The Ed Sullivan Show Pt 2

They looked and sounded different than other pop acts of the time, and they introduced this new hippie image to the Sullivan stage. John Phillips recalled “we were the first group to ever appear with just what we had on. And we’d go to the Sullivan show with whatever we had in the closet, we would just put it on and walk out. The Beatles had their little suits and The Rolling Stones had little suits and Eric and The Animals had their little suits. And we were just all raggle-gaggle. Because we were so out of it, we didn’t know the difference. You know, we just thought, gee, just wear what you have. And so we were very clearly defined as hippies. “

For their first appearance, on December 11th 1966, they performed their number one hits, “Monday, Monday” and “California Dreaming” as well as “Words of Love.” As soon as their performance ended, they knew they had hit the big time. Michelle Phillips attributed a large majority of their success to Sullivan when she said “The minute we started doing Sullivan, people started buying those records.” It was Sullivan’s openness to new talent that Phillips believes helped theirs and many others’ careers succeed. She went on to say, “You think of him (Ed) as being a very conservative guy, but look at the people he brought onto his show. He was the one who had control of that — nobody else.”

The appreciation the group had for Sullivan was consistently visible. In Gerald Nachman’s Right Here on Our Stage Tonight! Ed Sullivan’s America, Doherty also praised Sullivan when he exclaimed that “On the West Coast, there were The Hollywood Palace shows that we’d do, but this was the Sullivan show, this was New York, this was the Great White Way! This was the ultimate, as far as doing American television—Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town!” Sullivan returned the praise and love, and even asked the group members for their autographs for his daughter, Betty, a huge fan. On the September 24th, 1967 show, the group gave Sullivan love beads that he wore when he sat and chatted with the foursome on stage.

The Mamas and The Papas performed four times on The Ed Sullivan Show and used their appearance to announce to fans that they weren’t breaking up, but merely letting things cool off for a bit. However, after the break the group reformed but was never able to revive its former glory.

The Detroit-based group, consisting of lead vocalist Levi Stubbs, Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Renaldo “Obie” Benson, and Lawrence Payton began as The Four Aims in 1954. They spent years performing in clubs and recording for various labels, and finally managed to break out in 1964 after being introduced to Motown’s Berry Gordy.

Gordy initially signed them to the Motown jazz subsidiary Workshop, and they became part of the Motown family. Duke Fakir recalls, “When the Four Tops got to Motown, they had this class called Artist Development, where you could get whatever you needed. If you needed more steps, or to have certain kind of arrangements, or how to talk to the public — whatever you needed to know. Berry Gordy was preparing people to be stars, he was not just concerned with selling records.”

After hearing their initial jazz album, Gordy decided not to release it and put them together with hit-makers Holland-Dozier-Holland. This collaboration led to the Four Tops first single, “Baby I Need Your Loving,” which went to number 11. Fakir explains: “We had all these different ways of singing different songs that everybody appreciated, but we didn’t have the one road to all the people. Holland-Dozier-Holland found that way. It was the way that they produced us, and I can pretty much say that they helped create the Four Tops’ Motown sound.”

The group made their debut on The Ed Sullivan Show on January 30th, 1966 when they sang a medley of hits: “I Can’t Help Myself” (#1); “Something About You” (#19); “When You’re Smiling” and “It’s the Same Old Song” (#5) and a full length rendition of “Nice and Easy.” For their second appearance, on October 16, 1966, they performed another Holland-Dozier-Holland penned song that would become their signature, “Reach Out I’ll Be There” (#1). And on February 19, 1967 they were back with another medley and introduced their new single, “Bernadette” (#4).

The Four Tops joined Ed on the November 8th 1970 episode, which was taped at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. Sullivan brought the whole show to the hospital as a way of thanking the wounded troops for serving their country. Surrounded by injured soldiers in hospital beds, the group sang “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” followed by their Top 40 hit “It’s All in the Game.”

The Beach Boys’ tight vocal harmonies, Chuck Berry rhythms and songs about the Southern California life-style were a direct response to the British Invasion. In the Beach Boys, America had found a band they could call their own, a sentiment that continues today.

