The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. The group, whose best-known line-up comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, are regarded as the most influential band of all time.
They were integral to the development of 1960s counterculture and popular music’s recognition as an art form. Rooted in skiffle, beat and 1950s rock and roll, their sound incorporated elements of classical music and traditional pop in innovative ways; the band later explored music styles ranging from ballads and Indian music to psychedelia and hard rock. As pioneers in recording, songwriting and artistic presentation, the Beatles revolutionized many aspects of the music industry and were often publicized as leaders of the era’s youth and sociocultural movements.
Led by primary songwriters Lennon and McCartney, the Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over three years from 1960, initially with Stuart Sutcliffe playing bass.
The core trio of Lennon, McCartney and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, including Pete Best, before asking Starr to join them in 1962.
Manager Brian Epstein moulded them into a professional act, and producer George Martin guided and developed their recordings, greatly expanding their domestic success after their first hit, “Love Me Do”, in late 1962.
As their popularity grew into the intense fan frenzy dubbed “Beatlemania”, the band acquired the nickname “the Fab Four“, with Epstein, Martin and other members of the band’s entourage sometimes given the informal title of “fifth Beatle”.
By early 1964, the Beatles were international stars, leading the “British Invasion” of the United States pop market, breaking numerous sales records, and inspiring Britain’s cultural resurgence. They soon made their film debut with A Hard Day’s Night (1964).
From 1965 onwards, they produced records of greater complexity, including the albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966) and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), and enjoyed further commercial success with The Beatles (also known as “the White Album”, 1968) and Abbey Road (1969).
Heralding the album era, their success elevated the album to be the dominant form of record consumption over singles; they also inspired a greater public interest in psychedelic drugs and Eastern spirituality, and furthered advancements in electronic music, album art and music videos.
In 1968, they founded Apple Corps, a multi-armed multimedia corporation that continues to oversee projects related to the band’s legacy.
After the group’s break-up in 1970, all four members enjoyed success as solo artists. Lennon was shot and killed in 1980, and Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001. McCartney and Starr remain musically active.
David Bedford is from Liverpool and has written numerous of books on the Beatles including:
- Liddypool
- The Fab One Hundred and Four
- The Evolution of The Beatles
- Finding the Fourth Beatle
- The Country of Liverpool and others.
Please visit David Bedford website: https://davidabedford.com/
2) Debbie Greenberg
Debbie Greenberg will be talking about her book Cavern Club: The Inside Story
As a teenager Debbie Greenberg was spending far too much time at the Cavern Club in her hometown of Liverpool, England. It was already the most famous music club in the world, where she had been dazzled by the Beatles’ debut performance and had witnessed their rise to stardom for two years before watching the local heroes leave home.
3) Dave Schwensen
Dave Schwensen is the author of six books, two blogs, and an entertainment journalist since 1993 with articles published in the United States, Canada and Japan. A pop culture enthusiast, nationally recognized comedy coach, and presenter (no one wants a lecture!) with a sense of humor and love for music and laughter, his newspaper and magazine reviews, interviews, and behind the scenes exclusives have included entertainers such as:
- Paul McCartney
- Garth Brooks
- Britney Spears
- The Monkees
- Willie Nelson
- The Everly Brothers
- Ray Romano
- Dave Chappelle
- Jeff Foxworthy
- Margaret Cho
- Drew Carey and many others.
He is the author of The Beatles At Shea Stadium and The Beatles In Cleveland. He brings his researched knowledge and personal experience as a baby boomer who actually saw The Beatles in concert to every program. He has been featured on the syndicated radio shows The Beatle Years, Breakfast with the Beatles and Beatles Brunch, and as a guest author and speaker at The Fest For Beatles Fans in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and Abbey Road On The River in Louisville and Cleveland. Dave has also been interviewed on PBS Television and Radio, and national and regional radio, television, print and online publications from Boston to Honolulu, Canada and Europe.
Please visit: https://beatlessheastadium.com/
4) Pat Mancuso
Pat Mancuso founded the original George Harrison Fan Club and is the author of:
- Do You Want to Know a Secret? The Story of the Official George Harrison Fan Club.
- Do You Promise Not to Tell? The Final Story of The Official George Harrison Fan Club.
