Other characters in Eppy's life ~

[yerblues1968]

Mona Best - (January 3, 1924 - September 9, 1988)


Mona "Mo" Best was born in India, and is best known as the mother of Pete Best (born 1941) who was an early member of The Beatles. Mona also had two other sons, Rory (born 1944) and Vincent "Roag" Best (born 1962). It was later confirmed that Roag's father is The Beatles' associate Neil Aspinall, although he was not registered as the father on Roag's birth certificate.

After moving to Liverpool from India, the Best family claim that Mona pawned all of her jewellery in 1954, and used the money to place a 33-1 bet on a horse named "Never Say Die", and used her winnings to buy a house in 1957. Mona later opened The Casbah Coffee Club in the cellar of the house as a venue for Rock 'n' Roll music. It was planned as a members-only club for her sons and their friends. The club was often referred to as The Casbah Club, or The Casbah.

When Pete became a member of The Beatles, Mona repeatedly tried to get the group a lunchtime residency in The Cavern Club by talking to the owner, Ray McFall, but was turned down, as The Cavern had a jazz-only policy at the time. Brian Epstein later wanted to manage the group, and Mona was asked for her advice. Although she had her own plans for the group, she concluded that Epstein would be good for them over time. After The Beatles signed a management contract with Epstein, Mona did not relinquish her control over them, as they had been using her telephone to call agents, and frequently slept over in her living room between concerts. She constantly harassed Epstein about the quality of their bookings, and his management of them, which led to Epstein never referring to her by name, but always calling her "that woman". One musician commented that if Mona said it was a Sunday when it was Tuesday, one would be forced to agree with her.




Pete Best and Mona Best interview. Here they discuss
the dismissal of Pete Best from the Beatles group.
youtube.com/watch?v=I_p_zKrKWFE

[yerblues1968]

Cynthia Lennon (September 10, 1939 - present)



Cynthia Powell Lennon


Cynthia Lillian Lennon nee Powell was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England. She was the first wife of John Lennon.

Cynthia grew up in the middle-class area of Hoylake, on the Wirral, and gained a place at the Liverpool College of Art, which is where she met Lennon in a lettering class. She started a relationship with Lennon, and married him after becoming pregnant. They had a son, Julian Lennon, who also became a musician. Julian was their only child together.

In 1962, Lennon’s girlfriend, Cynthia Powell, became pregnant. Aware that the band’s appeal depended in part on the “availability” of its members, Epstein quietly arranged the wedding and gave them his flat in Liverpool. When Julian Lennon was born, Brian Epstein was named his godfather, and would later be best man for both George Harrison and Ringo Starr.




Reece's Restaurant in Clayton Square was where John Lennon and Cynthia Lennon
had their wedding reception on 23 August 1962. John Lennon's parents Alf Lennon
and Julia Stanley also celebrated their marriage at this restaurant in 1938.




youtube.com/watch?v=OPcnNzh20zw


“We all liked him,” Cynthia Lennon has said, “because he was so obviously genuine. He had a sunshine face, manners and was very sweet, a gentleman. He was much older than us mentally. I held him a little in awe because I’d never met ‘a Brian’ before. He had life all sussed out, it seemed to us. He had suits and ties that matched.”

Although Epstein never played favorites, he had a clear affection for John. There are lingering rumors that he was in love with Lennon and that their relationship was consummated during a vacation the two took together in Spain shortly after Cynthia gave birth to Julian. Most friends, including other Beatles, have said that this is simply untrue. Lennon was a confirmed heterosexual, and Epstein wouldn’t have crossed professional boundaries.

Cynthia divorced Lennon in 1968 after he left her for the Japanese artist Yoko Ono. Cynthia was married three more times, and now lives in Majorca, Spain.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cynthia_Lennon
www.momentmag.com/Exclusive/2006/2006-08/200608-BrianEpstein.html

[yerblues1968]

Sid Bernstein (August 12, 1918 - Present)


Sid Bernstein - the man who brought
The Beatles to America.

In the autumn of 1963, New Yorker Sid Bernstein called Brian Epstein at home in Liverpool to ask if the Beatles might be interested in playing Carnegie Hall. Bernstein was a music business student at the New School for Social Research and while he hadn’t heard the group’s music, he’d studied British newspapers for class. Mention of the Beatles had simply been impossible to miss.

Sid Bernstein offered Brian Epstein $6,500 for two shows and Epstein was impressed. According to Ray Coleman, he couldn’t wait to tell his friends at Isow’s, a Jewish restaurant in London’s Soho district where agents socialized. For Bernstein, it was always a pleasure to do business with Epstein. “Once he gave his word he never changed terms or renegotiated.”

The two made deals on the phone, not relying on written contracts. “It was like a handshake on the phone. He just had that kind of quality, you believed him, you trusted him. That isn’t true of very many people in the business. My experience has taught me that it is very few and far between that you find someone like Brian.”

Bernstein and Epstein planned the concerts, and in November, Epstein flew to New York and arranged the three now-famous Beatles appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Their first show still ranks as one of the most viewed programs on American television ever. By the end of 1964, the Beatles had replicated their British success in the United States and were the top performers in the nation. “Not only did he get them to the United Kingdom,” says Frankel, “He got them to America. No British pop act had ever succeeded in doing that. They were the first to cross over.”

Mr. Sid Bernstein introducing Strawberry Fields at B.B. King's Blue Club, New York.
youtube.com/watch?v=Vu3-EKrIeHU

Mr. Sid Bernstein at McKee's Beatles Museum at Virginia Beach, Virginia. Sid is being interviewed by Barry Mitchell and discusses his experiences at Shea Stadium. Barry Mitchell also interviews George Harrison's sister, Louise.

Beatles Convention. All you need is cash. (4.12 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=61-4XfohVMQ

The documentary "Sid Bernstein Presents. . ."
www.sidbernstein.com/

[yerblues1968]

James Tevor Isherwood


Epstein asked James Trevor Isherwood (a Chartered Accountant) to set up a company to collect Lennon and McCartney's PRS payments—called Lenmac—which he did on 12 May 1964. When he first visited Epstein's office, Isherwood was surprised to learn that Epstein took 25% of the gross income, and not what he thought was the usual 10% that other managers received at that time. All of Epstein's expenses were also deducted from any of his artists gross income, which meant office rental, staff wages, travel, telephone costs, and entertaining expenses. Before his death, Epstein knew that the renegotiation of his management contract (up for renewal on 30 September 1967) would reduce his management fee from 25 per cent to 10 per cent, but would mean a larger drop in NEMS income, as Beatles' concert fees had been taken out of the equation.

