Ladies and Gentlemen..THE BEATLES!

I was just over 3 months old when The Beatles appeared in America for the first time on The Ed Sullivan show on February 9, 1964. I only remember seeing The Beatles once on TV. It was The Smothers Brothers Show in 1968, and for years I thought it was "Let It Be", but apparently it was "Hey Jude" What can I say? I was only 4. I can't say I was a gaga Beatles fan. They broke up when I was only 7, but I did grow to love so many of their songs when I was growing up. Whether you loved them or hated them, you cannot deny the impact they had on music and the world. It would take me forever to list the hits they turned out. They were so versatile. Their music ranged from classics like "Till There Was You" to the hard rock of "Revolution" "Yesterday" is one of the most covered songs in history with over 2200 recordings. They proved themselves to not just be a flash in the pan. They are one of the first groups I remember hearing that used classical instruments in their songs, the gorgeous string quartet in "Yesterday," the chorus of french horns in "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." the percussive cellos in "Eleanor Rigby," one of my personal favorites. They were innovative and cutting edge, but above all, they were true musicians, writing their own music. It has been 50 years since they were introduced to America, but their music is just as popular with today's generation. Both my girls, 18 and 21, love their music.
I was fortunate to catch the Grammy's tribute special to the Fab Four. It was filled with rock legends old and new to perform their own versions of some of the most beloved songs, but the part that absolutely blew me away were the performances of Ringo Starr (73) and Paul McCartney (71) as the show's finale. They both rocked the house, but Paul McCartney in particular was unbelievable! He didn't shy away from the high notes, and he wailed on the guitar like he was 20. He closed with "Hey Jude," and my youngest remarked that it sounded like she was listening to he iPod. What a gift they gave the world. I feel so lucky to have enjoyed their music through my life, and look forward to enjoying it for many years to come!