Historical Events
Grammy Awards
3rd Grammy Awards: Theme From a Summer Place, Ray Charles wins 4
Sports History
Douglas MacArthur declines offer to become baseball commissioner
Launch of Vostok 1
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into space and orbit Earth, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft
1961 History
Famous Birthdays
- D. D. Verni, American heavy metal bassist, and songwriter (Overkill - "Hello From the Gutter"), born in New Providence, New Jersey
- Julius Kariuki, Kenyan 3K steeplechaser (Olympic gold 1988), born in Nyahururu, Kenya
- Magda Szubanski, Australian actress (Kath & Kim), born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England
- Willi Ninja [William Leake], American dancer and choreographer (Paris Is Burning), born in New Hyde Park, Long Island, New York (d. 2006)
Famous Deaths
- Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Finnish composer (Angoscia, Trittico sinfonico), dies at 50
- Philippine "Pine" Belder [Mary de Klerk], actress, dies at 93
1961 Highlights
About April 12, 1961
Day of the Week: Wednesday
How Long Ago? 62 years, 11 months and 17 days
Leap Year: No
Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Aries
Music Charts
- #1 Song: Blue Moon - The Marcels
- #1 Song: Wooden Heart - Elvis Presley