On this day

February 2, 1979

Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.

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Headlines from February 2, 1979

Where To Fine The Latest Disco Steps

By Jennifer Dunning

PEOPLE who dance for a living are divided on the subject of giving their all on the discotheque floor. New York City Ballet's Suzanne Farrell is too shy to enjoy more than an elegant waltz or two, off the stage. Patrick Bissell had to curtail

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Director of Census Facing Ouster

By Robert Reinhold Special to The New York Times

Carter Adm's reptd plan to replace Census Bur Dir Manuel D Plotkin, and unexpected retirement of 3 top bur officials, raises questions about ability of bur to carry out '80 census effectively

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of January 31, 1979, covering February 2, 1979.

  1. 1
    Album cover for Briefcase Full of Blues (Soundtrack) by Blues Brothers

    Briefcase Full of Blues (Soundtrack)

    Blues Brothers

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    7
  2. 2
    Album cover for Blondes Have More Fun by Rod Stewart

    Blondes Have More Fun

    Rod Stewart

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    7
  3. 3
    Album cover for 52nd Street by Billy Joel

    52nd Street

    Billy Joel

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    15
  4. 4
    Album cover for You Don't Bring Me Flowers by Neil Diamond

    You Don't Bring Me Flowers

    Neil Diamond

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    8
  5. 5
    Album cover for Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits; Volume 2 by Barbra Streisand

    Barbra Streisand's Greatest Hits; Volume 2

    Barbra Streisand

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    10

Notable Births

Urmo Aava

1979Urmo Aava, Estonian race car driver[†]

Urmo Aava is a former Estonian rally driver who competed in the World Rally Championship between 2002 and 2009. His regular co-driver was Kuldar Sikk, who later became Ott Tänak's co-driver.

1979Fani Chalkia, Greek hurdler and sprinter[†]

Fani Chalkia, also transliterated as Halkia or Khalkia, is a retired Greek hurdler. She won an Olympic gold medal in the women's 400 m hurdles at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Christine Lampard

1979Christine Lampard, Irish television host[†]

Christine Louise Lampard is a Northern Irish television presenter. She has presented various television programmes with Adrian Chiles, such as The One Show (2007–2010) and Daybreak (2010–2011), while with Phillip Schofield she has presented Dancing on Ice (2012–2014) and This Morning. Lampard has also presented factual series for ITV including Off The Beaten Track (2013) and Wild Ireland (2015). Since 2016 she has been a presenter of the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women.

Shamita Shetty

1979Shamita Shetty, Indian actress[†]

Shamita Shetty is an Indian actress and interior designer. The younger sister of actress Shilpa Shetty, she made her acting with the romantic drama Mohabbatein (2000), which earned her the IIFA Award for Star Debut of the Year – Female. She went on to do films including Bewafaa (2005), Zeher (2005) and Cash (2007).

1979Irini Terzoglou, Greek shot putter[†]

Iríni Terzóglou is a Greek shot putter. Her personal best put is 19.10 metres, achieved in June 2003 in Trikala. This is the current Greek record.

Notable Deaths

Jim Burke (cricketer)

1979Jim Burke, Australian cricketer (born 1930)[†]

James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Test matches from 1951 to 1959. Burke holds the record for the most innings in a complete career without scoring a duck, with 44.

Sid Vicious

1979Sid Vicious, English singer and bass player (born 1957)[†]

Simon John Ritchie, better known by his stage name Sid Vicious, was an English musician, best known as the second bassist for the punk rock band Sex Pistols. After his death in 1979 at the age of 21, he remained an icon of the punk subculture; one of his friends noted that he embodied "everything in punk that was dark, decadent and nihilistic."

Historical Context for February 2, 1979

In 1979, the world population was approximately 4,368,539,528 people[†]