What happened on Saturday May 20, 1961?

Here's what happened on May 20, 1961:

• Freedom Riders Attacked in Montgomery On May 20, 1961, Freedom Riders traveling by bus through the Southern United States to challenge racial segregation laws were brutally attacked by a violent white mob at the Greyhound Station in downtown Montgomery, Alabama. This event was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the intense racial tensions and systemic racism prevalent in the American South during the early 1960s.
• Mauritania Adopts Constitution On May 20, 1961, Mauritania officially adopted its constitution, marking a significant milestone in the country's political development and transition to a structured system of governance following its independence from French colonial rule.
• 87th Preakness Stakes Horse Race Johnny Sellers rode Carry Back to victory in the 87th Preakness Stakes, completing the race in an impressive time of 1:57.6, showcasing exceptional horse racing performance.
• Henze's Opera 'Elegy for Young Lovers' Premieres Hans Werner Henze's opera 'Elegy for Young Lovers' premiered in Schwetzingen, Germany, representing an important moment in contemporary classical music composition.
• Kit Clarke Born Kit Clarke, musician and member of the band Danny Wilson known for their hit song 'Mary's Prayer', was born on this date.
• Nick Heyward Born Nick Heyward, guitarist and vocalist of the band Haircut 100, famous for their song 'Favourite Shirts', was born on this date.

Events in 1961

May 20, 1961: What were the magazines covers and newspapers that day?

Magazines from May. 20, 1961

Newspapers from May. 20, 1961

May 20, 1961 was a Saturday and it was the 140th day of the year 1961 in the Gregorian calendar.

May 20, 1961 can also be written as 5/20/1961 in the US and as 20/5/1961 in UK and Europe.

May 20, 1961 in May 1961 calendar

Famous people born on May 20, 1961:

• Owen Teale

  Welsh actor known for his prominent role as Alliser Thorne in the critically acclaimed HBO series 'Game of Thrones'.

• Nick Heyward

  British pop musician who rose to fame as the lead singer of the new wave band Haircut 100 in the early 1980s.

• Clive Allen

  Accomplished English footballer who played as a striker for several prominent clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.

• Peter Diamandis

Famous people born in 1961

Famous people born on May 20th

Famous people died on May 20, 1961:

• Ernesto Giardini

Famous people who died in 1961

Famous people who died on May 20th

May 20, 1961: What was the number 1 song in the USA on that day?

The number 1 song in the USA on May 20, 1961 was Runaway by Del Shannon, according to the music chart for the week May 15th and May 21st.

1. Del Shannon - Runaway
2. Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law
3. Gene McDaniels - A Hundred Pounds Of Clay
4. Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star
5. Shep and the Limelites - Daddy's Home

May 20, 1961: What was the number 1 song in the UK on that day?

The number 1 song in the UK on May 20, 1961 was Blue Moon by The Marcels, according to the music chart for the week May 15th and May 21st.

1. The Marcels - Blue Moon
2. The Temperance Seven - You're Driving Me Crazy
3. Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound
4. Elvis Presley - Wooden Heart
5. Bobby Vee - More Than I Can Say / Staying In

May 20, 1961: What was the number 1 R&B song on that day?

The number 1 R&B song on May 20, 1961 was Mother-In-Law by Ernie K-Doe, according to the music chart for the week May 15th and May 21st.

1. Ernie K-Doe - Mother-In-Law
2. The Marcels - Blue Moon
3. Del Shannon - Runaway
4. Shep And The Limelites - Daddy's Home
5. The Shirelles - Mama Said

The Zodiac and Astrological sign for May 20th is Taurus.

Discover the zodiac sign and horoscope for any day in the past.

Taurus is the 2nd sign in the Western Zodiac. People born between April 20th and May 20th belong to the Taurus sign: discover Taurus personality and who should a Taurus marry.

Babies born in May are either Taurus or Gemini. People born before May 20th are Taurus, while people born from May 21st have the sign of Gemini.

Discover the personality of May born.

Unlock the Mysteries of May 20, 1961! Claim Your Free Numerology Report!

May 20, 1961: What is the Chinese Zodiac Sign for that day?

The Chinese Zodiac sign for May 20, 1961 is Ox and the associated element is Metal.

Discover the Ox personality and how the Metal Element might affect a person's traits and compatibility with other signs according to the Chinese zodiac.

Moon phase

The moon phase on May 20, 1961 was Waxing crescent.

The moon phase refers to the appearance of the Moon in the night sky on May 20, 1961 and is determined by the portion of the Moon's illuminated surface that is visible from Earth.

An observer located in New York City on May 20, 1961 at 10pm, would see the moon, being 36% full, rising at 10:39 am and setting at 12:58 am.

The previous full moon was on Apr 30, 1961 while the next full moon would come on May 30, 1961.

Unveil Your Inner Self: Discover Your Moon Sign Now!

Explore Moon Phases in May 1961

Your place in the Universe on May 20, 1961

We are proud to bring you the most beautiful and accurate map of the stars on your day

Someone born on May 20, 1961 is:

63 years 11 months old,

or 767 months and 24 days old,

or 3338 weeks and 4 days old,

or 23370 days old,

Enjoy a trip down memory lane: discover what the world looked like when you turned 18 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old

Use our How old am I? Calculator to know the age of a person today or use the Age Calculator to determine the interval between two dates.

How many days until your next birthday if you were born on May 20, 1961?

There are 6 days until your next birthday, which will occur on Tuesday May 20th 2025.

Try out our Countdown calculator to find out are many days are left until your special moments.

What generation do you belong to if you were born on May 20, 1961?

You belong to the Baby Boomer Generation if you were born on May 20, 1961.

Discover what generation people belong to with our generation calculator.