The original group consisted of brothers Brian Wilson (keyboard and bass guitar), Carl Wilson (guitar), Dennis Wilson (drums), their cousin Mike Love (lead vocals and saxophone), and friend Al Jardine (guitar). All hailing from Southern California, they wrote songs about cute girls, big waves and hot rods that were instant hits even in land-locked states. On September 27 1964, The Beach Boys were the headliners on the season premiere of The Ed Sullivan Show. Taking the stage with hot rods, bright lights, and a slew of screaming girls, the boys set out to prove that America still had a rock and roll heartbeat that not even The Beatles could take away. That evening, they performed their smash hit, “I Get Around” (Number One on the charts for 13 weeks) and “Wendy.”

The performance went well, but this was one of the last appearances of Brian. The stress of touring and the pressures of writing for the group had become too much for him. He quit performing and was replaced temporarily by Glen Campbell, and then permanently by Bruce Johnston. Brian continued to write and produce the harmonizing hits the group was known for.

Their next appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show wouldn’t be until four years later. On October 13, 1968 The Beach Boys performed “Do It Again” and their number one hit “Good Vibrations” against a psychedelic background. A lot had changed in the music industry and American culture in general, during those four years. Their simple songs about cute girls and fast cars had given way to more complex compositions. Brian had spent those years experimenting with advanced techniques in the studio, and more sophisticated subject matter. His creative peak was the album, Pet Sounds, which has been named one of the greatest albums of all time. Even Paul McCartney credits it with inspiring Sgt. Pepper. But Brian’s use of orchestral backgrounds and complex arrangements were apparently not what the masses wanted from The Beach Boys. The album’s poor sales furthered Brian’s decline into depression, drug abuse and mental illness. Although recorded during the Pet Sounds sessions, “Good Vibrations” was released as a single, and went on to become their biggest hit to date.

Janis Joplin rose to fame as the lead singer of the psychedelic rock band Big Brother and the Holding Company. She joined up with the band in 1966 in the Haight-Ashbury community of San Francisco. Following a breakthrough performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, the band was signed to Columbia Records in 1967. At the end of 1968, after 2 years together, Janis Joplin decided to leave the group.

Shortly after leaving Big Brother and the Holding Company, Janis Joplin formed a new soul revue band called the Kozmic Blues Band. By early 1969, Janis Joplin was receiving national attention as she appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes and the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine with the title reading “Janis Joplin: The Judy Garland of Rock?” As her star continued to brighten, Janis Joplin went on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first and only time on March 16, 1969.

Janis Joplin and her band took to the stage in The Ed Sullivan Theatre opening with an upbeat performance of “Raise Your Hand.” She then followed that with a performance of “Maybe, Maybe, Maybe” set to a psychedelic background. During the slow, bluesy number, Janis was soulful, passionate, and almost exhausting, putting every ounce of herself into the song. The performance truly exemplified Janis Joplin’s style and has gone down as one of the legendary Ed Sullivan Show performances of all-time.

Following Janis Joplin’s Ed Sullivan Show appearance, her popularity only continued to grow. That year, she went on to a European tour, started working on a new album and performed at the legendary Woodstock festival with other great bands like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Santana.

The Animals had hit the ground running with “House of the Rising Sun”, which topped the US and UK charts in 1964. Bob Dylan had previously recorded the folk song about a brothel in New Orleans, but the Animals took it to Number One. This song was the perfect vehicle for their powerful take on rhythm and blues, highlighted by Eric Burdon’s gritty howl. The quintet was made up of lead singer Burdon, Hilton Valentine on guitar, Alan Price on keyboards, Bryan “Chas” Chandler on bass, and John Steel on the drums.

The boys first appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 18th 1964. With young girls screaming their lungs out, The Animals took the audience hostage as they played “I’m Crying” followed by their #1 hit “House of the Rising Sun.” The audience got so out of control that Sullivan had to shush them several times.

Eric Burden remembers, “I was making my way to CBS one time to do The Sullivan Show, and I ran down this back alley and got cornered and I had to get rescued by a couple of New York cops, and the kids were so wild, one cop lost his badge and his cap and his gun, I think, and the other one backed into a corner and he had a night stick, and he put the night stick across this doorway, and I was in the doorway. And the hounds were like this, and the door under the pressure just gave in, and I fell in through the door and landed in somebody’s front room.”

