What Happened on April 12, 1961

Historical Events

3rd Grammy Awards: Theme From a Summer Place, Ray Charles wins 4

Douglas MacArthur declines offer to become baseball commissioner

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into space and orbit Earth, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft

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

Nils-Eric Fougstedt, Finnish composer (Angoscia, Trittico sinfonico), dies at 50
Philippine "Pine" Belder [Mary de Klerk], actress, dies at 93

Day of the Week: Wednesday
How Long Ago? 62 years, 1 month and 24 days
Leap Year: No

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Ox
Star Sign: Aries