The Beatles and the British Invasion Scene
During the early 1960’s a clutch of British group’s and solo singer’s made their way over to the US to promote their unique sound of rock and roll, beat and pop music, which came to be known as the British invasion. It started in late December 1963 when Capitol records released the first US single called ‘I want to hold your hand’ by a four piece group from Liverpool called The Beatles.
By January 1964 the single had reached number 1 in both the cash box and billboard charts respectively. The following month, the band flew to New York to begin a tour of the country and their arrival was the inception of the famous Beatle-mania phenomenon which swept through the country. The iconic black and white images and film footage of the band stepping off of the Pan Am flight and waving to a group of waiting fans’, photographers and journalists, signalled the arrival of a new wave of British music and fashion.
The band’s debut American T.V appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was watched by 75% of the United States T.V audience. Two months later, on April the 5th, the group held the top 5 positions of the billboard hot 100 chart, cementing them as leaders of the British invasion. No other act has ever accomplished this and it is fair to say that the group’s early achievements in the US were the catalyst for the British musical invasion that quickly ensued. The Beatles had continued success in the US until their split in 1970.
