April 15: Raise a toast to Chris Stapleton OTD in GenX history
April 15 — Cake, candles, and some whiskey to wash it down …
Chris Stapleton (1978) turns 43 today. A hidden gem in country music until just a few years ago, Stapleton was a prolific songwriter until he finally started recording on his own in 2015. He’s written or co-written more than 160 country songs, including six that hit no. 1 on the country charts, all for some names we may recognize — George Strait, Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, and Luke Bryan among them.
Samantha Fox (1966) is 55 now, having parlayed a career that began as a “Page 3 girl” in the UK’s The Sun tabloid into an entertainment career. Her first, biggest hit, the not-at-all-suggestive, I-wonder-what-she’s-trying-to-say “Touch me (I want your body),” hit no. 4 in the US in 1986.
Seth Rogen (1982), 41 today, got his big break in “Anchorman” (2004), followed it with “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” (2005), and was off and running.
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“Colors” dropped in 1988, and just like that, suburban white kids around the Midwest began wearing Raiders caps and swearing more.
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Keenan Ivory Wayans unleashed “In Living Color” on an unsuspecting American public in 1990. Coming off an era where viewers had been conditioned to see the black experience through “The Cosby Show” (1984–92), Wayans’ project went all-in on black-oriented sketch comedy, playing up and goofing on stereotypes across the board. Other Wayans brothers got involved — Damon, Kim, Shawn, and Marlon — while Jennifer Lopez began her career as a Fly Girl, and the versatile Jim Carrey got into the act as Fireman Bill. While ratings soared in its first two seasons, infighting between the Wayans brothers and Fox studio execs eventually derailed the show, which ended in 1994.
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Spandau Ballet released “True” OTD in 1983. It hit no. 1 in the UK by the end of April.
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The indelible image of the man standing in front of a column of Chinese tanks is all that’s left of the Tiananmen Square protests that began OTD in 1989. Spurred by the death of pro-reform Communist party general secretary Hu Yaobang, students protested inflation, corruption, and the government inadequately preparing them for the evolving economy. The Chinese government declared martial law and dispersed the protesters on June 4.
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Hagler-Hearns engaged in “The War” OTD in 1985. “Marvelous Marvin” Hagler and Thomas “Hitman” Hearns came out swinging — and connecting — through a furious three rounds that commanded the respect of everyone in the boxing world. Hagler (60–2–2 and the middleweight champ) defended his belt against Hearns 40–1) with a third-round knockout that was nearly as exhausting to watch as it must have been to fight.
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Tokyo Disney opened OTD in 1983, the first Disney theme park to open outside the United States.
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The United States began bombing Libya OTD in 1986, as a response to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s involvement in the bombing of a German dance club 10 days prior. There were 60 Libyan casualties, and one US F-111 fighter-bomber was shot down.
