The 60s were a time of drugs, Vietnam, civil rights and rock and roll, but above all the 60s were known as the birth of one of the greatest great bands of all time. exist, the Beatles. In Liverpool, England, four boys, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, formed an English rock band. The Beatles began their career playing single clubs for about three years. In 1961, they auditioned for Decca Records. Dick Rowe, the man in charge of Decca, turned the boys down and passed up the biggest chance of his life. The Beatles were told that the reason for their refusal was that guitar bands were on the verge of extinction. Even though they didn't pass their audition, the Beatles worked hard and had a great passion for music. They then signed with EMI subsidiary Parlophone, which proved Decca Records wrong and guitar bands were definitely in. Peter Travers, a journalist who wrote for Rolling Stones magazines, states: “During the week of April 4, 1964, the Beatles held the top five spots on the Billboard Singles chart; They sold over a billion records..." (1). They were a group unlike any other. Not only did they sing and write most of their own music, but they also played their own instruments, unlike most bands of that era It wasn't just their music that attracted people, but also their personality. The boys always seemed to be laughing and joking with each other. They were a band that inspired millions. of people and still inspires today. The Beatles influenced the world in many major ways. Not all of the Beatles' effects on the world were good. first time while serving in the middle of a newspaper list A year later, the second Beatle, Harrison, died of lung cancer McCartney and Starr continued to tour and release a few albums. solo The Beatles debuted in 1961 and continue to influence generations around the world today. Works Cited “Charles Manson and Helter Skelter.” Beatlesbible.com. Np 2014. Web. April 1. 2014. Tomorrow, Bill. "All Together Now: Civil Rights and the Beatles' First American Tour." Mentalfloss.com. Np April 18, 2012. Web. April 24, 2014. Efferson, John Dan. “The Beatles: The Most Influential Group of All Time.” Johndanefferson.hubpage.com. Np May 4. 2012. Internet. April 3. 2014. Gundersen, Edna. “50 years later, we’re still crazy about the Beatles.” USAtoday30.usatoday.com. Np June 12. 2012. Internet. April 3. 2014. Travers, Peter. “The Beatles: Biography.” Rollingstones.com. Jann S. Wenner. 2014. March 30. 2014.