For their second appearance on January 24, 1965 The Animals performed “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.” These early shows recorded some of The Animals best performances as they energetically charged the audience. Although Burdon’s singing was emotionally raw, he came off as shy and somewhat awkward.

During 1965, they did two more Sullivan shows, singing “Bright Lights Big City,” “Bring it Home to Me” and “The Work Song.” On February 6, 1966 they again appeared, and performed the hit “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” and “Inside Looking Out.” For their last appearance on August 14th 1966, they sang Sam Cooke’s “Shake” and “Don’t Bring Me Down.” But by this time, they had begun to disintegrate.

The original lineup of the group only recorded three albums, yet nevertheless managed to break out eight Top 40 hits between 1964 and 1966. Price left in 1965, and Steel the following year. Also in 1966, Chandler left to start managing talent, and it was he who discovered Jimi Hendrix in Greenwich Village. Now a very different group, they were known as Eric Burdon & The Animals, and had six additional Top 40 hits before finally disbanding in 1968.

For their first and only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, they performed their two number one hits. On that Sunday night, December 12th 1965, The Byrds performed “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)”. This breakthrough song was composed by the legendary Pete Seeger, who drew the song’s lyrics from the bible. Dressed in turtlenecks and jeans, with long hair, they performed in front of a simple set. After their break, they returned to the stage and performed Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man,” in front of a psychedelic spinning background to screaming fans. At the end of the show, the group reprised “Mr. Tambourine Man” as the credits rolled.

If the screams from the audience were an indicator, as they were for many Ed Sullivan Show artists, it seemed that the group would surely be asked back. But The Byrds were never to return. In an interview for the 10 part series, The History of Rock N’ Roll, bass guitarist Chris Hillman revealed that “We had a problem. David [Crosby], that devil, got into an argument with the director and we were never asked back.” David Crosby recalls the importance of The Ed Sullivan Show and regretfully stated that “It was like you could go there and kind of feel that you were part of the crowd, but you had been watching Sullivan since you were a kid and it had tremendous authority. I don’t know how I got so mad at him and almost blew it, cause I should’ve been very respectful.”

Following their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Byrds continued to have a few Top 40 hits, including “Eight Miles High”, “Mr. Spaceman,” “So You Want to Be a Rock ‘N’ Roll Star,” and “My Back Pages.” After “Eight Miles High” was recorded, Gene Clark left the group. Soon after, Crosby left to form Crosby, Stills, & Nash, leaving McGuinn, Clark, and Hillman to form their own group. Mike Clarke eventually joined the group Firefall, and he later died of liver failure in 1993. Bassist Chris Hillman formed The Flying Burrito Brothers with Gram Parsons and the group became immensely popular. In 1991, The Byrds were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. At the induction ceremony, all five original band mates reunited to perform one last time. Later that same year, Gene Clark suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 46 and Michael Clarke died of liver failure in 1993.

Raised in Texas during the Great Depression, Roy was given a guitar an age six, and as he put it, “I was finished, you know, for anything else.” In his youth, he was heavily influenced by artists like Lefty Frizzell, Hank Williams, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. It was Cash, who suggested that Roy and his band the Teen Kings approach Sun Records executive Sam Phillips. And after he heard their song “Ooby Dooby”, Phillips signed them.

After some success on the label with the Teen Kings, Roy Orbison decided to pursue a career as a solo act and songwriter. He spent a few years struggling to get by, writing and performing. In 1960, he finally broke into the Top Ten in the US with the song “Only the Lonely”. Roy followed that hit with a number of internationally successful songs including “Blue Angel,” “Running Scared” and “Mean Woman Blues.” During this time, he also toured with the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Beach Boys. However, it was in 1964 that Roy Orbison recorded his signature song.

One day in 1964, Orbison’s wife, Claudette, came by the studio where Roy and songwriter Bill Dees were recording. She was headed into town, and Roy asked her if she needed any money. Dees responded, “Pretty woman never needs any money,” and about forty minutes later, “Oh, Pretty Woman” was recorded. The song, with Roy’s distinctive growl, and the plea for “Mercy”, went on to become a Number One hit in both the US and Britain.

