Childhood

Kimi Iwasaki is born in a village in the foothills of old Shizuoka prefecture, then called Fujimi-mura, (but now in the Shimizu ward of the city of Shizuoka) in Japan, Asia. It was widely believed that she was adopted at the age of three by an American couple. On the assumption that they took her with th em when they returned to to The USA, the song Akai Kutsu (Red Shoes) will be written about her by the poet Ujo Noguchi and the composer Nagayo Motōri. The song will become hugely popular in Japan but, in fact, Kimi Iwasaki never left Japan, because she died of tuberculosis at the age of nine, which she had contracted before her adoptive parents returned home.

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.

Bud Billings, a pseudonym for Frank Luther and Carson Robison, record Dancing At Jones's Place, Goin' Back To Texas, Old Kentucky Cabin and Open Up Dem Pearly Gates, at Victor Studio, New York City, USA for Victor Records.

The Jimson Brothers, a pseudonym for Frank Luther and Carson Robison, record Left My Gal In The Mountains and Goin' Back To Texas, at Edison Recording Studio, New York City, USA.

Rosemary Clooney, with Percy Faith And His Orchestra, records Little Johnny Chickadee, Peterkin Pillowby, Little Sally One Shoe and Who'll Tie The Bell [On The Old Cat's Tail]? for Columbia Records in the USA.

The Bing Crosby Show, on the CBS Radio Network in the USA, features Crosby performing Them There Eyes, Quizas, quizas, quizas, Play ball, Mocking Bird Hill and Any Town Is Paris When You're Young. Additionally, Bing and Gary Crosby duet on the songs When You And I Were Young, Maggie Blues and Moonlight Bay.

Lindsay Crosby, with John Scott Trotter And His Orchestra, records That's What I Want For Christmas and Dear Mr. Santa Claus for Decca Records in Los Angeles, California, USA. Lindsay Crosby is the son of Bing Crosby.

The Perry Como Show on CBS-tv in the USA features 13-year old guest artist Jimmy Boyd singing his hit I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. When first released, Boyd's record had been banned in Boston, Massachgusetts, by the Roman Catholic Church on the grounds that it mixed sex with Christmas.

James Marshall Hendrix [later to become Jimi Hendrix] leaves Leschi Elementary School in Seattle, Washington, USA, because his father Al can no longer pay for their house at 2603 26th Avenue. They move to 1436 29th Avenue.

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.

During the Winter Dance Party Tour, Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens are all killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, USA. The incident will inspire numerous tribute songs, but it is most popularly identified as "the day the music died" in Don McLean's huge hit single American Pie.

Pop idol Fabian undertakes a guest spot on CBS-tv show Candid Camera in the USA, during which he narrates an item showing the behaviour of teenage boys.

Cliff Richard presents awards, and performs Living Doll, at the Methodist Association of Youth Clubs annual event in The Royal Albert Hall, London, England, UK, Europe.

Seven-year-old Larry Franklin plays his first fiddle concert. He will become a Nashville studio musician appearing on hits by Shania Twain, Deana Carter, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson, among others. He will also play with Asleep At The Wheel for seven years.

Walkin' Back To Happiness by singing schoolgirl Helen Shapiro reaches No1 in the UK pop singles chart.

Leif Per Nervik is born in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA. He will find fame as 70s teen pop star Leif Garrett, but his life and career will be blighted by heroin addiction.

A season of gigs by The Miles Davis Quintet at The Jazz Workshop, San Francisco, California, USA, is brought to an end when police shut the club down for "employing a minor" - the Quintet's drummer Tony Williams.

The Beach Boys release a new single, When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)/She Knows Me Too Well, on Capitol Records in the USA.

Pink Floyd release their second single, See Emily Play, in the UK on Columbia Records.

Simon Says by The 1910 Fruitgum Company reaches its UK chart peak of No2.

The Beatles' animated film, Yellow Submarine, goes on general release in the UK, Europe.

Don McLean reaches No1 in the Billboard US Top 40 Singles Chart with American Pie.

The album The Wall by Pink Floyd earns a platinum disc in the USA.

W.A.S.P. release their fourth studio album, The Headless Children, in the USA.

It is announced that The Southland Corporation, owner of the 7-Eleven and Hoagy's Corner Delis store chains, has introduced a policy of trying to chase away undesirables - i.e. teenagers hanging out in their store parking lots - by loudly playing music by easy-listening artists including Mantovani from loudspeakers outside the stores.

Darren Burn is found dead, aged 30, on the bathroom floor of his flat in London, England, UK, Europe. Unable to cope with the failure of his teenybop pop idol career, he had taken an overdose of his Dotheipin anti-depressant tablets.

While in Japan, Asia, during his Dangerous World Tour, Michael Jackson travels on the Superexpress train to Tokyo from Nagasaki where he has been visiting the Huis Ten Bosch amusement park with his brother Tito Jackson's three children.

Gregory, the recently-born son of Prince and his wife Mayte, dies at the Children’s Health Care Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, because of severe birth defects (skeletal abnormalities). Gregory was a little over one week old.

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.

A fan-sponsored and organized Candlelight Vigil in support of Michael Jackson, currently facing charges of child abuse, is held at the gates of his Neverland Ranch in California, USA.

The prosecution in Michael Jackson’s ongoing child molestation case in Santa Barbara, California, USA, accuses Jackson’s legal team of abusing the judicial process by demanding highly detailed medical records of the alleged victim and his family.

Michael Jackson arrives forty minutes late at his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, California, USA, claiming that back pain has delayed him.

Britney Spears takes time off from her Circus World Tour to visit Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida, USA, with her children.

While in Liverpool, UK, to play at the Echo Arena, Bob Dylan visits Mendips, the childhood home of John Lennon of The Beatles.

Julian Lennon, the son of The Beatles' John Lennon, reveals that his childhood friend Lucy Vodden, who inspired the song title Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, is now battling the painful illness lupus, which causes organ breakdown.

Guardianship of seventeen year old Frances Bean Cobain is awarded to Wendy O'Connor and Kimberly Dawn Cobain, the mother and sister of Frances' late Nirvana frontman father Kurt Cobain. Frances is, by this decision, removed from the custody of Cobain's wife Courtney Love.

Russian rocker Yury Shevchuk, leader of Russian band DDT, clashes openly with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a charity literary-musical evening for children with cancer and leukemia in St. Petersburg, Russia, Europe.

Beyonce posts a pic of her husband Jay-Z and their daughter Blue Ivy on Instagram with the caption, "My favourite hue is JayZ Blue". This is interpreted by media observers as a response to recent rumours that the couple's marriage is on the rocks.

Gary Glitter is found guilty at Southwark Crown Court, London, England, UK, Europe, of a series of child sex offences on three young girls, aged between 8 and 13. His sentence could be up to life imprisonment.

It is reported that entertainer and pop hitmaker Rolf Harris has been given the job of creating a mural in Stafford Jail, Stafford, England, UK, where he is serving a sentence for indecently assaulting young girls. The job has angered other prisoners who feel Harris is receiving 'special treatment'.