It was 61 years ago today...

I certainly remember when the Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan. I was probably six. The neighbors' young teenage daughter came over (they didn’t have a TV) and Mom made TV dinners. Mom liked them, Dad was indifferent, and I was dumbfounded. At the time I didn’t care about music, but I liked listening to it when Mom played her stereo. That night, that performance – something was in the air, and even at that young age I knew it.

Thus for me (and millions of others) it began.

I saw the Beatles at Shea Stadium on August 24, 1964, 10 days before my 11th birthday. A magical , crazy experience I will never forget. I was sitting in the third box, behind home plate. Girls were climbing over me to go over the wall and run towards the stage. I remember going home after that, and sitting in my kitchen wondering , was that real, or was I dreaming?

We didn't have a TV until i was 16--1967, which i think made me appreciate and listen to music--my Dad only played classical which i still love today but in the wilds of Wyoming there were no pop music stations on the radio--only country--we had to wait until nighttime to listen to KOMA Oklahoma City. However, my best friend's family had a TV and told me about the Beatles arrival--he was a music nut and spent every dime of his bag boy earnings on LPs so i heard Meet the Beatles and Zeppelin and Hendrix and everything through him...i was really lucky to have a friend like that RIP...

I was 12. A memory burned into my consciousness and subconscious.

Was already aware of the Beatles. So, this was anxiously anticipated.

Laying on my parents bed watching their TV. Enthralled by every moment.

This moment in time lay the course of a lifetime of being a die hard fan boy unlike any other Pop culture heroes. And another memorable moment was when the White Album came out three years later. If only I still had that first pressing!

I was 10 years old and if you weren't around, I can tell you the Beatles arrival changed the music universe profoundly and forever.  Their music clearly exceeded the sum of the parts and literally changed and grew with each succeeding album.  

I played guitar when I was young, and then a little piano, and find it hard to believe anyone who was of age at that time and who appreciates music, doesn't recognize the seismic shift they created.  I also enjoy dozens and dozens of other bands (as well as solo artists) that are too long to list here, but the Beatles started it all.  

And I believe the Lennon and McCartney songwriting team will someday be considered among the best in history.  

I think it was Charles Mingus who said the Beatles must have listened to everything.

@hertzhead -- just wanted to say, I caught your Jimi 3rd stone reference, excellent.

Your people I do not understand
So to you I shall put an end
And you'll
Never hear
Surf music again

Great read. Nice to hear peoples' experiences from the most prolific and culture impacting period of music certainly in my many years.

I was 8. I saw it on a black and white tv. I had been listening to Motown. I wondered who are they, they sound good! ES had all the star bands and singers back then. I’m happy to have lived during that time, for it was the prime heyday of soul and RR.