Sixty-one years ago today (!) The Beatles made their American TV debut on the legendary The Ed Sullivan Show, on CBS. It came about a year after their first single, "Please Please Me," was released in the US. More than 73 million viewers tuned in. They performed five of their songs, "All My Loving," "Till There Was You," "She Loves You," "I Saw Her Standing There," and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." The audience of mostly teen girls went wild. Many rock musicians -- including Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen -- later said that The Beatles' appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show inspired their musical careers.
Regarded at first by critics and pundits as a novelty band from England, mocked for their haircuts, they quickly showed their brilliant musical talent and songwriting genius, their influence expanding and forever changing music and popular culture.