The Beatles entered into a publishing agreement with Dick James Music (DJM) who set up a company called Northern Songs. Epstein agreed that James should receive 25 per cent of the shares, and Charles Silver—his financial partner and accountant—should also receive 25 per cent. Lennon and McCartney received 20 per cent each, and Epstein held the remaining 10 per cent. The Beatles PRS income increased rapidly, and Epstein asked Isherwood to work out a way of avoiding the tax that Lennon and McCartney would have to pay. Isherwood suggested a Stock-market flotation for Northern Songs, and further advised Epstein that Lennon and McCartney should move to houses near his (Isherwood's) in Esher during the flotation, which Lennon, Harrison, and Starr did—with only Epstein and McCartney remaining in London.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Epstein

[yerblues1968]

Dick James (December 12, 1920 - February 1, 1986)


Dick James in the mid-70's

Dick James (originally born Richard Leon Vapnick) was a music publisher and the founder of the DJM record label and recording studios, as well as (with Brian Epstein) The Beatles' publisher Northern Songs. He was a balding Jewish 'uncle' to the boys, a man with a big cigar and a sly smile.

Dick James sang with North London dance bands in his early teens, and was a regular vocalist at the Cricklewood Palais by the age of 17. He joined the Henry Hall band, and made first radio broadcast in 1940. Joining the Army in 1942, after World War II he continued to sing with top post-war bands, including Geraldo's. Later still, James was also a part time member of The Stargazers, a popular early 1950s vocal group. After joining Geraldo, Richard Leon Vapnick changed his name to Dick James. He continued to appear with the big bands but then became a solo singer.

He was the singer of the Robin Hood and The Buccaneers theme songs, from British television in the 1950s, and was a friend and associate of renowned record producer George Martin.

Back in November of 1962, George Martin was a 36-year-old record producer who had been in charge of his own record label for just over eight years. As part of his job, George kept up contacts with people in other branches of show business. One of these was a man by the name of Dick James - a balding, amiable, and by all accounts highly likable fellow who, was running his own one-year-old music publishing house, called Dick James Music.

Brian suggested to Martin that he was thinking of having an American company, Hill & Range, start handling J&P's songs. Hill & Range published all of Elvis Presley's numbers. Martin said that, instead, Brian should look for somebody smaller - and "hungrier." The man he suggested was Dick James.

On November 27, 1962 - the day after "Please Please Me" was recorded - George phoned Dick James to say HDYDI wouldn’t be the Beatles' next single - however, Brian Epstein would like to come round at 11, and he's going to need a publisher for PPM. Would you give him a listen? Brian duly showed up, carrying an acetate of the song. He played it for James, who loved it and immediately asked if he could publish it. Brian, however - by some reports a bit nonplussed by James's shabby office - said, "What can you do for the Beatles that the EMI publicity department can't?" Apparently, in reply James picked up the telephone and called a friend who booked artists for a TV show called 'Thank Your Lucky Stars' and in two minutes flat got the Beatles an appearance. After hanging up he smiled and said, "Now can I publish the song?"

It was clear from the start to Brian Epstein - and it presently became clear to George Martin - that John Lennon and Paul McCartney were a formidable songwriting resource. Not only could they write hits for themselves, they could also quite probably do it for others. Somehow all this songwriting talent needed to be turned into a business. Lennon/McCartney, therefore, needed a good song publishing deal.

James entered the music publishing business as his singing career tapered off; in 1963, established Northern Songs Ltd., with Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney, to publish Lennon and McCartney's original songs. (Fellow Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr were also signed to Northern Songs as songwriters, but did not renew their contracts in 1968). James's company, Dick James Music, administered Northern Songs.

What initially began as an amicable working relationship between the Beatles and James disintegrated by the late 1960's; the Beatles considered that James had betrayed and taken advantage of them when he sold Northern Songs in 1969 without offering the band an opportunity to buy control of the publishing company. James profited handsomely from the sale of Northern Songs, but the Beatles never again had the rights to their own songs.The Beatles were angry at what they regarded as betrayal.” Marc Elliot notes that James sold “his interest in Northern Songs to the notorious (British Jewish media mogul) Lew Grade, known in the film industry as Low Grade.” Epstein also had “good communication” with Grade’s brother, Bernard Delfont, “one of the czars of London show business.”

Dick James, controlled the Beatles' publishing licenses and was their publisher at Northern Songs. Dick James, in return for his responsibilities as a music publisher, would get 50 percent of the earnings. In literal terms Brian Epstein signed over to Dick James 50 percent of Lennon and McCartney's publishing fees for nothing. Lennon and McCartney each received 20% and Brian Epstein received 10%. It made Dick James wealthy beyond imagination in eighteen months. This negotiation took place before the Beatles became famous.

On the bootleg Beatles Black Album, there is a song titled "shaking in the 60's with a line "Shaking in the 60's and we're booked by Isaac James" a one off reference to Dick James' given name.

During the 1960s he also handled Billy J. Kramer and Gerry & the Pacemakers.

Dick James died of a heart attack on February 1, 1986, at the age of 65.

pp. 245-246, 306, Coleman.

p. 158, Elliot.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_James_Music

www.ptrob.com/Music/Beatles/Song_Rights/song_rights.htm

[yerblues1968]

Jimmy Nicol (August 3, 1939 - present)



Jimmy Nicol with The Beatles


James George Nicol, also known as Jimmie Nicol or Jimmy Nicol, is a British drummer, best known for being a temporary member of The Beatles, sometimes referred to the fifth Beatle.

When Ringo Starr collapsed and was hospitalized on June 3, 1964 with tonsillitis on the eve of The Beatles' 1964 Australasian tour, manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin discussed the possibility of using a stand-in rather than cancel. Martin suggested Nicol, as he had recently recorded a Tommy Quickly session with him. Nicol had also drummed on a budget label album called "Beatlemania" and knew the songs. The whole thing happened very quickly, from a phone call to attend a run-through at Abbey Road Studios to packing his bags all in the same day.

Nicol wore Ringo's suit on stage, and apparently needed clothes pegs to make the jacket fit. His first show with The Beatles took place on June 4 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He played a further nine shows, until Starr returned to the group in Melbourne, Australia, on June 14. Nicol said he was "praying he (Starr) would get well at the same time I was hoping he would not want to come back." He was not able to say goodbye to The Beatles as they were still asleep when he left, and Nicol did not want to disturb them. At the airport, Brian Epstein presented him with a cheque for £500 and a gold Eternamatic wrist watch inscribed: "From The Beatles and Brian Epstein to Jimmy - with appreciation and gratitude."

Any possibility of the watch being presented in the movie?




Jimmy Nichol performing "Long Tall Sally" in Holland 1964
with The Beatles. (2:31 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6Nl0VnBGe4



The Beatles arrive in Sydney, Australia in 1964 on a rain soaked
day with Jimmy Nicol standing in for Ringo. (4:19 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=HpMR8ZLHYjg



June 3, 1964 Jimmy Nichol rehearsal footage with The Beatles
at Abbey Road Studios before performing in Australia. Also,
Jimmy Nichol is briefly interviewed. (3:55 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UDzsZy5CTQ


During Nicol's stay with The Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were constantly questioning him about how he was coming along, and his answer would always be, "It's getting better." A couple of years later, McCartney was walking his dog, Martha, with Hunter Davies, when the sun came out and Paul commented that the weather was "getting better," and began to laugh, remembering Nicol. This event inspired the song "Getting Better" on 1967's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

On Let It Be tapes from January 2, 1969, Paul comments, "I think you'll find we're not going abroad. 'Cause Ringo just said he doesn't want to go abroad. You know, he put his foot down. Although Jimmy Nicol might go abroad."

