Immediately after their arrival at JFK on Friday, February 7, 1964 - The Beatles were brought before the American media for their first U.S. press conference.
Take a moment to watch the video of this press conference as America gets its first introduction to The Beatles in their own words . . CLICK THIS LINK: http://youtu.be/hgU6foVr-wY
Now, I invite you to take a look at interviews of a few established American recording stars from the same year:
 |
DICK CLARK INTERVIEWS BOBBY VINTON (1964)
(This is a little off topic) Bobby Vinton's follow-up to "There! I've Said It Again" was "My Heart Belongs To Only You," which entered the Billboard Top Ten around the time The Beatles arrived in the U.S.
TO LISTEN TO "MY HEART BELONGS TO ONLY YOU" click this link:
 |
DICK CLARK INTERVIEWS SAM COOKE (1964)
Again, a little off topic - I encourage you to listen to a 1964 recording by Sam Cooke.
"When A Boy Falls In Love" didn't chart well for Sam Cooke (#52 Pop) and is rarely heard these days, but it would be a shame to miss it - it's a sweet, simple, melodious tune.
TO LISTEN TO SAM COOKE'S "WHEN A BOY FALLS IN LOVE" click this link:
Co-written by Cooke himself, "When A Boy Falls In Love" was originally released in 1963 by Mel Carter.
Carter's version actually charted better (#44 Pop, #30 R&B) and, I must admit; is my favorite version of the two.
TO LISTEN TO MEL CARTER'S "WHEN A BOY FALLS IN LOVE" click this link:
 |
DICK CLARK INTERVIEWS THE BEACH BOYS (1964)
In fairness to The Beach Boys I'll go off topic one more time.
climbing the Billboard Top Ten with their latest release, "Fun, Fun, Fun."
TO VIEW THE BEACH BOYS' MARCH, 1964 'LIVE' PERFORMANCE OF, "FUN, FUN, FUN" click this link:
* * * * * * * * *
OKAY!
Now let me get back on topic.
If you took the time to view The Beatles' press conference and the interviews of the other recording artists - you may have noticed a distinct difference in tone and demeanor between the American stars and these newcomers from 'across the pond.'
 |
| THE BEATLES |
These boys . . these Beatles were brash, cocky, 'long-haired foreigners' who (seemingly) came out of nowhere. They were a radical departure from what America was used to when it came to popular recording stars.
LET'S STEP BACK A MOMENT FOR A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE . .
LET'S STEP BACK A MOMENT FOR A LITTLE PERSPECTIVE . .
Rock & Roll had weathered some major storms over the past 8 to 9 years, and thanks in large part to this man - it had managed to survive . .
 |
| DICK CLARK |
Dick Clark's influence and impact upon Rock & Roll music is absolutely inestimable.
When he assumed the helm of American Bandstand in 1956, Rock & Roll music was in its infancy; and when the show was syndicated nationally in '57, two things quickly became clear:
1. A performance on the daily 'teen dance'
show could profoundly affect the sales
of a record the following day.
2. Mr. Dick Clark wielded an enormous
amount of power in the industry.
Rock & Roll was not without its enemies and detractors.
Parents feared that this new music was leading young people to delinquency and rebellion.
There were people who were angry that black, or 'race music' was being played on white radio stations.
Some religious leaders claimed that Rock & Roll was the 'Devil's music,' and the Payola scandal of 1959 drew even greater negative attention.
30 year old Clark squeaked through the Payola scandal nearly unscathed due to the fact that he was smart, agreeable and (according to the New York Times) "smooth, slim and youthful on the witness stand."
"Obviously you're a fine young man," is how committee chairman, Representative Oren Harris (D-Arkansas), concluded the hearings on May 2, 1960.
********************************************
By 1960, Rock & Roll had changed greatly.
With the death of Buddy Holly the year before, Elvis Presley's induction into the military, Jerry Lee Lewis' decline due to his marriage scandal, and Little Richard's turn from Rock & Roll to ministry; the music became less raucous, and began to evolve into more of a 'teenage pop' sound, which was far less threatening to adults.
When he assumed the helm of American Bandstand in 1956, Rock & Roll music was in its infancy; and when the show was syndicated nationally in '57, two things quickly became clear:
1. A performance on the daily 'teen dance'
show could profoundly affect the sales
of a record the following day.
2. Mr. Dick Clark wielded an enormous
amount of power in the industry.
Rock & Roll was not without its enemies and detractors.
Parents feared that this new music was leading young people to delinquency and rebellion.
There were people who were angry that black, or 'race music' was being played on white radio stations.
Some religious leaders claimed that Rock & Roll was the 'Devil's music,' and the Payola scandal of 1959 drew even greater negative attention.
 |
| DICK CLARK TESTIFIES BEFORE A HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE INVESTIGATING 'PAYOLA' (1960) |
30 year old Clark squeaked through the Payola scandal nearly unscathed due to the fact that he was smart, agreeable and (according to the New York Times) "smooth, slim and youthful on the witness stand."
"Obviously you're a fine young man," is how committee chairman, Representative Oren Harris (D-Arkansas), concluded the hearings on May 2, 1960.
********************************************
By 1960, Rock & Roll had changed greatly.
With the death of Buddy Holly the year before, Elvis Presley's induction into the military, Jerry Lee Lewis' decline due to his marriage scandal, and Little Richard's turn from Rock & Roll to ministry; the music became less raucous, and began to evolve into more of a 'teenage pop' sound, which was far less threatening to adults.
Clark was keenly aware of perceptions, and he saw to it that his Bandstand audience always consisted of well dressed young people, and this; along with Clark's own clean-cut, youthful, All American good looks and low key charm, helped make 'young people's music' far more palatable to those who had once feared it.
To many of the young recording artists of the day Clark was a mentor and teacher; encouraging them to behave and conduct themselves in a wholesome, respectable manner (a manner quite unlike that of The Beatles in their first U.S. press conference).
Although it was obvious that he genuinely liked young people - Clark himself would later admit that he pursued a career in the music business because of the money; and when it came to where to put your money - there was no one in the business with a better track record at picking (or creating) the 'next big thing' than Dick Clark.
 |
| THE BEATLES NEVER PERFORMED ON AMERICAN BANDSTAND |
So then . .
why had he missed the boat with The Beatles?
Well,
it wasn't that
he hadn't had a chance . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment