On this day
Revisit the music, news, notable people, and historical moments connected to this date.
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Kuwait has reportedly raised official price of its oil 10%, to $21.43 a bbl, becoming 1st OPEC member to raise contract prices since current price formula was posted in July; Mexico raises oil-export price $2 a bbl, to $24.60 a bbl; fears of price increase by African producers noted (M)
Secret US Defense Dept study obtained by NY Times discloses that for 25 years American strategic plan for fighting global war advocated shift of forces from Asia and Pacific to Western Europe in event of Soviet attack on NATO; expresses concern that public disclosure of strategy or official notification of Asian allies could undermine credibility of US commitments in Asia and become issue in relationship with Japan; plan specifically calls for US to 'swing' military forces to Western Europe moment NATO is attacked by conventional Soviet forces; was formally approved by NATO allies; similar strategy reportedly was endorsed by former Pres Richard Nixon and was adopted by Carter Adm early in '77; study was prepared for Defense Sec Harold Brown after interagency review raised questions concerning certain aspects of policy (M)
Article on study by researchers at Blond McIndoe Transplant Research Center, East Grinstead, Eng, indicating that soon after conception fetus begins to aggressively repel its mother's immune attack; fetal defense mechanism described; researchers, led by Dr Ward Page Faulk, are now studying substance produced by certain specialized cells that shuts down mother's immune cells in hope that it will help explain why some women have repeated miscarriages and perhaps provide way to prevent them (L)
Analysis of Papal journey says that Pope, during US visit, attracted new interest in Christian faith and human rights, but left it uncertain in what ways his pastoral call would benefit church in America; Pope, upon his arrival in Rome, tells welcoming delegation that visit filled his spirit 'with gratitude, joy and emotion'; commenting on impact of visit are Msgr Edward O'Donnell (St Louis Review), Msgr Noel C Burtenshaw and Rev George Crespin (M)
Article on increased popularity of quilted clothes; executives comment; illus (L)
Music on My Birthday
The Top 50 albums for the chart week of October 3, 1979, covering October 9, 1979.
Led Zeppelin
The Knack
Bob Dylan
Commodores
Michael Jackson
1979Vernon Fox, American football player and coach[†]
Vernon Lee Fox, III is a former American football safety. He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent after the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Fresno State. Fox is currently an ordained minister and is an associate pastor in Las Vegas. He is a lead pastor at Salt Church International in Las Vegas, Nevada. In February 2013, he was hired to be head football coach and admissions counselor at Faith Lutheran Middle School and High School in Las Vegas.
1979Alex Greenwald, American singer-songwriter, producer, and actor[†]
Alex Greenwald is an American musician, actor, and record producer. He is the lead vocalist of the California rock band Phantom Planet.
1979Todd Kelly, Australian race car driver[†]
Todd Evan Kelly is a retired Australian professional racing driver who competed in the Virgin Australia Supercars Championship. He is the older brother of fellow Supercars driver and former Bathurst 1000 winner, Rick Kelly. He drove for the Holden Racing Team from 2003 until 2007, and Perkins Engineering in 2008. Since 2009, he has been with his family team Kelly Racing. He is the youngest driver to have reached 100 starts in the series.
1979Lecrae, American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor[†]
Lecrae Devaughn Moore is an American Christian rapper, singer-songwriter, actor, and recording producer and executive. Since having begun his career in 2004, he has released ten studio albums and four mixtapes as a solo artist, as well as recording with the hip-hop collective 116, which he co-founded.
1979Chris O'Dowd, Irish actor, producer, and screenwriter[†]
Christopher O'Dowd is an Irish actor and comedian. He received wide attention as Roy Trenneman, one of the lead characters in the Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd, which ran for four seasons from 2006 to 2010. He has starred in films including Gulliver's Travels (2010), Bridesmaids, Friends with Kids, Cuban Fury (2014), Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016) and The Cloverfield Paradox (2018). He created and starred in the Sky 1 television series Moone Boy, which aired from 2012 to 2015 and brought him Irish Film and Television Award nominations for acting, writing and directing.
1979Brandon Routh, American model and actor[†]
Brandon Routh is an American actor. He portrayed Superman in the 2006 film Superman Returns, which garnered him international fame. In 2011, he played the title character of the film Dylan Dog: Dead of Night. He also had a recurring role in the NBC series Chuck, as Daniel Shaw. Routh also played a supporting role in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008), and played Todd Ingram in the film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), reprising the role in the animated series Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023).
1979Gonzalo Sorondo, Uruguayan footballer[†]
Gonzalo Sorondo Amaro is a Uruguayan former footballer who last played for Defensor.
In 1979, the world population was approximately 4,368,539,528 people[†]