After his brief time with The Beatles, Nicol declared bankruptcy in 1965. That year, he joined numerous bands including Swedish group The Spotnicks, which he left in 1967. In 1975, he returned to England after setting up a button factory in Mexico. Other work in this time included housing renovations and carpentry.




Jimmy Nichol is interviewed in a Swedish 1983 Spotnicks documentary. (1:04 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEqhRDx8tj4


Later in his life, it was rumored that Nicol had died in 1988, but a report in 2005 by the Daily Mail confirmed that he was still alive and living as a recluse in London.

Nicol's son, Howie, is a BAFTA-winning sound recordist.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Nicol

[yerblues1968]

Bill Harry (Liverpool, England)
Mersey Beat Newspaper
Liverpool, England


Photo of Bill Harry. The Beatles with Bill Harry giving them a Harry award.

Bill Harry is the creator of Mersey Beat, an important magazine of the 1960s focused on Liverpool music scene. He attended Liverpool College of Art with John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe. Harry was a member of The Dissenters and the founder and editor of Mersey Beat, a weekly pop newspaper documenting the Liverpool scene. The publication is best known for being the first to feature a then-new band called The Beatles in the early 1960s.

Bill Harry - When I entered the NEMS record store in Whitechapel the first week of July 1961 with copies of the first issue of Mersey Beat, I asked to see the manager. A dapper man came down the stairs from his office to meet me and I showed him copies of the newspaper and explained to him what it was about. On the spot he ordered a dozen copies. He was completely unaware that any musical scene existed in Liverpool and I was the first person from the local music scene ever to mention it to him. Brian next phoned me at the office (the address and telephone number was on page 2), surprised that they'd immediately sold out, and ordered a few dozen more. When they sold out he phoned and asked for more. He then placed an order for 12 dozen copies of issue No.2. Think about it - 12 dozen copies of a music paper for one local store! - it was unheard of, even today. He usually ordered one dozen copies of a publication and that was that. The speed with which it sold and the demand for it ensured that he wanted to know more.

When I came to deliver the second issue he invited me into his office for a chat. He offered me a drink; I think it was a sherry or something. He took the latest issue and went through it, page by page, asking me various questions. He noticed that there were no record reviews and asked if he could become my reviewer. Why would he do that unless he felt that Mersey Beat was important to his business? But he also asked me about the local scene I was writing about. He'd been completely unaware of it and was intrigued by the number of groups and activities. There were also features about the Cavern club. Brian also immediately ordered advertisements. One of them appeared on the same page as Bob Wooler's prophetic full page article about the Beatles in the August 31 issue, which ended "Such are the fantastic Beatles. I don't think anything like them will happen again". Anyone who read this article would want to know about the group (apart from the full page coverage on Issue 2 and the continual coverage I gave them - plugging them so much that Bob Wooler complained that the other groups were referring to the paper as the Mersey Beatles!) Brian was excited about what was happening on the local scene and I could see that it went beyond his merely writing reviews and taking advertisements. He invited me to lunch at the Basnett Bar in Basnett Street on a couple of occasions to discuss the local scene further. Then he asked me to arrange for him to go to the Cavern to see the Beatles perform as they were the ones most heavily promoted in Mersey Beat. Epstein himself has confirmed this, as has Ray McFall of the Cavern. Brian went on a weekend trip to Amsterdam and dropped into the office to give Virginia a box of chocolate liquors. Then, on his birthday, he invited Virginia and I and Bob Wooler to be his guests at the Royal Restaurant in Hanover Street. The artist Max Wall was the entertainer that night. So to suggest that the first time he ever heard about the Beatles is when a boy entered his store to ask for the record some months later is pure fantasy and the copies of Mersey Beat with the detailed items I've mentioned printed there in black and white really tell the true story.

beatlefolks.com/bharry4.shtml

Bill is being interviewed on 'Coast To Coast', the nationwide American radio show about John Lennon in the Spirit World. Bill Harry met John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe while at the Liverpool Art School and is the man responsible for launching the Mersey Beat - a bi-weekly musical newspaper.

Psychic Medium Charles J Sibley. Bill Harry is asking me about John Lennon.
youtube.com/watch?v=XPub7tuN1B8

Harry has also worked as a publicist, providing public relations for such acts as Led Zeppelin, Suzi Quatro, Free, The Arrows, and Hot Chocolate.

He is a critically acclaimed author, receiving the Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters in 1995.

Bill is currently Chief Consultant to Rock and Pop Shop, the memorabilia company which produces replica issues of Mersey Beat magazine as well as many art prints of the Mersey Beat front covers and other images from the original magazines.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Harry

[yerblues1968]

Maureen Cleave (67 years old)


Maureen Cleave, journalist

Maureen Cleave is a journalist who worked for the London Evening News and London Evening Standard in the 1960s, conducting interviews with famous musicians of the era, including Bob Dylan and John Lennon. She was among those who accompanied The Beatles' during their first trip together to America on Pan America Flight 101 on February 7, 1964 on their arrival in New York. Sharing the first-class section with The Beatles were John's wife Cynthia, Brian Epstein, Maureen Cleave of the London Evening Standard, and Liverpool Echo reporter George Harrison. American record producer Phil Spector sat in an aisle seat in front of Paul. In economy were Neil Aspinall, Mal Evans, photographers Leslie Bryce and Dezo Hoffman, and Daily Express reporter Harry Benson.

Maureen Cleave was a personal friend of Lennon, and is sometimes credited with part of the lyrics of "A Hard Day's Night". The story goes that when Lennon first showed her the lyrics, she said that the line "But when I get home to you, I find my tiredness is through, and I feel alright" was weak, and suggested instead "I find the things that you do, will make me feel all right".

An interview with John Lennon on March 4, 1966 achieved notoriety when he was quoted as saying that The Beatles were "more popular than Jesus now."

Below are videos uploaded on December 15, 2007 of that controversy.

Jesus - John Lennon Controversy (Part 1 of 4 - 4.06 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=cs9m_G41fH0

Jesus - John Lennon Controversy (Part 2 of 4 - 7.11 minutes )
youtube.com/watch?v=tZU8F-eO6W0

Jesus - John Lennon Controversy (Part 3 of 4 - 4.22 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=rN3wvY4a1DU

Jesus - John Lennon Controversy (Part 4 of 4 - 7.02 minutes )
youtube.com/watch?v=FCsb3pR6tbw

Brian Epstein responded to the public and explained to the media, "What he said meant that he was astonished that in the last 50 years, the church in England and, therefore, Christ, had suffered a decline in interest. He did not mean to boast about the Beatles fame. He meant to point out the Beatles effect appeared to be--to him--the more immediate one upon certain on the younger generation. And on these circumstances, John is deeply concerned and regrets that people with certain religious beliefs should have been offended in any way whatsoever."

p. 175, "How The Became The Beatles" - Gareth L. Pawlowski.

[yerblues1968]

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (January 12, 1917 - February 5, 2008)



Maharishi Mahesh Yogi


The Beatles in Rishikesh (1968)
by Paul Saltzman


The Maharishi had moved to England in 1959, just about the time the Beatles were starting to come together. After graduating as a physicist, from Allahbad University in India, he worked for a short time before leaving his more worldly path behind, for the life of a neophyte Indian holy man, or 'sadhu'.

