The Times
1983 seniors returned to Cortland with a sense of elation that they would be graduating in less than a year, but with trepidation that once they received their degrees, what jobs awaited them? The U.S. was in the midst of the worst recession since The Great Depression and unemployment was at record highs at nearly 11%. A May 30, 1983 NYT’s article stated: “This is the most troublesome job market for college graduates in the last 25 years.”
On November 29th, 1982 Michael Jackson released his groundbreaking album, Thriller. The King of Pop changed music forever as the album stayed at #1 for an unprecedented 37 weeks with 10 hit singles. To this day, Thriller continues to be the #1 selling album of all time. A few months later, the world witnessed Jackson’s gravity-defying dance move…the moonwalk. During the televised “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever,” Michael Jackson introduced his version of the “backslide” while performing “Billy Jean” wearing one sequined glove. Why one glove? Michael was hiding a skin pigment condition called vitiligo that started on his hand.
In the world of medicine, Barney Clark became the 1st patient to receive an artificial heart in Utah on December 2, 1982. Cardiothoracic surgeon, William DeVries, implanted the Jarvik-7, a mechanical polyurethane and aluminum heart attached to a noisy 400-pound air compressor. The surgery was thought to be both as miraculous as a walk on the moon and a procedure performed by a Dr. Frankenstein. Either way, this pioneering spirit gave Barney Clark another 112 days of life and a whole new outlook for the future of organ transplantation.
It’s odd to think of doing classwork without using a computer, right? Well, Cortland seniors in 1983 used their portable typewriters to finish their class papers. But things were about to change! In early 1983, Steve Jobs released the first mass-market personal computer called the “Apple Lisa.” At a cost of $9,995, which in 2023 was equivalent to $30,600, the “Lisa” computer was considered a commercial failure. It was discontinued and just one year later in 1984, Jobs introduced the Apple MacIntosh 128K run by the first operational “mouse.”
On February 28th, 1983, everyone, and I mean EVERYONE sat in front of TV screens for the final episode of M*A*S*H*. It set a record for the most watched TV broadcast in American history, which still stands in 2024. Titled “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen,” the episode was 2 ½ hours long. Alan Alda who played lead character Hawkeye Pierce was one of the writers and also directed the episode which chronicled the final days of the Korean War at the 4077 MASH unit. It intended to show the war’s effects on the individual personnel.
In 1982 and 1983, the music industry experienced a slump due to the demise of disco a few years earlier. Bands and artists were looking for new ways to capture an audience. Thankfully we had MTV, which launched a few years earlier and had the magic bullet…music videos! The world of music now relied on music videos to get careers back on track and sell records. Michael Jackson led with Thriller, and was followed by performers like Madonna, Cyndi Lauper and Boy George who used carefully curated and colorful, high gloss imagery to capture an audience that was looking to be wowed.
Notable Events (right clink on links below to access media)
- First Mechanical Heart Transplant – Dec 2, 1982, Camp David – Salt Lake City, UT
- Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean” Moonwalk – Performed on the Motown 25th Anniversary Show – May 16, 1983
- M*A*S*H* Final Episode “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” – February 28, 1983
CONCERTS THAT CAME TO CORTLAND 1982/1983
BLOTTO
A satirical group known for mixing music and humor, the Albany-based band started out as The Star Spangled Washboard Band, a bluegrass combo with plenty of “country corn.” They transformed themselves into a tongue-in-cheek rock band Blotto, taking their cues from The Ramones where bandmembers used Blotto as their surnames that included Sergeant Blotto, Cheese Blotto, Lee Harvey Blotto and Bowtie Blotto.
Songs played in concert in 1983
“I Wanna Be A Lifeguard”
“Metal Head”
MARSHALL TUCKER BAND
Combining blues, country and jazz, Marshall Tucker Band describes their music as “Progressive Country” and helped create the Southern Rock sound of the 1970’s joining the likes of The Allman Brothers Band, 38 Special, The Outlaws and The Charlie Daniels Band. Formed in Spartanburg, South Carolina by brothers Toy and Tommy Caldwell and lead singer Doug Gray, the band was a Cortland State favorite. In April, 1983 The Marshall Tucker Band headlined the Spring Fling with The Atlanta Rhythm Section and local upstate rock bands Duke Jupiter and the New York Flyers.
Songs played in concert in 1983
“Can’t You See”
“Take The Highway”
“Heard It In A Love Song”
“A Place I’ve Never Been”
ATLANTA RHYTHM SECTION (ARS)
Mostly studio musicians, some of these Southern Rockers were part of the late 1960’s pop group, Classics IV (who played in Moffett with Al Kooper and Dennis Yost on December 7, 1969) with chart topping hits, “Stormy,” “Traces,” and “Spooky,” while the rest of the band came from The Candymen, who were backup players for Roy Orbison. With one bona fide hit single “So Into You,” and a remake of the Classics IV hit “Spooky” the band made a name for themselves as first-rate players. 50 years later, they are still performing and making music, albeit with a revolving door of players. Only Rodney Justo, the original lead singer is still in the band.
Songs played in concert in 1983
“So Into You”
“Champagne Jam”
“Spooky” (ARS Remake)