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Childhood
While out walking along the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway (later the Missouri Pacific Railroad) where it crosses Big River outside of Irondale (Washington County, Missouri), William Helms finds a five-day-old baby in a suitcase, evidently having been thrown from a passing train. Helms and his wife foster the child, and name him William Moses Gould Helms. Within a few months, The Rev. J.T. Barton will be inspired to write the song Ballad Of The Iron Mountain Baby, telling the story of the child. It will become a popular folk song and a new treatment of the story, entitled Sarah Jane And The Iron Mountain Baby, will be released in 2013 on the LP Love Has Come For You by Steve Martin And Edie Brickell.
The Chevrolet Motor Car Company is founded in Detroit, Michigan, USA, and will become a serious competitor to the Ford Model T in the automobile market in the USA. Quickly nicknamed Chevy, the company's vehicles will become much-loved by drivers, and will inspire numerous references in song lyrics, perhaps most notably, "Drove my Chevy to the levee" in Don McLean's 1971 hit American Pie.
Class photographs are taken at Wentworth Primary School, Dartford, UK, among which is a shot showing youngsters Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, who would grow up to become founders of The Rolling Stones.
Too Young by Nat King Cole on Capitol Records reaches No1 in The Billboard magazine chart in the USA. It will remain at No1 for five weeks.
Jackie Gleason records What Is A Girl? and What Is A Boy? for Decca Records in New York City, USA. Both tracks are humourous recitations with orchestral accompaniment.
The current No1 single in the UK, based on sheet music sales, is Too Young, based on the combined sales of versions by Nat King Cole and Jimmy Young.
Eddy Arnold records That Little Boy Of Mine for RCA Records in RCA Victor Studio, 1016 North Sycamore Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.
The term "The Beat Generation" is first seen in print in a feature by John Clellon Holmes in the New York Times magazine. The term will come to be the defining phrase by which the hip youth and creative individuals of the 1950s will come to be known.
Tennessee Ernie Ford and Molly Bee, with Cliffie Stone And His Orchestra, record Don't Start Courtin In A Hot Rod and We're A' Growin' Up in Capitol Studios, Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA.
James Marshall Hendrix (later to become Jimi Hendrix) leaves Meaney Junior High, Seattle, Washington, USA, in one of many disruptive school moves during his childhood.
Chuck Berry releases a new single, Childhood Sweetheart, on Chess Records in the USA.
Young student Janis Joplin is suspended from high school in Port Arthur, Texas, USA, but she will eventually earn her degree.
The headmaster of Clark's Grammar School, Guildford, England, UK, Europe, rules that boys with Beatles-styled haircuts will be sent home.
Bassist and songwriter Danny Weinkauf is born in the USA. He is best-known as the long-standing bassist for They Might Be Giants, but has also released material under his own name and has worked with Fountains Of Wayne, Candy Butchers, Lincoln, Richard Barone, Mono Puff, Nate Ouderkirk, David Mead and Stephen Fretwell.
Rag
Doll by The Four
Seasons enters the Billboard Top 40 Singles Chart in the USA on
its way to No1.
Rag
Doll by The Four Seasons reaches No1 in Cash Box magazine's chart of the best-selling singles in the USA.
The Beach Boys are in Western Recorders, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA, adding vocals to the backing tracks for When I Grow Up (To Be A Man).
The Beach Boys have a recording session in Los Angeles, California, USA, working on a version of the song I'm So Young. the song was first recorded in 1958 by Cincinnati r'n'b vocal group The Students.
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) by The Beach Boys peaks at No9 in the Billboard Top 40 Singles Chart in the USA.
The Nat Adderley Octet records Never Say Yes, Work Song and Little Boy With The Sad Eyes, for Atlantic Records in New York City, USA.
The single Young Girl by Gary Puckett and the Union Gap is awarded a gold disc by the R.I.A.A. in the USA.
In a session recorded from his bed, Furry Lewis records Going To Brownsville, John Henry, Casey Jones, St. Louis Blues, Judge Boushe Blues, Just A Little Fun, Going Back To Gary, When The Saints Go Marchin' Home, A Dog Named Blue, Lucky Seven, Baby That's All Right, Lay My Burden Down, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Furry's Rag [Take Your Time, Baby], Water Tank and God Be with Us 'Till We Meet Again, in his house near Fourth and Beale Streets in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The tracks will appear on the LP Beale Street Blues.
Where's The Playground, Suzie by Glen Campbell, enters the Billboard Top 40 Singles Chart in the USA, where it will peak at No26 during a five week run. The song is written by Jimmy Webb.
