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What happened in 1979:
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There are riots in Southall between demonstrators and police after protesting against a National Front campaign meeting.
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The first Nike Air trainers become available in stores. Other must have accessories included Kangol hats, nameplate belts buckles, Adidas shell top trainers and hooded sweatshirts.
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The Caribbean islands of St Lucia and St Vincent reclaimed their independence from Great Britain.
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In the USA, Carter asked congress to make a Martin Luther King's Birthday a national holiday.
In the music:
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The Sugar Hill Gang released Rapper's Delight which borrowed the break from Chic's Good Times. It became a worldwide hit, eventually selling over eight million copies, marking the first ever commercial rap record.
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Michael Jackson released his phenomenal album Off The Wall. This was Jackson's breakthrough LP that established him as a solo artist in his own right.
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Kurtis Blow becomes the first rapper to sign to major label Mercury.
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Janet Kay releases the hit Silly Games which reached No 2 in the UK charts. She becomes the first British female to have a reggae song in the charts.
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In March, James Brown performed at the Grand Ole Opry.
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Donna Summer's Bad Girls hits No 1 on the US charts, and stays there for five weeks.
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Frustrated by sluggish reggae sales, Lee Scratch Perry goes AWOL and is spotted wandering aimlessly around Kingston wielding a hammer. Two days later, his Black Ark studio is burnt to the ground. Perry was suspected of arson, but was released without charge, due to lack of evidence.
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On July 12 1979, Chicago radio DJ Steve Dahl and baseball promoter Mike Veeck organized an event dubbed Disco Demolition Night. People were invited to bring disco records to a baseball game and have them blown up. This caused a near-riot forcing the cancellation of the game.
Notable releases:
Albums:
- Risque - Chic
- Here My Dear - Marvin Gaye
- Off The Wall - Michael Jackson
Singles:
- Le Freak - Chic
- I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
- Hot Stuff - Donna Summer
- Bad Girls - Donna Summer
- Good Times - Chic
- Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
- YMCA - Village People
- After the Love Has Gone - Earth, Wind And Fire
- Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind And Fire with The Emotions
- We Are Family - Sister Sledge
- Roll Over Beethoven (EP) - Chuck Berry
- Ain't No Stoppin' Us - McFadden & Whitehead
- Got To Be Real - Cheryl Lynn
- Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground) - Jacksons
- Money In My Pocket - Dennis Brown
Grammy awards:
- I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor
- After The Love Has Gone - Earth Wind And Fire
- Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
- Boogie Wonderland - Earth Wind And Fire
- Déjà Vu - Dionne Warwick
- I'll Never Love This Way Again - Dionne Warwick
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© MMIX