Roy Ernest Hay is an English singer, songwriter, composer and musician. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the pop/new wave band Culture Club. Hay, a trained pianist since the age of five, replaced founding member Johnny Suede in 1981. Some of Hay's musical influences were Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers and Led Zeppelin. Before his involvement with Culture Club, Hay was a hairdresser in his native Essex.

1961Mark Priest, New Zealand cricketer^[†]

Mark Wellings Priest is a former New Zealand international cricketer who played in three Test matches and 18 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1990 and 1998. He was the leading wicket-taker for Canterbury, with 290 dismissals, until Todd Astle went past his total in February 2019.

Historical Context for August 12, 1961

In 1961, the world population was approximately 3,064,869,675 people^[†]

Headlines from August 12, 1961

Rebel Base in Laos Is Shelled for Days; LAOS REBEL BASE SHELLED FOR DAYS

FRANCE TO RECALL ONE BIZERTE UNIT; Withdrawal of Paratrooper Regiment Regarded as Bid to Appease Tunisians FRANCE TO RECALL ONE BIZERTE UNIT

U.S. WARM TO BID BY CUBA ON PLANE; Washington Indicates Desire to Exchange Seized Boat U.S. WARM TO BID BY CUBA ON PLANE

LEVITT PROPOSES SLUM TAX LEVER; Asks City and U.S. Changes on Profits of Landlords to Spur Rehabilitation LEVITT PROPOSES SLUM TAX LEVER

Titov Describes Landing by Chute; Official Says Soviet Will Let Outsiders See a Launching TITOV DESCRIBES 'CHUTE LANDING

Notable Births

Historical Context for August 12, 1961