February 1964Reputable sourceWell documented
The Beatles and the British Invasion
On the timeline · around February 1964 · The Rock & Pop Era
What happened
On February 9, 1964, the Beatles played The Ed Sullivan Show before an estimated 73 million American viewers — about 40% of the country — igniting 'Beatlemania' and the wider 'British Invasion' of UK rock bands into the United States.
Why it matters
The Beatles reshaped popular music, turning the album and the self-writing band into the center of pop, and their Ed Sullivan appearance is often called the moment that changed music, inspiring a generation to pick up guitars.
Sources
- TIME. The Beatles Invasion, 50 Years Ago (2014) · Reputable source