On this day

January 3, 1980

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

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Headlines from January 3, 1980

How to Make It Tough for a Pickpocket

By Unknown Author

There is no way, detectives say, to foil an "expert" who is determined to pick your pocket, but there are ways to lower the odds that it will be picked. Detective Robert Magone of the Transit Authority's Pickpocket Squad offers some advice.

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Broadway Tribute to Rodgers

By Unknown Author

The marquees of Broadway theaters will go dark for one minute on Saturday night in memory of Richard Rodgers. Mr. Rodgers, who was eulogized yesterday at a private funeral service at Temple Emanu-El, died Sunday night ...

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of January 2, 1980, covering January 3, 1980.

  1. 1
    Album cover for On The Radio: Greatest Hits: Volumes I & II by Donna Summer

    On The Radio: Greatest Hits: Volumes I & II

    Donna Summer

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    10
  2. 2
    Album cover for Greatest by Bee Gees

    Greatest

    Bee Gees

    Last week
    5
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    8
  3. 3
    Album cover for Cornerstone by Styx

    Cornerstone

    Styx

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    2
    Weeks
    13
  4. 4
    Album cover for Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants by Stevie Wonder

    Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants

    Stevie Wonder

    Last week
    4
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    7
  5. 5
    Album cover for The Long Run by Eagles

    The Long Run

    Eagles

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    12

Notable Births

Bryan Clay

1980Bryan Clay, American decathlete[†]

Bryan Ezra Tsumoru Clay is an American decathlete who was the 2008 Summer Olympic champion for the decathlon and was also World champion in 2005.

Eli Crane

1980Eli Crane, U.S. representative for Arizona's 2nd congressional district[†]

Elijah James Crane is an American politician, businessman, and former United States Navy SEAL serving as the U.S. representative for Arizona's 2nd congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, Crane defeated Democratic incumbent Tom O'Halleran.

Telly Leung

1980Telly Leung, American actor, director, singer and songwriter[†]

Telly Leung is an American actor, director, singer and songwriter. He is known for his work in musical theatre on Broadway and for his role as Wes, a member of the Dalton Academy Warblers on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee. In 2011, he starred in the Broadway revival of Godspell at the Circle in the Square Theatre.

Angela Ruggiero

1980Angela Ruggiero, American ice hockey player[†]

Angela Marie Ruggiero is an American former ice hockey defenseman, gold medalist, and four-time Olympian. She was a member of the International Olympic Committee from 2010 to 2018 and served as a member of the Executive Board of the IOC after being elected the Chairperson of the IOC Athletes' Commission, the body that represents all Olympic athletes worldwide, a post which she held from 2016 to 2018.

David Tyree

1980David Tyree, American football player[†]

David Mikel Tyree is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons, primarily with the New York Giants. He played college football for the Syracuse Orange and was selected by the Giants in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. Tyree is best known for the Helmet Catch, a late-game reception in Super Bowl XLII that helped New York secure one of the greatest sports upsets of all time.

Kurt Vile

1980Kurt Vile, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer[†]

Kurt Samuel Vile is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is known for his solo work, music released under the name "Kurt Vile and The Violators," and as the former lead guitarist of rock band the War on Drugs. Both in the studio and during live performances, Vile is accompanied by his backing band, the Violators, which currently includes Jesse Trbovich, Kyle Spence (drums) and Adam Langellotti.

Mary Wineberg

1980Mary Wineberg, American sprinter[†]

Mary Wineberg is an American track and field athlete from Cincinnati, Ohio. She was born in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Walnut Hills High School, she attended the University of Cincinnati on a track scholarship, graduating in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in education.

Notable Deaths

Joy Adamson

1980Joy Adamson, Austrian-Kenyan painter and conservationist (born 1910)[†]

Friederike Victoria "Joy" Adamson was a naturalist, artist and author. Her book, Born Free, describes her experiences raising a lion cub named Elsa. Born Free was printed in several languages and made into an Academy Award-winning movie of the same name. In 1977, she was awarded the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art.

George Sutherland Fraser

1980George Sutherland Fraser, Scottish poet and academic (born 1915)[†]

George Sutherland Fraser was a Scottish poet, literary critic and academic.

Historical Context for January 3, 1980

In 1980, the world population was approximately 4,447,606,236 people[†]