Roy Orbison, who lacked the photogenic looks of many of the rock and roll contemporaries of his time, became known for his mysterious onstage persona. He was famous for remaining stoic, dressing in dark outfits and often standing in place for whole shows. In the early 1960s, Orbison, who had suffered from poor eyesight from a young age, left his thick eyeglasses on an airplane. That evening on stage, he was forced to wear prescription Ray Ban sunglasses. He found that he liked wearing the glasses to escape the crowd’s attention, and they became a signature part of his wardrobe. Orbison’s dress and unique performance style were on full display when he made his first and only appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on October 11, 1964.

Sullivan introduced “the fella’ out of Odessa, Texas” and Orbison took the stage to the signature riff of “Oh, Pretty Woman.” With his black shades, slicked back hair and dark suit, a cool Orbison employed playful growls and his distinctive and powerful voice. As usual for Orbison, he stood in place, barely moving throughout the song.

Instead of wowing the audience with onstage antics like Elvis Presley or Jackie Wilson did on The Ed Sullivan Show, Orbison let the music and his voice own the stage that evening. Orbison once said, “I’m not a super personality, on stage or off…People come to hear my music, my songs. That’s what I have to give them.” On October 11, 1964 when Roy Orbison performed on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first and only time, that is exactly what he gave the audience – his music.

Roy Orbison actually returned as an audience member to The Ed Sullivan Show on May 2, 1965 when The Rolling Stones performed. As usual with famous audience members, Ed Sullivan called Orbison out for the customary bow. The crowd, which had been going wild all night long for Stones, still had some energy left to scream for Roy. Sullivan did his best to quiet down the “little chickadees” and wrap up the show.

Don and Phil Everly were born into music. Their parents, radio performers Ike and Margaret Everly, formed the Everly Family, a singing group. The brothers eventually struck out on their own and went to Nashville as teenagers. But it wasn’t until they landed at Cadence Records that they found any success. Although several artists had turned down recording “Bye, Bye Love,” the Everly Brothers took it and scored a huge hit.

The duo first hit The Ed Sullivan Show on June 30th 1957. Don recalls, “When we were on the Ed Sullivan show, it was hitting really the big time because everybody in the country watched Ed Sullivan on a Sunday night.” With their snazzy suits and slick black guitars the boys performed their first hit, “Bye, Bye Love” in front of a farm set.

The brothers were invited back on August 4th 1957. They once again sang “Bye, Bye Love” and then “Doll Baby.” On October 6, 1957 they sang the controversial “Wake up Little Susie.” The song was a number one hit, even though some radio stations banned it because of suggestive lyrics. Don was surprised by the reaction, “It was this record about the kids waking’ up in the movie. It didn’t dawn on me that someone would get the wrong impression about that, and figured we were corrupting the youth. “

Over the next few years, Phil and Don returned several times to the Sullivan stage, performing hits like “Be-Bop-a-Lula” and “All I Have to do is Dream.” Of the Sullivan show, Don said: “You could follow an elephant one time or there’d be something else a comedian or a Broadway thing. It was a real variety, but he would bring everything thing on and he liked rock ‘n roll.”

In 1961, they decided to take a break from show biz and joined the United States Marine Corps. This led to a truly unforgettable Sullivan performance. Fresh out of boot camp, on February 18th 1962, they appeared in their Marine uniforms and belted out heartfelt renditions of “Jezebel” and “Crying in the Rain.”

The Everly Brothers performed their last Sullivan set on February 28th 1971. They walked onto a psychedelic stage and opened the show with “Bowling Green.” The audience cheered and whistled, proving that the brothers’ hits could stand the test of time. After a short commercial break, they returned to carry out performances of “Mama Tried,” a slowed down version of “All I Have to do is Dream,” and fittingly ended with “Bye, Bye Love,” which was the very first song they performed on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Originating from San Francisco, the classic lineup of the group consisted of founder Marty Balin (vocals), Jack Casady (bass), Spencer Dryden (drums), Paul Kantner (vocals, rhythm guitar), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), and Grace Slick (vocals, keyboard, woodwinds).

