Events in 1961
- The Beatles began a two-year period during which they served as the main band at Liverpool’s Cavern Club.
- Eden Kane, born Richard Graham Starstedt, reached No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with “Well I Ask You.”
- “Shakin' All Over” by Johnny Kidd & The Pirates reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart.
- Chuck Berry's second wife, Themetta Suggs, gave birth to their second child, Chuck Berry Jr.
- Patsy Cline se skladbou „I Fall To Pieces“ dosáhla 1. místa v Billboard Hot C&W Sides a 12. místa v Billboard Hot 100. Skladbě trvalo více než šest měsíců od vydání, než dosáhla vrcholu.
- Elvis Presley released the single "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister". The single reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart and spent four weeks at No. 1 in the U.K.
- Lonnie Donegan achieved his biggest American hit with “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour on the Bedpost Overnight”, which reached No. 5.
- Paul Jackson, bassist for T'Pau, was born. The group had the UK No. 1 hit “China In Your Hand” and the song “Heart And Soul”, which reached No. 4 in both the U.S. and UK.
- Rikki Rockett, born Richard Allan Ream, founding member and drummer of the rock band Poison, was born in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.
- The film “Come September,” starring Bobby Darin and his wife Sandra Dee, was released in cinemas.
- Sam Cooke recorded “Frankie and Johnny” at RCA Victor's Music Center of the World studios in New York City.
- Fourteen-year-old Helen Shapiro became the youngest female artist to reach No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart with “You Don’t Know.” Her first four singles all reached the Top 3 in the UK.
- Jon Farriss, drummer of the Australian rock band INXS, was born in Perth, Western Australia. His brothers Tim and Andrew are also members of the band.
- The guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Culture Club was born.
- The song “Right Or Wrong” entered the Billboard Pop chart and later reached number 29.
- The founder and only permanent member of the post-punk band The The, Matt Johnson, was born.
- The Highwaymen’s million-selling recording “Michael (Row the Boat Ashore)”, their version of the African-American spiritual, reached No. 1 on the Cashbox chart. The five Wesleyan University students achieved another hit the following year with “Cotton Fields” and split up in 1964 after a run of 12 consecutive singles that failed to chart.
- Bobby Lewis was at No. 1 for the seventh consecutive week with “Tossin' And Turnin'”.
- Elvis Presley began a three-week run at No. 1 on the US album chart with “Something For Everybody”, his sixth US No. 1 album.
- Patsy Cline began recording Willie Nelson's song “Crazy” at Bradley Film and Recording Studio in Nashville. She was still using crutches after a head-on car collision two months earlier and initially had difficulty reaching the high notes because of her broken ribs. The car accident forced her to interrupt the recording, and she returned to the studio on September 15, when she completed the song with a single vocal take. The recording reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart, No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart, spending 21 weeks on the chart. In November 2021, Willie Nelson told David Letterman that when he originally wrote the song, he called it “Stupid”. In 1996, the Amusement and Music Operators Association named it the most-played song of all time on American jukeboxes. “Crazy” later became one of Patsy Cline's signature songs.
- Tamla Records released The Marvelettes' first single, “Please Mr. Postman”. The song sold more than one million copies and became the group's biggest hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. It was Motown's first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Drummer, singer, and founding member of the pop-rock group The Bangles, Debbi Peterson was born in Los Angeles, California. In 1986, the group had the No. 2 UK hit “Manic Monday”, a song written by Prince, and in the same year the U.S. No. 1 hit “Walk Like an Egyptian”.
- Singer, songwriter, guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and co-founder of Tears for Fears Roland Orzabal was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The group had the 1985 U.S. No. 1 hit and UK No. 2 hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, and their second album, “Songs from the Big Chair”, released in 1985, reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard 200.
- Guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the rock band Stone Temple Pilots Dean DeLeo was born in Montclair, New Jersey. He was also a member of the bands Talk Show and Army of Anyone. His younger brother Robert DeLeo was also a member of Stone Temple Pilots.
- Debbi Peterson, a member of The Bangles, was born.
- Roland Orzabal, a member of Tears For Fears, was born.
- Colin Angus of the Scottish psychedelic group The Shamen was born.
- British musician, songwriter and lyricist Mark Bedford, also known as Bedders, was born in Islington, London. He became known as the bassist of Madness.
- American country singer, songwriter and actor Billy Ray Cyrus was born in Flatwoods, Kentucky. He became famous for the hit “Achy Breaky Heart”, and his album “Some Gave All” reached number one in the US. In 2019 he appeared on the remix of Lil Nas X's “Old Town Road”. He is also the father of Miley Cyrus.