Apparently, he spent the next 13 years in study and meditation with his teacher, Guru Dev, before heading west. In London he began teaching a very simple, easy to learn form of Hindu meditation. What seemed to appeal to westerners, like myself, was that inner peace could be accomplished without the traditional ways of eastern asceticism.

In this way, the Maharishi was very shrewd. In a radical departure from traditional Hindu teaching, he said there was no conflict between the materialistic ways of day to day living, and the spiritual path as embodied in his form of meditation. And, even more shrewd, where traditionally spiritual knowledge and techniques are never sold, the Maharishi said westerners wouldn't value his teachings if they were free. In time, this would make his organization, and perhaps himself, extremely wealthy, indeed. His gift was clearly a packaging masterpiece. And this doesn't take away from the value of his form of meditation. Early on, the Maharishi even trademarked the name for his system of meditation 'TM' for 'Transcendental Meditation'. He described his technique as a simple, scientific system that brings peace, happiness and success to all who use it. I imagine, this is what attracted Pattie and George to bring the other Beatles along to meet the Maharishi at the Hilton Hotel in London. It was 1967.

Of the meeting, Paul said, "He basically said, with a simple system of meditation, twenty minutes in the morning, twenty minutes in the evening, no big sort of crazy thing, you can improve the quality of your life and sort of find some sort of meaning in doing so."

Of the Beatles, the Maharishi said, "They are the ideal of energy and intelligence of their generation, and will really bring up the youth on a good level of understanding and intelligence, and I'm very happy about this."





The next day, Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones joined John, Paul, George, Ringo and their group for a meditation retreat in Wales. During the train ride the Maharishi explained the illusory nature of life, or 'maya' in Sanskrit, and the simplicity of meditation as a way of attaining inner peace. En route, he 'initiated' them, separately and privately, giving each of them their own individual mantra. At first, Paul tried to meditate for half-an-hour and couldn't do it. He spent his first few times trying to stop his mind from reviewing his social calendar, but he liked it. John was fascinated that they were getting into eastern philosophies. George was into it and doing well, and Ringo was struggling with it. But after only one day at the retreat, they learned of the tragic death of their beloved manager, the real '5th Beatle' as they would later say, 32 year-old Brian Epstein.

The death of Brian, in what was later semi-officially classified as an accidental suicide from an overdose of barbiturates combined with alcohol, was an unimaginable shock to the four young men barely in their mid-twenties. The Maharishi comforted them, saying that life transcends beyond this physical plane, and that at such a time they must hold loving feelings to support Brian's spirit as he moved onwards. The next day the Beatles left for home to have privacy for their individual grief.

For John and George, especially, the Maharishi and meditation embodied the hope of finding meaning to life's mysteries. And, I imagine, finding an end to the confusion and pain that plagues life, often when lived unconsciously, no matter how rich or famous you are. Before they left for India, Paul expressed to his friend, singer-songwriter Donovan, that they hoped the Maharishi would give them some of the answers for both personal peace and global peace. The Beatles gave up drugs, for a time, during this period of meeting the Maharishi and going to India.

The Beatles had met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi during 1967, studying with him in Bangor, Wales, and later attended a TM teacher-training course in Rishikesh, India. (Much of their "White Album" was written during their stay in Rishikesh.) While Starr and McCartney left the Maharishi's camp for personal reasons, Lennon and Harrison departed after hearing a story that he had made sexual advances on Mia Farrow or other course participants. John Lennon wrote the song "Sexy Sadie" ("what have you done? You made a fool of everyone") as he was leaving, the lyrics referring to Maharishi. "Magic" Alex Mardas had relayed the story to John and George, who felt betrayed by the Maharishi. Cynthia Lennon believed that Mardas invented a story about sexual impropriety to undermine the Maharishi's influence on the Beatles. George Harrison, years later, commented on the contretemps, saying, "Now, historically, there's the story that something went on that shouldn't have done—but nothing did." Paul McCartney, in his biography, likewise says that he does not believe the allegations and also attributes them to Mardas. Farrow's autobiography is ambiguous about the incident: she describes "panicking" and fleeing after Maharishi put his arms around her in a dark cave, immediately after a private meditation session.

Donovan, commenting on past rumors, said to WNYC New York Public Radio on February 6, 2008: "It was not to do with Maharishi and everything to do with what was personally happening in the lives of the Beatles at the time. In fact, George went to Maharishi and apologized. It was really a complete overlay of falsehood that in reality has nothing to do with this extraordinary man.... It is my great pleasure to speak of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. George and I agreed, this is the one, he can show us the technique. We honour him for his extraordinary work."

After the Maharishi's death on February 5, 2008, Sir Paul McCartney released a statement saying, "Whilst I am deeply saddened by his passing, my memories of him will only be joyful ones. He was a great man who worked tirelessly for the people of the world...." Ringo Starr released a statement saying, "One of the wise men I met in my life was the Maharishi. I always was impressed by his joy and I truly believe he knows where he is going."




The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has died. (3:11 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=ZRE0R9Ikncc



The Maharishi had given The Beatles advice after
hearing news of Brian Epstein's death. (3:46 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=P7WI88GCh-Y


www.thebeatlesinrishikesh.com/stories/beatlesmedit.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharishi_Mahesh_Yogi

[yerblues1968]

Peter O'Toole (August 2, 1932 - present)
Albert Finney (May 9, 1936 - present)
Suzannah York (January 9, 1942 - present)
Joanna Dunham (May 6, 1936 - present)


Brian Epstein was also an actor and attended:
Liverpool Playhouse
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), London



Peter O'Tool in "Lawrence of Arabia" and Albert Finney



Joanna Dunham and Susannah York


While being an excellent furniture store salesman, he longed for more in life. Once again, he left the stable environment of his parents' store in search of finding himself, dreaming of stardom and fame, though his parents, Harry and Queenie, were none too pleased.

He joined the Liverpool Playhouse and tried his hand at acting, in which he excelled far above the local talent. He auditioned and secured a spot at the highly regarded Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. "They believed that becoming an actor was only a shade better than my boyhood dreams of becoming a dress designer," quipped Epstein. Brian found himself in good company. Members of Brian's class included Peter O' Toole, Albert Finney, Susannah York and Joanna Dunham.

The Liverpudlian discovered that he loved the art form, just hated the people. He stayed for three terms before leaving, citing among his reasons, "The narcissism appalled me, and the detachment of the actor, from other people and their problems, left me quite amazed."


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Epstein

[yerblues1968]

Raymond Weldin, Brian's Cousin

As the Beatles began recording and their profile started to rise, Brian confounded his family with his new obsession, the Beatles. He decided to leave the family furniture store to manage the Beatles full-time. Brian's cousin, Raymond Weldin, explained, "You just didn't leave a high-powered furniture business to manage a pop group!"

