This past Sunday was the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' first North American performance on the Ed Sullivan Show.
I wasn't born in February 1964, but I've seen the footage from that show many times. It was a different time, a time when the world was looking for something to brighten the mood after the assassination of President Kennedy. The Beatles created a level of excitement that had hardly been seen, before or since. On top of that, there was this huge group of people known as the Baby Boomers.
The Boomers were entering their teen years, and as we all know the teen years is a time to find anything that separates you from your parents. Enter John, Paul, George and Ringo with their "radical" hair, fancy accents, catchy music and voilà - a recipe for success, even if they didn't realize it at the time.
I was too young to be a fan when they were around, but I discovered them in the late 1970s as a defence against disco. My sister gave me her old record player, and loaned me her copy of Let It Be. I listened to that record over and over and over again. I've been a big Beatles fan since.
In time, I bought more records and got to know all their music. As I got more interested in the band, I wanted more information. I started reading about their history, how they met and where they got their start.
I remember seeing them move for the first time when I saw Help at the Ridge Theatre. Back then, there were no video players or VHS tapes, let along YouTube or music videos. If it wasn't shown in the theatre or rerun on TV, you waited. And yes, it was colour TV; I'm not that old.
I got the chance to go to Liverpool when I was 18. I took the train from London, and ran all over the city to visit locations I'd read about. I stood where the Cavern Club had been. I took a picture of the hospital where John was born. I stood on the street where George was born. I walked past the school they went to. I'd been running for a long time and stopped in a shop for a drink. As I walked out, I noticed the address - Penny Lane. Yup, there's the roundabout.
I was devastated when John Lennon was killed. I was heartbroken when George Harrison died. And I was thrilled when our own Delta Police Pipe Band backed Paul McCartney during a concert in Vancouver.
I thought the best part was when two members of the pipe band thought they wouldn't get a chance to be part of it because there wasn't enough room on the stage. Paul came by and heard their story. "Then you shall play," was his response. It was a classy move from a guy who is one of the biggest rock stars in history.
In an age of hyper-celebrity, manufactured and disposable entertainment, it's amazing how well the music of the Beatles has endured. When I heard my 11-year-old son humming along to Hey Jude, I knew their music will keep going strong for another 50 years.
I just wonder if anyone will recognize the black and white footage.
