It Was 50 Years Ago Today

Oh Yeah, I'll tell you something I think you'll understand;  When I say that something  I want to hold your hand... The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand

 

 

 

It's hard to believe that it was 50 years ago that The Beatles made their way to America (left at Greenland) and to our televisions by way of The Ed Sullivan Show.  It was the most watched TV show up to that time and still on the list.  It was also the watershed moment for Rock and Roll; the possibilities of the music, the power, the influence, the mysteries... 




For 4 lads from Liverpool, England America was the place where they wanted to be.  After all America was the birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll.  The home of many of their influences: Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Everly Brothers, Little Richard and others.  Well on that night The Beatles conquered America and established themselves as world wide stars and their influence was felt immediately.  Steve Van Zandt put it best: “Feb. 8, 1964, there was not one single rock ‘n’ roll band in the country. February 9, the Beatles played ‘The Ed Sullivan Show.’ Feb. 10, everyone had one.”  Also in their wake what followed was a tidal wave of British Artists from The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Dave Clark 5, The Who, etc...