The Beatles were a highly influential English rock band formed in 1960 in Liverpool. As one of the best-selling musical groups of all time, they helped define pop culture in the 1960s with their unique style and sound. Although they broke up in 1970, each member went on to successful solo careers and their music remains widely popular today, holding numerous top spots on Billboard charts and being recognized as one of the most influential musical acts in history.

1. The Beatles: the Best-Selling Musical Group of All Time
The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool England in 1962. They consisted of 4 members; John
Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Star and George Harrison. Once successful in the British music scene they migrated
across the pond and created “Beatlemania” in the United States. They began to define western pop culture, from
the straight cut suits and the bowl cut hair they became the poster boys for what was cool and hip. Throughout
their career as musicians their music, ideology and even appearance adapted to or was the cause of much of the
American social and cultural revolutions. Even though the Beatles as a band broke up in 1971 each member went
on to find success touring solo. It’s difficult to argue which Beatle had more success in the solo act but John Lennon
separates himself from the rest because he wrote “Imagine” and was sub sequentially assassinated in 1980 outside
his New York City apartment. Year’s later Rolling Stone magazine would publish a “top 500 songs ever” list and
John Lennon’s “Imagine” was placed at number three, many people believe it should have been Number one, but
that spot was of course reserved for Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone.” The Beatles would have also hold spot
number 8 with “Hey Jude” spot 13 with “yesterday” spot 18 with one of their originals “I Want to Hold Your Hand”
spot 20 with “Let it be” and spot 23 with “In My Life” the list goes on and the Beatles have more songs than any
other band, by far. George Harrison died of cancer in 2001 in his Los Angeles home. Ringo Star and Paul McCartney
are still actively touring the world and occasionally putting out new music, McCartney much more then Star as Star
simply plays the drums but McCartney sings and plays the guitar.

2. Some interesting facts about the Beatles in regards to Billboard charts and critical recognition:
- Worldwide 2.3 billion albums sold. That’s right billion with a “B.”
- Billboard magazine had an “100 Best Artists of a All Time” in 2008 and Beatles came in at number 1.
th
- As a band they toped Time Magazines “ 100 Most Influential People of the 20 Century”
- 7 Grammies and 17 Ivor Novello awards ( the British version of Grammys)
- Unlike bands today the Beatles put out albums with all singles not just one good song and a bunch of
album filler, they would regularly hold 3-4 of the top 5 spots on the charts when one of their albums
was released.
- They have 6 diamond albums as well as 24 multi-platinum albums, 39 platinum’s and 45 gold albums.
- The American music academy rewards the diamond albums to prominent
Musicians each diamond album represents 10 million individual units
sold.
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1988)
- They have held the number one billboard spot for singles for a
collective 174 weeks, more than any other act.
- The Musical film “Let It Be” won an academy award in 1970 for
its music score.
- The Beatles were seen as a major leader of the bohemian movement
of the 1960’s and have been credited with fuelling social, economical
and political change that led to the birth of feminism, environmentalism
and the gay rights movement.
- Just an interesting fact- the municipality of London has to repaint the
cross walk stripes on abbey road bi-weekly because so many people take
their picture there.