The Beatles Across America
The Beatles 50 anniversary of coming to the U.S. celebration gets started tonight. Last week we looked at some Chicago events. Today features what's taking place in other locations.
Tonight is the 56th annual Grammy awards from the Staples Center, in Los Angeles. Among the performers will be Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Whether they are performing together or separately hasn't been announced. You'll just have to watch.
The activities continue Monday with "The Night That Changed America: A Grammy Salute to The Beatles." This show is being taped in L.A. and will be broadcast on February 9, on CBS, exactly 50 years to the day and time the of The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
McCartney and Starr will be performing again. They don't get together musically too often but it does happen occasionally. In 2002, both were at "The Concert For George", which honored their late colleague, George Harrison. In 2010, Paul popped in to sing "Birthday" at Ringo's 70th birthday concert. It looked like Ringo was truly surprised by this and their reactions after the song show the love and respect the two remaining Beatles have for each other.
Other performers will include Alicia Keys & John Legend singing "Let It Be." Katie Perry does "Yesterday."
Two other highlights should be The Eurythmics singing "Fool on the Hill." It's the first time in nine years David Stewart and Annie Lennox will perform together.
Dave Grohl, Joe Walsh and Gary Clark Jr.will do "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Walsh is Ringo's brother in law. He's been married to Marjorie Bach, Barbara's sister, since 2008. He's also been in a couple of tours with Ringo's All-Starr Band.
One other event will occur on February 11, in Washington D.C. It will mark the 50th anniversary of The Beatles 1st concert in the U.S. It was held at the Washington Coliseum. The bill that night included Tommy Roe, The Chiffons, The Caravelles and The Righteous Brothers.
Among the attendees that night was former Vice-President Al Gore. He was then the 15 year old son of a U.S. Senator. You think dad got the tickets?
There will be a recreation of The Beatles performance by a cover band called Beatlemania Now. In 1964, The Beatles portion of the concert lasted an entire 35 minutes. Tommy Roe will also appear. McCartney and Starr have been invited but no word yet if they will be there.
One self serving update from last week....The Moore's made it to Beatles Karaoke at the downtown Chicago Public Library. Our set list was about as long as the first Beatle concert in D.C.
Mr. Cooper Moore, age 6, brought down the house with a rousing version of "Help." He also helped out on "If I Fell", "She Loves You" and "All You Need Is Love." His mother Erin sang "Please, Please Me" and "Drive My Car. BEEP BEEP, BEEP BEEP, YEAH!!
A good time was had by all. On behalf of the band and myself, I hope we passed the audition.