In the late 1960’s, San Francisco was to rock music what Liverpool had been in the early 60’s. And Jefferson Airplane was the quintessential San Francisco band. Mixing folk, blues and psychedelics, the theatrical group was known for unpredictable live shows. They also mixed politics and activism in with their brand of rock and roll.

As Show attempted to remain current and attract a young audience, they continued to book rock and roll acts. When Jefferson Airplane was invited to perform on September 29, 1968, the director used a blue screen for effects. As the group performed, they projected psychedelic images behind them. The only problem was that the group had shown up wearing blue jeans, so their legs disappeared in front of the blue screen. That evening they sang two songs written by Paul Kantner, “The Crown of Creation” and “Won’t You Try”. The group was never invited back to the show mostly due to their refusal to change their wardrobe.

Following their turn at “Sullivan,” Jefferson Airplane went on to tour with another band that only made one Ed Sullivan Show appearance – The Doors. The two bands performed together at both Woodstock and Altamont.

Gerry & The Pacemakers was made up of Gerry Marsden, his brother Fred, Les Chadwick and Les Maguire. The group’s original sound was influenced by American rock n’ roll pioneers Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.

The Pacemakers became rivals with The Beatles early on in their career, often playing the same clubs in Germany and England. The two groups defined the “Liverpool Sound,” which was a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, R&B and soul. Although competitors, Gerry & The Pacemakers signed with The Beatles’ manager, and in 1963, recorded their first single “How Do You Do It?” The song was an immediate success in the UK. They followed that with two more singles, “I Like It” and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (from Carousel), and both songs went to #1 on the British charts.

With all that success in the UK, Gerry & The Pacemakers set their eyes on the US. In February 1964, The Beatles had taken the country by storm. Following the huge ratings success of the Beatles’ performance, The Ed Sullivan Show was looking for other British groups. Brian Epstein was ready with Gerry & The Pacemakers.

On May 3, 1964 they took the stage on The Ed Sullivan Show to the screams of girls in the audience. Just like The Beatles, they all wore identical suits. Gerry Marsden, in his grinning, peppy style, opened with “I’m The One.” Although the song was relatively unknown in the US, the Pacemakers gave an energetic and fun performance on a stage set trimmed with light bulbs. They followed up with the light string arrangements of “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying.” At the close of the evening’s show, Ed, to the audience’s delight, asked Gerry to come back on stage to take a bow.

A week later on May 10, 1964, Gerry and The Pacemakers returned to The Ed Sullivan Show and opened with their 1963 hit “I Like It.” The lively rendition was driven by rhythm guitar and Marsden’s chipper vocals. Then they performed another version of “Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying.”

In 1965 Gerry and The Pacemakers, like The Beatles, had released their own film, Ferry Cross the Mersey. It featured the guys playing clubs around Liverpool. On April 11 1965, Gerry & The Pacemakers made their final appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

The first song was “It’s Gonna Be Alright” and was intercut with clips from the film. After a break, Gerry & The Pacemakers took the stage again to sing the film’s theme song, “Ferry Cross The Mersey.” At the end of the ballad, the band jumped right into the upbeat, country-styled tune “Why, Oh, Why.” Following that number Gerry shook hands with Ed and walked off the show’s stage for the last time.

By 1965, Gerry & The Pacemakers’ popularity was fading. In 1966, they decided to split up. While their run was short lived, they were one of the trailblazing bands of the British Invasion. Their sound and style opened the floodgates for subsequent acts that would change the face of rock n’ roll. By December 31, 1964, a little over six months after Gerry & The Pacemakers’ Ed Sullivan Show debut, 27 songs on the US Top 100 were by British performers.

The five boys (Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Michael) were raised in Gary Indiana, and at a young age were guided into music by their father, Joe. The boys’ harmonies and sound were influenced by top performing stars of the 1960s including Ed Sullivan show guests Jackie Wilson, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Sam and Dave and The Supremes. By 1966, the brothers were performing in local talent shows and competitions with Michael singing lead. On August 13, 1967 they won the famous Amateur Night competition at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem and the group caught the attention of Motown.