[yerblues1968]

Norman Philip (Isle of Wright - Present)
Beatles biogapher, "Shout"



The Beatles Yesterday and Today album
1966 Butcher Cover Photo


The Beatles themselves seem to have been behind the use of the photo in British trade advertisements and then on the cover of the Capitol album, "Yesterday and Today." The prime mover seems to have been Paul McCartney. In his book "Shout," Beatles biographer Philip Norman claims that Brian Epstein had misgivings about the picture and felt it would disrupt the band’s meticulously managed image, which had taken a hammering in the wake of the recent "bigger than Jesus" controversy. But according to Norman, the band overruled him.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Whitaker_(photographer)

[yerblues1968]

Peter Brown (England)

Peter Brown is an American businessman and currently resides in New York City.

The Epsteins opened a second NEMS store at 12-14 Whitechapel, and Brian Epstein was put in charge of the entire operation. Brian often walked across the road to the Lewis's department store—which had a music section—where Peter Brown was employed. He watched Brown's sales technique and was impressed enough to lure Brown to work for NEMS with the offer of a higher salary and a commission on sales.

Peter Brown was a personal assistant to Brian Epstein and The Beatles during the 1960s. He was a confidant to the Epstein family, and bore some resemblance to Brian in his looks and manner. (Their backgrounds were dissimilar; while Epstein's family were Jewish and affluent, Brown's family were Roman Catholic and lived modestly.) Brown was one of the few people to have direct contact with each Beatle, and know their daily whereabouts.

Brown may possibly be one of the few who last spoke to Brian before he died. After Epstein's death, Brown assumed many of the day-to-day management duties Epstein had performed and helped set up their new company Apple Corps. He survived Allen Klein's initial gutting of Apple's staff at the personal request of The Beatles. He eventually left Apple on his own shortly after Allen Klein took over. He was also a board member of Apple Corps, the Beatles's company.

Brown was witness to both the weddings of Paul and Linda McCartney, and John Lennon and Yoko Ono, during 1969. Lennon immortalized Brown in a line from "The Ballad of John and Yoko" ("Peter Brown called to say 'You can make it OK, you can get married in Gibraltar near Spain'"), one of the last Beatles singles. This makes Brown one of only three living people (other than the surviving Beatles themselves)to be mentioned by name in a Beatles song, the others being Doris Day and B. B. King (both mentioned in "Dig It").


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Brown_(Beatles)

[yerblues1968]

Raymond Jones, NEMS customer

The Beatles had recorded the 'My Bonnie' single with Tony Sheridan in Germany, and some months after its release Epstein asked Alistair Taylor about it in NEMS. Epstein's version of the story was that a customer—Raymond Jones—walked into the NEMS shop and asked Epstein for the "My Bonnie" single, which made Epstein curious about the group.

On October 28, 1961, an 18 year old boy named Raymond Jones came into the store and asked for a record called, "My Bonnie." Epstein asked for the artist's name. "The Beatles," replied Jones, who then added that Bob Wooler had mentioned the record at one of the local dances and said it was a "good rocking dance song." After checking the files, Epstein confessed that he had no such record nor any such listing by title or group. He could not know that this simple request by an ardent teenager was destined to change the rest of his life.

The next day, as Epstein began searching for the elusive record, two girls strolled into the store and asked for "My Bonnie." They told Epstein that the Beatles played at the Cavern, just a few blocks away on Mathew Street.

A thoroughly frustrated Epstein decided that he'd better learn something about this local band that was causing so much interest and yet was unknown to him. Although he wrote for Mersey Beat, his column was devoted to the most popular songs by established artists, not the raucous sounds of hard-rock groups in Liverpool. Yet, the fact that a local band was creating so much excitement intrigued him.

Epstein called Bill Harry and explained his dilemma. Harry was amused and said he would arrange a visit with the band. When Epstein was introduced to the Beatles, he inquired about "My Bonnie." George told him it had been recorded in Hamburg on the Polydor label. Paul ran over to Bob Wooler and asked him to play it. Afterward, Epstein thought the song was good but nothing to get excited about. He forced himself to remain for the Beatles' second show and found himself liking them more and more. When it was over, he told the boys that he would like to invite them to the Whitechapel store for a meeting, to discuss the possibility of representing them.

Raymond Jones just happened to be one of the people who ordered the record - and, since they didn't have a copy, his name was taken down. He exists, but his only relevance to the Beatles story would be that if Brian Epstein had never heard of them before. But I'd been discussing them with him via Mersey Beat for months. To try to explain this anomaly, Brian's assistant, the late Alistair Taylor kept claiming that he'd made up the name Raymond Jones, which has further complicated the story.

p. 39-40. "How They Became The Beatles" - Gareth L. Pawlowski

beatlefolks.com/bharry4.shtml

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

Peter Brown (England)

Peter Brown is an American businessman and ...

Ugh, Peter Brown.
I know he's a real person in Brian's life (like Dizz), but if he MUST be portrayed, I hope it's not in a nice way.

This is the eppylover's take on PETER BROWN

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

Raymond Weldin, Brian's Cousin

Hmm! I wonder if Raymond's mother was an Epstein or a Hyman. I'd love to expand the branches I've already traced on his family tree, but I haven't really had time to pursue this.

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

Raymond Jones, NEMS customer

It's still up in the air whether this guy actually existed.
Even the "proof" by "the real Raymond Jones" has been called into a very convincing and logical dispute.

The eppylover is ambivalent on the Raymond Jones story.

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

Cynthia Lennon (September 10, 1939 - present)

“We all liked him,” Cynthia Lennon has said, “because he was so obviously genuine. He had a sunshine face, manners and was very sweet, a gentleman. He was much older than us mentally. I held him a little in awe because I’d never met ‘a Brian’ before. He had life all sussed out, it seemed to us. He had suits and ties that matched.”

"A sunshine face."
I like that term. I'm gonna use it somewhere sometime in an Eppy context.

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

Peter O'Toole (August 2, 1932 - present)
Albert Finney (May 9, 1936 - present)
Suzannah York (January 9, 1942 - present)
Joanna Dunham (May 6, 1936 - present)
(etc)

Brian Bedford
Helen Lindsay
John Fernald

Please read pages 86-87 in the latest version (the Martin Lewis/Rhino Rediscovery version) of A Cellarful of Noise.

Eppy (through Derek Taylor) tells us that in approximately 1953/1954, in the Basnett Bar, the well-known actor Brian Bedford and several other actors convinced our Brian, over after-show drinks, that he could indeed be accepted at RADA. Mr Bedford and Helen Lindsay gave his self-esteem the initial push to get him started.

I always remember the Brian Bedford story because that sentence in Cellarful ~ "Brian bawled: 'Nonsense'" ~ has always tickled my funnybone for some odd reason. Yeah, I'm weird like that.

---

It comes to mind, though, that these earlier years may not even BE in the movie, as the script is said to depict the last six years of Brian's life. Perhaps flashbacks might be used, though?

John Fernald, who auditioned and accepted Eppy into RADA, came into his life again as the producer who took ill in 1966 and handed over direction of "A Smashing Day" at the New Arts Theatre to Brian ~ this being the only play Bri ever actually directed.