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During a concert by The Rolling Stones, Santana, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Jefferson Airplane, and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young, at Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, USA, audience member Meredith Hunter is beaten to death by Hells Angels in front of the stage. The Grateful Dead also attend the concert but refuse to play shortly before their scheduled appearance due to the increasing violence at the venue. The Dead's song New Speedway Boogie is inspired by the media response to Altamont. The fifth verse of Don Mclean's American Pie is widely regarded as a reference to The Stones at Altamont. Blue Oyster Cult's Transmaniacon MC makes several direct references to Altamont.
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Janis Joplin attends the 10th Annual Reunion party at her former high school in Port Arthur, Texas, USA.
On their Misplaced Childhood tour, 
Sting and Trudie Styler become the parents of a girl, Eliot Pauline.
Debbie Rowe divorces Michael Jackson. Rowe, who receives an $8-million settlement and a house in Beverly Hills, California, USA, gives full custody rights of their children to Jackson.
The National Endowment for the Arts, in conjunction with the R.I.A.A., announces its Top Ten songs of the 20th century. At No1 is Judy Garland's rendition of Over The Rainbow. Also making the list: Bing Crosby's White Christmas [No2], Aretha Franklin's Respect [No4], Don McLean's American Pie [No5], and The Righteous Brothers' You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling [No9].
Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees buys his childhood home in Keppel Road, Chorlton, Manchester, England, UK, Europe. Gibb says he intends to clean the house up, put a comemmorative plaque on the wall and rent it out.
In the UK tv special, Living With Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson reveals details of how he and his brothers were beaten by his father as children. He also reveals that his most recent child, Prince Michael Jackson II was born by a surrogate mother who he had never met.
Michael Jackson pleads not guilty in court in California, USA, after his grand jury indictment on charges of child molestation.
Prosecutors in R. Kelly's ongoing underage sex trial in Chicago, Illinois, USA, reduce the timeframe in which the alleged sex acts took place. Judge Vincent Gaughan had stated a month earlier that their timeframe was too vague. The new timeframe still covers more than three years.
While in Soweto, South Africa, to perform at the opening of the FIFA World Cup, Shakira visits Isu'lihle Primary School to meet local children and speak about the lack of decent education for children around the world. Shakira is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.
It is reported that Kiss has been dropped from the line-up of an upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert in Cardiff, Wales. The decision was taken in the light of objections from fans and the singer's estate regarding bassist Gene Simmons' remarks stating that he believed the late singer had molested children.
Country music singer Mindy McCready and her young son Zander are found hiding together in a home in Heber Springs, Arkansas, USA. Three days earlier, McCready had removed Zander from her perents' house in Cape Coral, Florida, USA.Country artist Scotty McCreery graduates from Garner High School in North Carolina, USA.
As part of Operation Yew Tree, Police officers arrest former glam-rock star Gary Glitter at his home in London, England, UK, Europe, following allegations made in connection with the ever-expanding Jimmy Savile under-age sex scandal.
The yellow door from Paul McCartney's childhood home at 20 Forthlin Road in Liverpool, England, UK, Europe, is sold at auction for $7,700.
It is announced that 
It is reported that the remaining members of Lostprophets are forming a new, but as yet un-named, band. Lostprophets split in 2013 after frontman Ian Watkins was jailed for 35 years on child sex offences.
Liam Gallagher, formerly of Oasis, attends Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City, USA, to discuss arrangements for his proposed child support payments for the daughter he fathered with American journalist Liza Ghorbani.
Disgraced glam-rock singer Gary Glitter is charged in London, England, UK, Europe, with eight counts of sexual offences committed against two girls aged 12–14 between 1977 and 1980.
The childhood home of Johnny Cash at 108 Center Drive, Dyess, Arkansas, USA, is opened to the public for $10 a visit.
Tim Minchin announces the release of his new song Come Home (Cardinal Pell). Proceeds from the single will go to GoFundMe – Send Ballarat Survivors To Rome, a charity in support of children sexually abused by Cardinal George Pell at a Catholic Youth Camp in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, Oceania.
Justin Timberlake tells Zane Lowe during a Beats 1 Radio interview in the UK, that he would like to have as many children as he and his wife Jessica Biel can.
It is reported that, having been found guilty of having a mobile phone while in jail for sex offences, shamed former Lost Prophets vocalist Ian Watkins has had his sentence extended.
The Rolling Stones (ie Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, as well as former bassist Bill Wyman), play a small club gig at Ronnie Scott's in Soho, London, England, UK, Europe, in memory of their recently deceased drummer Charlie Watts. The evening is compered by Jools Holland who also leads a house band featuring Dave Green (Watt's childhood friend and a frequent collaborator in his jazz bands), Ben Waters, and Axel Zwingenberger.1902 |
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