Gladys Knight had seen the show at the Apollo that evening and told Motown founder and owner Berry Gordy that he had to check the group out. However, Gordy would not meet The Jackson 5 until July 1968 when Bobby Taylor (a member of the group The Vancouvers), brought the boys to Hitsville in Detroit for an audition. After seeing the group perform, Gordy knew he had seen something very special and immediately signed the group to Motown.

For their introduction into the pop music industry, Berry Gordy decided to attach The Jackson 5 to Motown star and Ed Sullivan Show guest Diana Ross and The Supremes, and publicists spread the story that she had discovered the group. Their first album Diana Presents The Jackson 5 was released in December 1969.

Ed Sullivan had taken notice of The Jackson 5 when their debut single started climbing the charts and they appeared on the ABC variety show, Hollywood Palace. Always a supporter of Motown, Ed wanted to book the boys on his show. He and Gordy came to an agreement and The Jackson 5 was booked to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show December 14, 1969.

That evening, Ed Sullivan introduced The Jackson 5 as “a sensational group” and the brothers took the stage to sing Sly and the Family Stone’s “Stand.” The song, which included a charming dance number, was packed with feeling. Following that, an adorable Michael Jackson, donning a striking bright purple hat and vest, told a story about a girl he met in the sandbox at school, leading into Smokey Robinson’s “Who’s Loving You.” Michael really showed off his vocal range in that number. The third song of the set was The Jackson 5’s first hit single“I Want You Back.” The song dazzled and amazed the audience. Ten-year-old Michael had a confident smile and attitude paired with an incredibly soulful voice and impressive dance moves. He had a special sparkle in his eye and looked incredibly at home performing on stage.

At the end of their set, Ed Sullivan shook the boys’ hands and called out to Diana Ross in the audience. He introduced her as “the person who discovered The Jackson 5.” Diana stood up and took a bow. At that point it really didn’t matter who discovered the five young boys as they had won over the studio audience and everyone watching across the nation. That evening, Ed was awed by Michael’s enormous talent and clearly took a liking to him stating, “The little fella in front is incredible.”

On May 10, 1970 The Jackson 5 returned to New York to appear for a second time on The Ed Sullivan Show. Motown executive Suzanne DePasse styled them in colorful outfits: bell bottoms, fringed suede vests and platform shoes. They came on stage and sang two of their hits “I Want You Back” and “ABC.” The group’s performance was well coordinated, polished and packed with energy. Before closing that evening’s appearance with “The Love You Save,” a song they performed beautifully, Ed Sullivan took a moment to promote their summer tour and congratulate the five of them.

The Ed Sullivan Show was a major career-booster and elevated the group’s national profile to another level. This was accompanied by a bustle of media coverage that celebrated the discovery of the music industry’s new darlings. The charming performers had mesmerized and captivated fans and the media. The remarkable coverage surprised even the hard-to-please Gordy.

Brown was born in South Carolina to extreme poverty. As a child, he would pick cotton and dance for spare change. He was arrested when he was 16 for armed robbery and sent to juvenile detention. After three years, Brown was released. Shortly thereafter, he formed his own gospel group. After seeing an R&B Revue starring Hank Ballard and Fats Domino, the group decided to switch from gospel to performing more secular music. Now called The Flames, they were known in the “Chitlin’ Circuit” for their elaborate shows.

The Flames were signed by Federal Records and, in 1956, released their first single, “Please, Please, Please.” The song sold over 1 million copies and climbed to #6 on the R&B charts. Because of the talent and influence of their breakout star, the group changed its name to The James Brown Revue. The release of the 1963 LP Live at the Apollo led to national attention for Brown. From 1963 to 1966 he recorded hit after hit, including “Prisoner of Love,” “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “I Got You (I Feel Good)” and “It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”

James Brown understood the importance of appealing to both black and white audiences. By 1965, he had already appeared in the teen movie, “Ski Party,” starring Frankie Avalon and Dwayne (“Dobie Gillis”) Hickman and performed on the classic concert film, “The T.A.M.I. Show.” But it wasn’t until 1966 that he took the biggest step in crossing over to mainstream audiences with two Ed Sullivan Show performances.