{ A couple of photos from this escapade }

This play also was Brian's one-degree-of-separation experience with a 23-year-old Ben Kingsley, who many years later won the Oscar as Gandhi! Kingsley was the narrator for "A Smashing Day" and also wrote the music for the production. It was his London stage debut as well. Lennon and McCartney pushed hard for Kingsley to pursue a music career (with a gladly accomodating Brian as manager), but instead Ben accepted a role in the extremely long-running and successful UK TV series "Coronation Street" ... and the rest, pardon the cliché, is history.

[yerblues1968]

RE: Peter Brown

I agree with you, again, Eppylover. Brian was an enviable guy, especially since he was an upper class homosexual. Those types were always targeted by creeps who knew their personal side (life). One example, Liberace. He was a super talented musician; and, unfortunately, was taken advantage by numerous people. I see the similarities of the sensitive side with these two people. They were humble, talented, generous, kind. Mind you, I have noticed some homosexuals have superior intelligence. They are unusually more intelligent than their contemporaries, and very refined in character. I find that rather fascinating.

I think to make the movie more appealing to the audience, they HAVE to see the so-called "darker" side of things, such as the "bad" people--like Peter Brown. Also, Brian's homosexuality would have to be revealed. But first and foremost, Brian's hard work as a Beatles' manager has to be acknowledged in the film. The public HAS TO SEE the depth Brian had extended himself to give The Beatles the most publicity and the largest audience. His hard work and sleepless nights has to be revealed so that the audience would understand he was MORE BIGGER than The Beatles because without Brian, they could not have become as successful as they had become--they HAD to have a GREAT MANAGER who would push for them. The manager would have to know how to talk to people so that people of authority would listen to him and comply. The Beatles needed a great manager who would keep them united. Without a great manager, The Beatles would not last. As history has proven after Brian died, the whole band fell apart. The unity as a band perished. They never had another manager.

[yerblues1968]

Tony Sheridan (May 21, 1940 - present)




Tony Sheridan (born Anthony Esmond Sheridan McGinnity in Norwich, Norfolk), is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist. He is best known as an early collaborator of The Beatles, and one of two non-Beatles (the other being Billy Preston) to receive label performance credit on a record with the group.

While performing in Hamburg between 1960 and 1963, Tony Sheridan employed various backup bands. In 1961, one such band, who had met Sheridan during their first visit to Hamburg in 1960, and who worked with him on their second, was The Beatles (with their line-up at the time as John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Pete Best).

When German Polydor agent Bert Kaempfert saw the pairing on stage, he suggested that they make some recordings together. Bert Kaempfert was so impressed with the Beatles that he signed them to a six-month contract as backup artists and set up a separate session without Sheridan. Lennon later referred to this event as the first true recording session for the four Beatles--John, Paul, George, and Pete.



The Beatles with Tony Sheridan at the Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, Germany in October 1960.


In 1962, after a series of singles (the first of which, "My Bonnie"/"The Saints" made it to #5 in the Hit Parade), Polydor released the album My Bonnie across Germany. The word Beatles was judged to sound too similar to the German Pidels (pronounced peedles), the plural of a slang term for penis; hence, the album was credited to Tony Sheridan and The Beat Brothers. Although the Beatles had a contract as backup artists with Polydor, their name did not appear on the record label. They did not know that the Polydor executives had decided that all groups that backed Tony Sheridan would appear on the label as the Beat Brothers, regardless of the group's actual name. After The Beatles had gained fame, the album was re-released in Britain, with the credit altered to Tony Sheridan and The Beatles.




Tony Sheridan & The Beat Brothers (The Beatles) performing,
"My Bonnie." January 5, 1962. (2:41 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=CH3G0ArRL_U



Tony Sheridan & The Beatles performing, "Sweet Georgia Brown" (2:07 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=inDYaV6A4BY



Tony Sheridan & The Beatles performing, "Nobody's Child."
The song was originally recorded in Hamburg but was
released in the U.S. through ATCO Records. (3:58 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=LabjBeomcnI


pp. 37-41. "How They Became The Beatles" - Gareth L. Pawlowski

[yerblues1968]

Imelda Marcos (July 2, 1929 - present)
Former First Lady of the Philippines




The Beatles toured the Philippines in July 1966, but Brian Epstein unintentionally snubbed the nation's First Lady, Imelda Marcos, when presented with an invitation to a breakfast party. Epstein politely declined on behalf of the group, as it had never been the group's policy to accept such official invitations. After the 'snub' was broadcast on Philippine television and radio, all of The Beatles' police protection disappeared.

The Beatles and their entourage were ejected from their hotel the same day and were given a police escort to the airport. They boarded the plane to fly home, but Brian Epstein and Mal Evans were ordered off, with both believing they would not be allowed back on the plane. Brian Epstein was forced to give back all the money that the band had earned while they were in the Philippines before being allowed back on the plane.


www.answers.com/topic/brian-epstein
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beatles

[yerblues1968]

Rory Storm (September 21, 1939 - September 28, 1972) and The Hurricanes


Rory Storm portrait. Rory Storm and The Hurricanes.
Ringo Starr was their drummer. He is at second left.


Rory Storm was a English singer and musician. He was born Alan Caldwell in Liverpool. Storm was the singer and leader of Rory Storm and The Hurricanes, a Liverpudlian band who were contemporaries of The Beatles in the late 1950s, and early 1960s. Ringo Starr was the drummer for The Hurricanes before joining The Beatles in August 1962.

The Hurricanes were one of the most popular acts on the Liverpool and Hamburg club scenes during their existence, although their attempt at a recording career was not successful. They released only two singles, the second one being a version of the West Side Story song America, which was produced by The Beatles' manager Brian Epstein.

After playing for more than 16 hours per week, the group were contacted by Allan Williams (The Beatles original manager), who wanted them to go to Hamburg. Derry and The Seniors were successful there, and Williams wanted an additional group. As Storm and the group were committed to Butlins, Williams sent The Beatles to Hamburg instead. After the summer season ended in early October 1960, Rory Storm and The Hurricanes were free to travel to Hamburg, replacing Derry and The Seniors at the Kaiserkeller. They arrived in Hamburg on October 1, 1960, having negotiated to be paid more than The Seniors or The Beatles. They played five or six 90-minute sets every day alternating with The Beatles. Rory Storm and The Hurricanes were later presented with a special certificate by Bruno Koschmider (the owner of the Kaiserkeller) for their performances.

During their eight-week residency, Allan Williams arranged a recording session at the Akoustik Studio, on Saturday, October 18, 1960. Williams asked Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison from The Beatles to play and sing harmonies for Storm on the recording. Pete Best (The Beatles' regular drummer at the time) was in town buying drumsticks, so Ringo Starr played drums, which was the first time all four (Lennon, McCartney Harrison and Starr) played and recorded together. They recorded three songs: Fever, September Song and Summertime.

When Storm's father died, he returned from Amsterdam to Liverpool to be with his mother. On September 27, 1972, Storm developed a chest infection and could not sleep properly, so self medicated on sleeping pills. The next day, Storm and his mother were both found dead, at Stormsville, which was at 54 Broadgreen Road, Broadgreen, Liverpool. A post mortem revealed that Storm had not taken enough pills to kill himself, but it was suspected that his mother had, after finding her son's body.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_Storm

[yerblues1968]

Phil Spector (December 26, 1939 - present)



Phil Spector


Harvey Philip Spector is an American musician, songwriter and record producer.