- The Beatles performed at the Cavern Club in Liverpool in the afternoon and then played on the riverboat M.V. Royal Iris on the River Mersey as the support act for Acker Bilk and his Paramount Jazz Band. It was one of four “riverboat shuffles” in which the group participated.
- Elvis Presley reached No. 1 on the US album chart with his album “Something For Everybody”.
- American singer Mitch Malloy was born. He is best known as the former singer of the hard rock band Great White from 2018 to 2022 and also auditioned for the position of Van Halen's singer after Sammy Hagar's departure.
- Connie Francis appeared as a celebrity “mystery guest” on the CBS television program “What's My Line”.
- American gospel singer and actress Yolanda Yvette Adams was born in Houston, Texas. She is known as the Queen of Contemporary Gospel Music and the First Lady of Modern Gospel. She had five albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard Top Gospel Album chart. Her album “Mountain High... Valley Low” won a Grammy in 1999, and in 2016 she received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for volunteer service.
- Joe Dowell reached No. 1 on the US singles chart with his version of “Wooden Heart”. The song is best known for its use in Elvis Presley’s 1960 film “G.I. Blues”, which gave Elvis a UK No. 1 hit. Among those who contributed to Dowell’s recording were Floyd Cramer on piano, The Anita Kerr Singers, The Jordanaires, and Ray Stevens on organ. The song remained at the top of the US chart for one week.
- British singer and songwriter Kim Appleby, one half of the sibling pop duo Mel and Kim, was born in Hackney, London. Together with her sister Melanie Appleby, she had the UK No. 1 single “Respectable” in 1987 as Mel and Kim, as well as three other UK Top 10 hits: “Showing Out (Get Fresh at the Weekend)”, “F.L.M.”, and “That's the Way It Is”.
- Tamla Records released the Marvelettes’ first single, “Please Mr. Postman”. The song sold more than one million copies, became the group’s biggest hit, topped both the Billboard pop and R&B charts, and was Motown’s first song to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
- Twenty-four-year-old Gene Chandler recorded the song “Duke Of Earl” at Universal Recording studio in Chicago with his vocal group The Dukays. The recording session was originally intended for Nat Records, but the original tapes were later sold to Vee Jay Records, which scored its first No. 1 hit and first million-selling record with the song the following February. The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 2002, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included it among the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. Gene Chandler later placed another 25 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, but none was as successful as “Duke Of Earl”.
- Keith McKenzie of the Scottish electronic dance group The Shamen was born. In 1992, the group had the UK No. 1 single “Ebeneezer Goode”.
- Canadian singer and songwriter Bruce Guthro was born. He recorded as a solo artist and was the lead singer of the Scottish Celtic rock band Runrig from 1998 to 2018.
- John Leyton began a three-week run at No. 1 on the British singles chart with "Johnny Remember Me". The BBC later banned it from airplay because of its unsettling sound and gloomy lyrics.
- Joe Dowell’s version of “Wooden Heart”, originally associated with Elvis Presley, entered the US chart.
- “ Tossin' and Turnin' ” by Bobby Lewis spent its tenth week at number one.
- Bobby Vee's “Take Good Care of My Baby” moved from number 23 to number six on the chart.
- Elvis Presley's single “(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame” moved from number 66 to number 32 and became the fastest-rising song on the chart.
- The Highwaymen began a two-week run at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 with “Michael, Row the Boat Ashore,” also known as “Michael.” It was a million-selling, gold-certified single and an adaptation of a 19th-century African-American spiritual originally sung by enslaved people on St. Helena Island, South Carolina. The version by the Wesleyan University quintet from Middletown, Connecticut, earned a gold record for sales of one million copies.
- The Marvelettes' debut single “Please Mr. Postman” debuted on the charts.
- Bob Dylan performed at the Gaslight Cafe in New York City.
- Bob Dylan made his first appearance at New York City's Gaslight Cafe.
- Colin Ferrguson of the Scottish pop group H2O was born. The group had the 1983 UK hit "Dream To Sleep", which reached No. 17. The band's bassist was also Alan McGee, who later co-founded the independent label Creation Records and signed Oasis.
- Pal Waaktaar-Savoy, also known as Pal Waaktaar, founding member, guitarist and songwriter of a-ha, was born in Norway. Sources give Oslo and Tonsenhagen as his birthplace. He wrote or co-wrote most of the group's biggest hits, including "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines On TV". a-ha became the first Norwegian group to have a No. 1 hit in both the U.S. and UK.
