On this day

January 30, 1980

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

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Headlines from January 30, 1980

SIX U.S. DIPLOMATS, HIDDEN BY CANADA, LEAVE IRAN SAFELY; FORGED VISAS USED Help by C.I.A Reported-- Ottawa Shuts Embassy and Pulls Out Staff Canadian Employees Leave 6 American Diplomats, Hidden by Canada, Leave Iran U.S. Remained Silent Concern for Hostages Persists

By Bernard Gwertzman Special To the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Six American Embassy employees, after hiding for three months in diplomatic residences in Teheran, flew out of Iran Monday posing as Canadian diplomats and carrying forged Iranian visas, American and Canadian officials said today.

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Music on My Birthday

Billboard 200

The Top 50 albums for the chart week of January 30, 1980, covering January 30, 1980.

  1. 1
    Album cover for The Wall by Pink Floyd

    The Wall

    Pink Floyd

    Last week
    1
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    8
  2. 2
    Album cover for The Long Run by Eagles

    The Long Run

    Eagles

    Last week
    2
    Peak
    1
    Weeks
    16
  3. 3
    Album cover for Damn The Torpedoes by Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

    Damn The Torpedoes

    Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers

    Last week
    3
    Peak
    3
    Weeks
    13
  4. 4
    Album cover for Off The Wall by Michael Jackson

    Off The Wall

    Michael Jackson

    Last week
    7
    Peak
    4
    Weeks
    23
  5. 5
    Album cover for Kenny by Kenny Rogers

    Kenny

    Kenny Rogers

    Last week
    6
    Peak
    5
    Weeks
    19

Notable Births

Lena Hall

1980Lena Hall, American actress and singer[†]

Celina Consuela Gabriella Carvajal, known professionally as Lena Hall, is an American actress and singer. She won the Tony Award for her performance as Yitzhak in the 2014 revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which also earned her a Grammy nomination for the musical's official album. She made history by becoming the first person to play both Hedwig and Yitzhak in the same production during the national tour of the musical in 2016. She originated the role of Nicola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots Her other Broadway credits include Cats, 42nd Street, Dracula, the Musical and Tarzan, the Musical. Hall has also starred in Off-Broadway productions such as Radiant Baby, Bedbugs!!!, Rooms: A Rock Romance, The Toxic Avenger, Prometheus Bound, Chix6, Little Shop of Horrors, and the 2017 original play How to Transcend a Happy Marriage.

Josh Kelley

1980Josh Kelley, American singer-songwriter and musician[†]

Joshua Bishop Kelley is an American musician and singer-songwriter. Kelley has recorded for Hollywood Records, Threshold Records and DNK Records as a pop rock artist. His songs "Amazing" and "Only You" reached the top ten on the Billboard Adult Top 40 chart.

1980Georgios Vakouftsis, Greek footballer[†]

Georgios Vakouftsis is a Greek footballer. He last played for PAEEK FC in Cyprus, previously he played as a forward for Anagennisi Karditsa in the Gamma Ethniki. A striker, he is 192 cm tall.

Wilmer Valderrama

1980Wilmer Valderrama, American actor and producer[†]

Wilmer Eduardo Valderrama is an American actor. He is known for his role as Fez in the sitcom That '70s Show (1998–2006), his current role as Special Agent Nick Torres in NCIS (2016–present), and Agustín Madrigal in Encanto. He was also host of the MTV series Yo Momma (2006–07), the voice of Manny from the Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior animated series Handy Manny (2006–2013), and played Carlos Madrigal in From Dusk till Dawn: The Series (2014–2016). He has had recurring roles on Grey's Anatomy as well as The Ranch.

Lee Zeldin

1980Lee Zeldin, American politician and 17th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[†]

Lee Michael Zeldin is an American attorney, politician, and officer in the United States Army Reserve who has been serving as the 17th administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) since January 29, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he represented New York's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2015 to 2023. From 2011 to 2014, Zeldin served as a member of the New York State Senate from the 3rd Senate district.

Notable Deaths

Professor Longhair

1980Professor Longhair, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1918)[†]

Henry Roeland Byrd, better known as Professor Longhair or "Fess" for short, was an American singer and pianist who performed New Orleans blues. He was active in two distinct periods, first in the heyday of early rhythm and blues and later in the resurgence of interest in traditional jazz after the founding of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1970. His piano style has been described as "instantly recognizable, combining rumba, mambo, and calypso".

Historical Context for January 30, 1980

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