Today in Beatles History

Avant-garde artist, Yoko Ono, is born in Tokyo, Japan. Her third husband was musician, John Lennon and their son is musician, Sean Lennon. Her most famous performance art is “Cut Piece.” She also wrote a book entitled, Grapefruit, which Lennon helped to heavily promote in the early 1970s. She is …

Paul McCartney receives a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award. Also nominated this year are: The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1 and Tom Petty’s Full Moon Fever, for Album of the Year (both featuring George Harrison); The Traveling Wilburys, Vol. 1, for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or a Group with Vocal; …

George Harrison appears in a 10-second Public Service Announcement at the conclusion of the ABC-TV airing of the film “Mr. Holland’s Opus.” Holding an acoustic guitar, George says: “I’m George Harrison. Music can make a world of difference in the life of a child, as it did mine. To find …

FEBRUARY 6, 1958 – George Harrison joined the Liverpool skiffle group The Quarry Men. It featured John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Len Garry, Eric Griffiths and John Lowe. Over time, they were to become The Beatles. Formed by John Lennon in Liverpool in 1956 with schoolmates, the Quarry Men took their name …

JANUARY 17, 1967 – 40-year-old David Mason (April 2, 1926 – April 29, 2011) recorded the piccolo trumpet solo for The Beatles’ “Penny Lane” at Abbey Road Studios in London. The London native landed the gig after Paul McCartney saw him performing Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F Major” with …

JANUARY 18, 1964 – The Beatles made their US chart debut when “I Want To Hold Your Hand” entered the chart at #45 just twenty-three days after its release, making it the fastest-breaking and the fastest selling single in Capitol Records history, and launching the British invasion of the American music …

JANUARY 19, 1971 – Several tracks from The Beatles’ self-titled album (aka “The White Album) including “Helter Skelter” and “Piggies” were played in the courtroom at the Sharon Tate murder trial to find out if any songs might have influenced Charles Manson and his followers to commit murder. Actress Sharon Tate …

George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Yoko, Sean, and Julian Lennon all attend. Paul McCartney does not attend, sending instead a letter stating that continuing business differences with the other ex-Beatles was the reason for his absence.However, Harrison’s speech revealed they still had love for Paul, and the controversy was later …

JANUARY 12, 1964 – The Beatles appeared on the ATV show “Sunday Night At The London Palladium”. Much of the day was spent in rehearsals at the Palladium, with The Beatles topping the bill during the live show, which was broadcast from 8:25pm to 9:25pm. The group took part in …

JANUARY 13, 2010 – A plaque of the Beatles’ iconic yellow submarine, which was stolen six months earlier from Liverpool’s Albert Dock, was set to be replaced by a new creation. The 1.5 meter (5 ft.) design featured the faces of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison peering …