Brown debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show on May 1st 1966. With obvious respect, Ed gave an uncustomarily long introduction:

“I was talking to young Jim Brown—James Brown—he was telling me that his rhythm and blues are rooted in Southern Gospel singing. Now he’s a Southerner, of course, he was born in Augusta, Georgia [actually across the river in South Carolina], where he worked on a farm, picked cotton, worked in a coal yard and always sang his songs. So we are delighted to present James Brown on our stage, on this show. So let’s have a fine welcome for a very fine talent.”

Brown came on stage strutting down a ramp, wearing a dark suit and bowtie. His hair was straightened to look like Elvis’s, a process called a “conk,” involving harsh chemicals like lye. He had dance moves reminiscent of Jackie Wilson on The Ed Sullivan Show and a contagious energy that infected the studio audience. Brown, backed by a ten-man orchestra, showcased his footwork to a medley of popular hits starting with, “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag” and “I Got You (I Feel Good).” His performance was filled with signature dance moves and spins. During “Ain’t That a Groove,” he introduced a dance called “The New Breed Boogaloo.” Slowing things down with a stirring and soulful version of “Its A Man’s Man’s Man’s World,” Brown closed the performance with a memorable rendition of his original hit, “Please, Please, Please.”

During the last number, Brown performed his trademark cape routine. After he dropped to his knees, seemingly exhausted, an aide walked over, cloaked a purple cape around his shoulders and began to walk him off-stage. Responding to the audience’s applause, Brown threw the cape off and jumped right back into the song, full of energy. Following another spin and drop to his knees, the aide again appeared, this time draping a gold cape around Brown and walking him off-stage. Once again, Brown cast the cape off and passionately worked his way back into the song. The third time, Brown dropped to his knees totally exhausted, having given all he had to this performance. The aide appeared one last time with a black and white cape, and finally walked a weary Brown up the ramp and completely off stage.

Brown returned on camera to shake Ed’s hand and blow a kiss to the audience. After his exit, Sullivan looked into the camera and said, “That is really excitement, isn’t it?” Nobody watching The Ed Sullivan Show that evening envied “the five young Polish acrobats” that had to follow Brown’s performance.

James Brown returned to the Sullivan stage on October 30th, 1966. Before bring him on, Ed took a moment to show a photograph of Vice President Hubert Humphrey thanking Brown for his efforts to keep kids in school. Then Sullivan turned the show over to the “unusual youngster” in a gold jacket and vest with his entourage of backup dancers, singers and musicians.

James Brown gave a soulful and spirited performance during a five-hit medley including, “I Got You (I Feel Good),” “Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag,” “Prisoner of Love,” “Please, Please, Please” and “Night Train.” It was a star-studded evening with Nancy Sinatra and Rich Little performing, but it was James Brown who stole the show. At the end of his performance, one can see Brown dancing like he’s walking on the moon, decades before Michael Jackson showcased his own “moon walk.” On air, Sullivan told Brown, “You’re a find young artist. Come back soon.” But that would be the last time we would see “The Godfather of Soul” on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Jackie Wilson’s path to becoming a sensation on The Ed Sullivan Show began in the north end of Detroit, Michigan where he spent his early years. For Jackie it was a battle between his love of music and juvenile delinquency. He started drinking at a young age, was in and out of gangs, dropped out of school and spent time in a juvenile correctional facility – all before the age of 17. Jackie eventually turned to boxing as a release for his anger and won the American Amateur Golden Gloves Welterweight title.

At the same time, he started to perform with various gospel and R & B groups, including The Falcons and The Thrillers. After being discovered at a talent show by agent Johnny Otis in 1951, his big break came in 1953 when he was chosen to replace lead singer Clyde McPhatter in Billy Ward’s Dominoes. Wilson was the group’s vocal lead for three years before he began his solo career.

