The Beatles
The Beatles were a pop and rock music group from Liverpool, England, who continue to be held in the very highest regard for their artistic achievements, their huge commercial success, and their ground-breaking role in the history of popular music. Consisting of John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney (1942—), George Harrison (1943–2001) and Ringo Starr (1940—), the group's innovative music and style helped define the 1960s.
The Beatles were, by most definitions, the biggest musical act of the twentieth century. In the United Kingdom alone they have had more than forty different singles, albums and EPs reach number one. This kind of success has been repeated in many more countries and EMI estimated that by 1985, the band had sold over one billion records worldwide.[1] Their ballad "Yesterday", written by McCartney, may well be the most-covered song in the history of recorded music.[2]
Their early original material fused elements of early American rock 'n roll, pop, and R&B into a new form of popular rock 'n roll. The band almost single-handedly kick-started the British Invasion, laid the groundwork for the rock culture of the 1960s, and established the prototype for the self-contained rock group. They helped pioneer more advanced, multi-layered arrangements in both rock and pop and were instrumental in the development of some of 1960s rock's dominant styles, such as folk-rock and psychedelia.
To a significant extent, the impact of The Beatles extended well beyond music. Their clothes, hairstyles, actions, and even choice of instruments made them trend-setters (see The Beatles' influence on popular culture) throughout the decade, while their growing social awareness, reflected in the development of their music, saw their influence extend into the social and cultural revolutions of the 1960s.
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