New York city is gearing up for the 50th anniversary of the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show with NYC FAB 50, America Celebrates the Music of the Beatles.
The Fab Four first appeared on the Sullivan show on February 9, 1964, kicking off Beatlemania in the United States. The group already had been huge in England but it was this appearance that really kick started their career in the U.S. Sullivan would have the group back the following Sunday along with the week after on tape.
NYC FAB 50 will run from from February 6 through 9 with Twist & Shout: New York Celebrates the Beatles at the Apollo on the first night followed by an all-star concert on the 7th and the Across the Universe Beatles Music Festival, with fifty bands from fifty countries playing the music of the Fab Four, on the 8th and 9th.
The line ups are still being set but the first group of artists has been announced for the Apollo Theatre concert:
•Lloyd Price
•Dee Dee Bridgewater
•Gary U.S. Bonds
•Bettye LaVette
•Melvin Van Peebles
•Kitoto Von Hebb (daughter of Bobby Hebb)
•Barrence Whitfield
Rich Pagano of the Fab Faux will be musical director for the evening.
All proceeds from the festival go to the Food Bank of New York City. Among the personalities on the advisory board are "Cousin Brucie" Morrow, Dick Cavett, "Little" Anthony Gourdine, Tommy James, Spank McFarlane and Tommy Roe.
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