The originator of the Wall of Sound production technique, Phil Spector was a pioneer of the 1960s' girl group sound and clocked in over twenty-five Top 40 hits between 1960 and 1965. In later years he worked with such artists as Ike and Tina Turner, John Lennon, and Ramones with similar success, including production work on the Oscar winning Let It Be and the Grammy-award winning Concert For Bangladesh soundtracks.

The 1965 song You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin', co-written by Phil Spector, is listed by BMI as the song with the most U.S. air play in the 20th century. The original version was performed by The Righteous Brothers and produced by Spector.

On February 7, 1964, a crowd of 4,000 fans at England's Heathrow Airport waved to The Beatles as they took off for their first trip to the United States as a group. They were accompanied by photographers, journalists, and Phil Spector, who had booked himself on the same flight. The pilot had radioed ahead, and as they prepared to land, he was told, "Tell the boys there's a big crowd waiting for them." New York's newly-renamed JFK Airport had never experienced such a crowd, estimated at about 3,000 screaming fans.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Spector
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatles

[yerblues1968]

David Jacobs (NEMS attorney)

David Jacobs was Brian Epstein's main lawyer, who handled all legal matters and contracts. Beatles merchandising companies were formed in London, Stramsact, and in America its subsidiary, Seltaeb, a British merchandising company. David Jacobs also connected with a Jewish lawyer in Los Angeles, California named Marvin Mitchelson to merchandise the Beatles' products in America. Seltaeb is Beatles spelled backwards. There were even plans for a Beatles motor scooter and a Beatles car. In Aug. 1964, the original Seltaeb-NEMS contract for The Beatles was renegotiated; the Beatles' take was increased from 10 percent to 46 percent.

Within nine days during the Beatles' first visit to America, Americans had bought more than 2 million Beatles records and more than $2.5 million worth of Beatle-related merchandise.

The first products out were for impersonating the group-wigs (The Lowell Toy Company churned out 15,000 a day), jackets, and Beatle boots. There were: blue-and-white Beatles hats, Beatles T-shirts and beach shirts, tight-fitting Beatles pants, pajamas, and three-button tennis shirts,

Beatles cookies and egg cups, Beatles rings, pendants, and bracelets, a pink plastic Beatles guitar with pictures of the group stamped on it, a variety of Beatles dolls, (inflatable figurines, 6-in. tall hard rubber figures, painted "bobble heads"), and a cake decoration in the form of the Beatles.

People bought Beatles nightshirts, countless Beatles publications, Beatles ice cream sandwiches (on the same day as the Beatles' arrival, Baskin-Robbins put out a new flavor, "Beatle Nut"),

Beatles soft drinks, and Beatles bubble bath (encased within sturdy figures, that looked just like the group, and about the size of a ruler, more or less.)

David Jacobs and Brian Epstein had many similarities. Their families were both in the furniture business, both were born in wealthy families, and both were homosexual.

I have tried to locate what "type" of attorney David Jacobs was in his field. I have searched records available to the public and could not find any more details or have not looked in the right places. I am led to believe he was a business matters/civil litigation attorney for Brian Epstein's NEMS store but am also concerned that he may have possibly been a criminal attorney as well. It is said that Brian Epstein knew Jacobs’ reputation as the "sharpest lawyer in the capital." I suspect he may have also been a criminal attorney as his assistance was urgently requested in a criminal case over a year after Brian Epstein's death. David's subsequent rejection for assistance in the case may have led to his sudden demise. David Jacobs passed away on December 15, 1968 found hanging in his garage.


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seltaeb

[yerblues1968]

Victor Joseph Lewis (July 29, 1919 – February 9, 2009)


Victor Lewis in 1975


In 1965 Epstein bought the Vic Lewis Agency and appointed Lewis to the board of his company, NEMS. Victor Lewis was the Managing Director of NEMS Enterprises, another company owned by Brian Epstein. Brian Epstein and his brother Clive held 90% interest in this company, whereas The Beatles had a 10% interest based on their profitability.

By the 1960s Lewis had become involved in management, working closely with Brian Epstein on the Beatles tour of Japan in 1966.

He was appointed MBE in 2007. His wife, Jill, predeceased him, and he is survived by a daughter.

Vic Lewis, MBE, bandleader, was born on July 29, 1919. He died on February 9, 2009, aged 89.

www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/victor-lewis-bandleader-guitarist-and-agent-1631299.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Lewis

[christine~]

yerblues1968 said:

RE: Peter Brown

Brian was an enviable guy, especially since he was an upper class homosexual. Those types were always targeted by creeps who knew their personal side (life)...

The thing that irks me most about Peter Brown is that he KNEW what he was doing to Brian by writing that book, because Peter Brown himself is an upper-class homosexual.

He KNEW how his "revelations" (i.e., gossip and innuendo stated as fact, plus private matters that were nobody else's business) would turn around and destroy any adulation and respect Brian had amongst the general public. This was the early 80's, after all.

What I find sadly amusing is that the coward didn't publish the book until John Lennon was safely dead and couldn't defend himself nor speak on behalf of his friend Brian's character. To tell the truth, I feel that Brown would never have written the book had it not been for John's death; in fact, he made certain to have it out for sale fast enough to capitalize on the murder.

If anyone doubts that he wanted to besmirch Brian's legacy, if you believe his excuse that "Brian was all about honesty and he would have wanted it this way," just notice this one fact ~ Peter Brown did not out himself in the book.

To me, that says it all.

[yerblues1968]

Colonel Tom Parker (June 26, 1909 - January 21, 1997)
Manager of Elvis Presley



Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley.


"Colonel" Tom Parker (born Andreas Cornelis (Dries) van Kuijk ), was an entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley. For many years Parker claimed to have been U.S. born, but it eventually emerged that he was born in Breda, Netherlands to Dutch parents.

Andreas Cornelis (Dries) van Kuijk left his native land at about the age of 20 and joined the United States Army, despite the fact he was not a U.S. citizen. Van Kuijk was stationed in Hawaii, at a base commanded by a Captain Tom Parker. After leaving the service, van Kuijk adopted the name Tom Parker (giving himself a "promotion" to Colonel in the bargain) and became part of the circus world some time later. He also worked as a dogcatcher and a pet cemetery proprietor in Tampa, Florida in the 1940s.

Elvis fans have speculated that the reason Presley never performed abroad, which would probably have been a highly lucrative proposition, may have been that Parker was worried that he would not have been able to acquire a US passport and might even have been deported from the United States upon filing his application. In addition, applying for the citizenship required for a US passport would probably have exposed his carefully concealed foreign birth, even though as an army veteran and spouse of an American citizen he would have been entitled to US citizenship. Presley did tour Canada in 1957 with concerts in Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver; however, at the time of these concerts, crossing the US-Canada border did not require a passport. (Red Robinson, Vancouver radio icon and MC of the Elvis concert in that city, says that Colonel Parker did not accompany Elvis to that show, but instead stayed in Washington State the whole time.)