- Saxophonist and founding member of Dave Matthews Band LeRoi Moore was born in Durham, North Carolina. He co-wrote a number of the band's songs, including “Too Much” and “Stay (Wasting Time)”. After being injured in an accident at his farm near Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2008, he was hospitalized again because of complications and died on August 19, 2008.
- The song “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour (On the Bedpost Overnight?)” reached No. 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became Lonnie Donegan’s biggest American hit. In the UK, it had already reached No. 3 two years earlier.
- The television series Ben Casey, featuring future singer Vince Everett, premiered on ABC-TV. The series ran for five seasons.
- “Take Good Care of My Baby” by Bobby Vee spent its third week at No. 1. Dick & DeeDee were at No. 2, Roy Orbison moved up with “Crying,” and Ray Charles moved from No. 13 to No. 4 with “Hit the Road, Jack.” Elvis Presley also moved upward with “Little Sister.”
- “Michael” by the Highwaymen spent its fifth consecutive week at No. 1 on the Easy Listening chart.
- Joan Baez released the album Volume Two and the single “Banks of the Ohio.”
- Ray Charles reached No. 1 on the R&B chart with “Hit the Road, Jack.”
- Phil Spector and Lester Sill released the first single on their new Philles Records label, “Oh Yeah Maybe Baby” by The Crystals. A little more than a year later, their No. 1 hit “He's a Rebel” followed, along with other well-known recordings such as “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Then He Kissed Me.”
- Jimmie Rodgers, Fred Rose and Hank Williams became the first people inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
- Robbie Jaymes of British pop group Modern Romance, which had the 1982 UK single “Best Years Of Our Lives” at No. 4. In 1983, further hits followed: “High Life” at No. 8, “Don't Stop That Crazy Rhythm” at No. 14 and the ballad “Walking in the Rain” at No. 7 on the UK chart.
- A group of teenagers from Hawthorne, California, calling themselves The Pendletones, recorded the song "Surfin'" on October 3 at World Pacific Studios in Los Angeles. The song was created during their first recording session, and the final master was selected from the recorded takes. When it was released as a single by Candix Records, it was credited to The Beach Boys, the new name given to the group by promotional executive Russ Reagan. "Surfin'" reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, and Candix estimated sales of 50,000 copies. The recording launched the career of one of America's most successful rock'n'roll groups.
- Alvin & The Chipmunks got their own television show, The Alvin Show, on CBS. They had previously enjoyed successful hits including The Chipmunk Song, Alvin's Harmonica, and Ragtime Cowboy Joe. The show was canceled after one season in prime time, but later enjoyed a second life through Saturday morning reruns until 1965.
- Jon Secada, whose birth name is Juan Francisco Secada Ramírez, was born in Havana, Cuba. He grew up in Hialeah, Florida. He is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actor, and producer; he worked with Gloria Estefan, among others, and his 1992 debut album Jon Secada became an international success.
- David Bryson, guitarist of the American rock band Counting Crows, was born.
- Neil Sedaka recorded the song “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen” at RCA Victor Studio A in New York. It became the eighth of his 21 singles to reach the Billboard Top 40.
- Ray Charles reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Pop chart with “Hit the Road Jack.”
- The Marcels followed their No. 1 version of “Blue Moon” with “Heartaches.” It reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was their final Top 40 appearance, although they released another 15 singles over the following 14 years.
- The Shadows reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with “Kon-Tiki.”
- Tim Burgess, drummer and percussionist of T'Pau, was born in Macclesfield, England.
- The Biggest Show of Stars Tour performed at Wichita Forum in Wichita, Kansas.
- Singer-songwriter, guitarist and co-founder of the rock band BoDeans, Kurt Neumann, was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
- Ray Charles started a two-week run at No. 1 on the US singles chart with "Hit the Road Jack." The song reached No. 6 in the UK, also topped the charts in New Zealand and Sweden, and earned Charles a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Recording. It became one of his signature songs and was ranked No. 387 on Rolling Stone's 2010 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- Martin Kemp, English musician, bassist and founding member of Spandau Ballet, was born in London. The band became known for hits including “True,” “Gold” and “Through the Barricades.” Kemp is also known as an actor, notably from the series EastEnders and the film The Krays; he is the brother of Gary Kemp.
- The American folk group The Highwaymen reached No. 1 on the UK singles chart with "Michael." It was their only UK Top 40 hit. The group members were American college students who went their separate ways after graduating.