million
Box Office: $10.4 Million
Note: Cannon Films made it for a million dollars, it made ten, and it produced four sequels. Chuck Norris had turned the part down.
TODAY IN 80S TV
No 80s TV News for today in the 80s!
TODAY IN 80S SPORTS
No 80s sports News for today in the 80s!
TODAY IN OTHER 80S NEWS
1984 - The Space Shuttle Discovery Flew for the First Time
Details: Discovery launched on its maiden voyage, STS-41-D, after two scrubbed attempts including the first on-pad main engine shutdown in shuttle history. It went on to fly 39 missions, more than any other orbiter.
