Timeline July 1962

Events in July 1962 13

• 1897 – 1962 William Faulkner (1897-1962) Died 6 July 1962, aged 64 William Faulkner, the Nobel Prize-winning American novelist known for works such as "The Sound and the Fury" and "As I Lay Dying," died of a heart attack on July 6, 1962. His experimental narrative techniques and depictions of the American South profoundly influenced 20th-century literature. He remains one of the most studied American writers.
• 1961 – 1962 Jimi Hendrix serves in the US Army 101st Airborne Trains as a paratrooper before his discharge.
• 1962 The Beach Boys sign with Capitol Records Surfin' Safari Their first national hit.
• 1962 Wimbledon 1962 Men: Rod Laver · Women: Karen Hantze Susman Laver completed the calendar Grand Slam in 1962.
• 1962 Algeria gains independence from France End of the Algerian War after 132 years of French rule A referendum on July 1, 1962 saw Algerians vote overwhelmingly for independence following the Évian Accords signed in March. France formally recognized Algerian sovereignty, ending the eight-year Algerian War that had killed hundreds of thousands. Ahmed Ben Bella became the country's first president later that year.
• 1962 Burundi gains independence End of Belgian trusteeship in Burundi Burundi became an independent kingdom on July 1, 1962, ending Belgian administration under a UN trusteeship. Mwami Mwambutsa IV retained the throne as constitutional monarch. The country would abolish the monarchy and become a republic in 1966.
• 1962 Rwanda gains independence End of Belgian trusteeship in Rwanda Rwanda became an independent republic on July 1, 1962, ending Belgian administration under a UN trusteeship. Grégoire Kayibanda became the country's first president. Independence followed a violent revolution in 1959 that had already overturned the Tutsi monarchy.
• 1962 Walmart is founded Sam Walton opens his first discount store in Arkansas Sam Walton opened the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas on July 2, 1962. The discount retail chain grew to become the world's largest company by revenue. It fundamentally reshaped American retail through its focus on low prices and supply chain efficiency.
• 1962 Andy Warhol exhibits Campbell's Soup Cans Pop Art enters the mainstream art world Andy Warhol's first solo gallery exhibition, featuring 32 paintings of Campbell's Soup cans, opened at the Ferus Gallery in Los Angeles on July 9, 1962. The show helped establish Pop Art as a major movement and launched Warhol's career as one of the era's most influential artists. The paintings drew on techniques from commercial advertising and mass production.
• 1962 Starfish Prime nuclear test High-altitude US nuclear detonation over the Pacific The United States detonated a 1.4-megaton nuclear warhead 400 kilometers above the Pacific Ocean on July 9, 1962, as part of Operation Fishbowl. The blast created an artificial aurora visible from Hawaii and disabled several satellites, including Telstar, through radiation damage. It remains the largest high-altitude nuclear test ever conducted.
• 1962 Telstar 1 launched First satellite to relay live transatlantic television Telstar 1, built by Bell Labs, was launched on July 10, 1962 and relayed the first live transatlantic television broadcast. It demonstrated the feasibility of satellite communications and inspired the hit instrumental "Telstar" by The Tornados. The satellite was disabled months later by radiation from the Starfish Prime nuclear test.
• 1962 First Rolling Stones gig Marquee Club, London — July 12, 1962 The Rolling Stones played their first gig billed as "the Rollin' Stones" at the Marquee Club in London on July 12, 1962. The classic lineup — Jagger, Richards, Jones, Wyman and Watts — was complete by February 1963.
• 1962 – present The Rolling Stones The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band — London 1962 The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The longest-running major rock band in history, they have released 25 studio albums and are one of the best-selling music artists ever with over 250 million records sold. The core of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts remained constant for over 50 years.