Jackie signed with record label Brunswick in 1957, and released his first single “Reet Petite.” The song, which was well received, was co-written by Motown’s Berry Gordy, Jr. Gordy later called Wilson “The greatest singer I’ve ever heard — The epitome of natural greatness. Unfortunately for some, he set the standard I’d be looking for in singers forever.” Gordy would collaborate on nine of Jackie Wilson’s hit singles including “To Be Loved,” “That’s Why (I Love You So),” and “Lonely Teardrops” (all of which were performed on Sullivan). He used the royalties he earned writing these hits to start his own record label, Motown.

While both artists were gaining national exposure in the 1950’s and ‘60’s, Jackie Wilson and Elvis Presley heavily influenced one another’s styles, moves and live stage acts. Jackie’s unique blend of rhythm and blues, soul and rock ‘n roll brought him success on both the R & B and Pop charts. His live performances at major Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York nightclubs earned him the nickname “Mr. Excitement.”

Always a strong supporter of African-America talent, Ed Sullivan was eager to have Jackie appear on his show. On December 4th, 1960 Sullivan introduced him with “Here is, making his first appearance on television…Jackie Wilson!”

It may have been Jackie’s first live television performance, but Wilson showed no signs of stage fright as he opened with a dynamic performance of “To Be Loved,” where he dropped to his knees and mesmerized the audience. In his next song, “Lonely Teardrops,” Jackie appeared to outdo Elvis Presley and Sammy Davis Jr. with his classic dance moves and amazing spins. After a commercial break, Ed and Jackie joked around and then Jackie sang “Alone At Last,” a song based on Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto in B Flat. Following Wilson’s act, Ed told the audience “That’s the first of many performances he is going to make on our stage, even if I have to drag him on here.”

Jackie Wilson returned to The Ed Sullivan Show on May 28th, 1961 to perform two songs from his Al Jolson Tribute Album, You Ain’t Heard Nothin’ Yet.” Just three months earlier, Wilson had been shot by an obsessed fan, although some said he was wounded by a jealous girlfriend after she caught him with another woman. The shooting resulted in Wilson losing a kidney and it permanently left a bullet near his spine. Nobody could tell that night on The Ed Sullivan Show as a well-dressed Jackie Wilson again showcased his fine footwork while singing “For Me and My Gal” and “I’m Coming on Back to You.”

In 1962 Jackie Wilson made multiple appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. On January 21st, he performed a hypnotic version of his 1958 hit “That’s Why (I Love You So).” He returned in April to sing “Hearts,” and then a month later he performed an unforgettable, rousing version of his #1 hit “Lonely Teardrops.” That night he also sang the ballad “Forever and a Day.”

For Jackie’s final Sullivan appearance in March 1963, he performed a fabulous version of “Baby Workout” which was set in a dance club. Surrounded by dancing couples and accompanied by a big band, Jackie radiated charisma and sexuality. He closed his last ever appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show by entertaining the audience with the operatic ballad “Night.”

Canadian-American roots rock group “The Band,” consisting of J.R. “Robbie” Robertson (guitar), Richard Manuel (piano, drums, vocals), Garth Hudson (organ, horns) Rick Danko (bass, vocals) and Levon Helm (drums, mandolin, vocals), came together under the guidance of American Rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins at the end of the 1950’s. Hawkins first hired Levon Helm before he relocated to Toronto, where he gradually recruited the other four musicians to form his backing unit, named the “Hawks.” Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks toured the states until late 1963, at which point the backing musicians split from Hawkins to continue on their own as “Levon and the Hawks.”

Once on their own, the group rose to prominence in 1965 when they came to the attention of Bob Dylan. Hired as Dylan’s backing group for his 1965-66 world tour, they helped Dylan transform his sound from acoustic folk music to electric rock and roll, which ultimately created a lot of controversies.

They continued to collaborate with Dylan throughout 1966, recording together at a rented house in Woodstock, NY, known as “The Big Pink.” These sessions were heavily bootlegged and were eventually released as The Basement Tapes. At the same time, The Hawks, now calling themselves “The Band,” were recording a large number of original songs and becoming a well-recognized group across the country.

On November 2nd 1969, The Band appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show for the first and only time. Ed Sullivan introduced them by saying “Here are the new recording sensation for youngsters, The Band!” That night they opened the show and performed their hit “Up on Cripple Creek.”