On this day in 1985: “We Are the World” by USA for Africa was enjoying its third week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart. It would spend one more week at #1 before giving up its top spot to Madonna’s ‘Crazy For You’ in early May. On this day in 1989: Madonna started a […]
Category: Charlie’s 80s Blog
This Day In Music, April 21st
On this day in 1982: Clash front man Joe Strummer disappeared for three weeks, which resulted in the group canceling a tour. The singer was found living in Paris, France. On this day in 1983: Dexy’s Midnight Runners were enjoying their first and only week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Come On […]
This Day In Music, April 20th
On this day in 1980: 84 year old George Burns, who starred in the movie ‘Oh God’ with John Denver, became the oldest person to have a hit on the Billboard Hot 100 when ‘I Wish I Was 18 Again’ peaked at #49. When asked if he wished he were 18 again, Burns replied “I […]
This Day In Music, April 19th
On this day in 1980: R.E.M. played their first gig as R.E.M. at the 11:11 Koffee Club, Athens, Georgia to 150 people. The show ended at 2am when police closed it down due to the venue being unlicensed. Here’s a concert clip from about a year later…. Also on this day in 1980: 32 year […]
This Day In Music, April 18th
On this day in 1984: Michael Jackson underwent surgery in a Los Angeles hospital to repair damage done after his hair caught fire during the filming of a Pepsi commercial. On this day in 1985: Wham! Became the first-ever Western pop act to have an album released in China. On this day in 1987: Aretha […]
Charlie’s Early MTV Chronicles: African-American Artists On MTV 1981-1982
I started watching MTV within a few days of its launch on August 1, 1981. It was only a few weeks after my 10th birthday. The first video I ever saw was ‘Tempted’ by the band Squeeze. From that moment on, I was hooked. Prior to MTV, I was a radio and record junkie. I […]
This Day In Music, April 17th
On this day in 1983: Michael Jackson was enjoying his last week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Billie Jean.” The song had been #1 for the past seven weeks, since topping the charts for the first time in early March. “Billie Jean” was awarded honors including two Grammy Awards and an American […]
This Day In Music, April 16th
On this day in 1984: Phil Collins started a three week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now).” This would be the first of seven #1 hits for Phil Collins in the United States. “Against All Odds” won the Grammy Award for Best Pop […]
This Day In Music, April 15th
On this day in 1982: Billy Joel was reported to be in ”quite good” condition after major surgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. The singer broke his left wrist when his 1978 Harley Davidson hit a car on Long Island, New York. The hospital switchboard was jammed with calls from his fans, […]
This Day In Music, April 14th
On this day in 1983: The Pretenders bass player Pete Farndon died from a drug overdose. He was fired from the group on June 14th 1982, (two days before Pretenders guitarist James Honeyman-Scott was found dead of heart failure). Farndon was in the midst of forming a new band with former Clash drummer Topper Headon […]