It was 61 years ago today...

I was 12… in bed listening to WLS Chicago on the turquoise clock radio… when the announcer said… this a big hit from England, the very first time to be heard in the United States… the band is called The Beatles. I Want to Hold Your Hand came on, and I was completely taken away. It was the most remarkable thing I had ever heard. I got goose bumps and it just scrambled my brain.

What has always shocked me about it was there was no peer influence… No anticipation as no one had heard them before. No, preconception. Just the biggest instant reaction I had ever had to a piece of music.

I was around 12 or 13 and watching with my parents and some friends of the family. Most of their reactions are along the lines of 'Maybe Ed will pay 'em enough to get haircuts!'. I liked 'em OK, but didn't really become a big fan until around 1966 when they were getting weird. 

I saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan in ’64. I was about to have my 12th birthday on the 16th. Not only that, but I do remember seeing Elvis Presley on his first appearance on Ed Sullivan in 1957. Both times with my parents watching. B&W TV!

My mother commented both times! With Elvis it was about his gyrating as he sang. With the Beatles she didn't like their haircuts! My father said nothing! And seversl years later Ed Sullivan had on the Jefferson Airplane. Grace Slick wore blackface makeup as she sang Lather! Their second song was Crown of Creation.

Older brothers and many I've spoken to over the years mention 3 events-

Elvis, the Fab Four and Stones.

I can only imagine listening/seeing any of them like the rest of the world for the 1st time. 

I'm not aware of any new music events that happened in the last 4-5 decades that can compare?

Oh well, the world has Beyonce, Hip Hop and the rest. Carry on.