On February 17, 1964, a telephone connected the two most powerful managers in music when Col. Tom Parker (Elvis Presley's manager) called Brian Epstein (Beatles' manager) in Miami Beach to congratulate him on the Beatles' success. In truth, Parker didn't care much for the Beatles and was envious of their new found fame and angry that they had taken over Presley's position as the greatest headliners in music. Also on this date, the U.K. named the Beatles as "Entertainment Personalities of the Year."

On August 24, 1964, the two giants in entertainment management, Brian Epstein and Col. Tom Parker, meet for the first time over lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles.

The Beatles and Brian Epstein finally meet Elvis Presley on August 27, 1965 at his home in Perugia Way in Bel Air, California.


www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/pictures/1965_august_27_beatles.html


At another time, The Beatles and Brian Epstein visited Elvis Presley at Graceland. Colonel Tom Parker and Joe Esposito set up a roulette wheel and several packs of playing cards. Epstein immediately wanted to play, as he was known for his love of gambling for high-stakes. Paul McCartney frequently visited gambling clubs in London, such as the 'Curzon House' (which was Epstein's favorite club) and often saw Brian Epstein gambling there. He once saw Epstein put a Dunhill lighter on the table that was worth £100 (worth approximately £1,300. GBP, or $2,500. USD in today's money), and then lose it during a game of cards. Epstein would often lose thousands of pounds by playing baccarat or chemin de fer, but would stay at the Curzon House the whole evening—eating an expensive meal and drinking fine wines. The club never presented Epstein with a bill, as they knew that he lost so much in their casino.

Col. Tom Parker died of a stroke in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 87 years old.




The Beatles and Neil Aspinall talk about meeting Elvis. (5:03 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=zWSfqQcJ9tE




Paul, George and Ringo talk about meeting Elvis the second time. (2:37 minutes)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPf98jsxyDs




The Beatles meet Elvis. (1.27 minutes)
youtube.com/watch?v=IIye81p6AVY


en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Tom_Parker

[yerblues1968]

Sir Joseph Lockwood
Electrical and Musical Industries, Ltd. (EMI) Chairman


Sir Joseph Lockwood and The Beatles

Lockwood was appointed chairman of EMI in 1954 when the company was strong on classical recordings and highly rated for its TV technology--but losing about 500,000 pounds ($950,000) a year.

When Lockwood retired as chairman 20 years later, the company had pretax profits that year of nearly $52 million on gross revenues of $995 million.

Under the management of Sir Joseph Lockwood, during the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s the company enjoyed huge success in the popular music field. The groups and solo artists signed to EMI and its subsidiary labels -- including Parlophone, HMV and Columbia Graphophone and Capitol Records -- made EMI the best-known and most successful recording company in the world at that time, with a roster that included scores of major pop acts of the period including The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Hollies, Cilla Black and Pink Floyd.

In his own list of qualities needed for good leadership, Lockwood cited the ability to understand human beings as No. 1.

Sir Joseph Lockwood passed away on March 6, 1991. He was 86 years old.

www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-10595130.html

[yerblues1968]

Sydney Coleman
General Manager
Ardmore and Beechwood
subsidiary of EMI Publishing

Ted Huntley
Recording Technician
HMV Record Center

On January 22, 1962 a contract was signed by Brian Epstein and Manfred Weissleder, owner of the Star-Club in Hamburg. It was the biggest club in Hamburg. An agreement was prepared for 500 DM per person per week ($125 U.S.) and the Beatles were booked to appear at the Star-Club from April 13 until May 31. This was the Beatles' third trip to Hamburg.

Meanwhile, Brian Epstein was working on his last try to get someone interested in The Beatles. During his trips to London, the three major record companies--Columbia, Pye, and HMV--flatly refused him. He decided it would be more practical to have a record disc of the Beatles talent instead of carrying the Decca tapes.

On May 8, 1962, Brian Epstein went to a HMV record center on Oxford Street and asked Ted Huntley, a recording technician, to put the tapes on a disc.

Huntley was impressed with the sound and offered to take the disc upstairs and let Sydney Coleman hear it. Coleman was the general manager of Ardmore and Beechwood, a respected music publishing firm and a subsidiary of EMI. Epstein agreed.

Syd Coleman was excited about the Beatles' music and said he would consider publishing some of their compositions. Also, he would play the disc for George Martin, a friend of his who was an A&R (artists and repertoire) man at Parlophone Records.

Epstein thought it ironic that his accomplishment had not developed through his usual tactics of trying to dazzle a producer, but from an accidental meeting with a recording technician who happened to know a publishing executive who had connections with a major recording studio.

Syd Coleman phoned George Martin, who was out of the office. Martin's assistant, Judy Lockhart-Smith, received the call and made an appointment to have Epstein see Martin the next day.

Epstein made the arrangement and went to his hotel. Then an uneasy thought struck him. He remembered that Parlophone was a division of EMI, which had refused to see him on two previous occasions. Epstein went to sleep with little faith in what developments the morning might bring.

On May 9, Brian Epstein left the Green Park Hotel for his meeting with George Martin. Martin greeted him warmly and listened to the disc Epstein had brought. Martin really got excited and told Epstein that the group had an interesting sound--interesting enough to schedule an audition upon the band's return from Germany!

In Hamburg, the Beatles were still asleep when a telegram arrived from Epstein. A knock on the door stirred George, who staggered across the room, opened the door, and read the news:

CONGRATULATIONS BOYS. EMI REQUEST RECORDING SESSION. PLEASE REHEARSE NEW MATERIAL.

It should be noted that Ted Huntley and Syd Coleman deserve the credit for the Beatles' audition at EMI / Parlophone. If Epstein had not taken his tapes to Huntley to be put on a disc, Coleman would never have heard from them and set up a meeting between Brian Epstein and George Martin. In all probability, Epstein would have continued walking the streets, badgering record companies to give his band a chance. He would not have met George Martin because Parlophone was a division of EMI, and EMI controlled two other labels (Columbia and HMV) that had already rejected him.

NOTE: I have read in other websites stating that Jim Foy was the disc cutter technician who made the audition tapes for Brian Epstein, i.e., Wikipedia. The Wikipedia footnote [40] is a geocities.com entry. Other websites seem to repeat the same paragraph as is on Wikipedia in reference to Jim Foy as the one who made the disc, even to suggest he was the one who contacted George Martin or him suggesting that Brian Epstein should contact George himself. The entries do not appear to be accurate. If Jim Foy was involved in this connection, I ask that someone come forward to verify it. Otherwise, he does not exist.

Reference to Syd Coleman and Ted Huntley are specifically mentioned in both a personal interview with Sir George Martin called, "George Martin Melody Maker Interview, 1971," and in Gareth L. Pawlowski's book "How They Became The Beatles." There is no mention of Jim Foy.

George Martin Melody Maker Interview, 1971
beatlesnumber9.com/martininterview1971.html
www.aboutthebeatles.com/biography_georgemartin_mminterview.php

p. 72 "How They Became The Beatles" - Gareth L. Pawlowski