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`The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute` (CBS photo)
"The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute" (CBS photo)

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to perform together on 'The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute' on CBS

by jmaloni

Submitted

Fri, Feb 7th 2014 11:00 pm

Entertainment special celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' legendary U.S. debut performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and will be broadcast on CBS exactly 50 years to the day, date and time of the original broadcast

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will perform together on "The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute." The primetime entertainment special, presented by The Recording Academy, AEG Ehrlich Ventures and CBS, will celebrate the remarkable legacy of the seven-time Grammy Award-winning Beatles and their groundbreaking first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Originally slated to be a two-hour event, the special has added an additional half-hour with the overwhelming success of the taping, a wealth of archival material, and new interviews.

The show will be broadcast exactly 50 years to the day, date and time of the original event, Sunday, Feb. 9 (8 p.m.), on CBS.

The all-star lineup for this historic event features performances and presentations by: "The Beatles LOVE" by Cirque du Soleil, Kate Beckinsale, Jeff Bridges, Gary Clark Jr., Johnny Depp, Dave Grohl, Eric Idle, Imagine Dragons, Alicia Keys and John Legend, Anna Kendrick, David Letterman, LL Cool J, Jeff Lynne, Maroon 5, John Mayer and Keith Urban, Katy Perry, Brad Paisley and Pharrell Williams, Sean Penn, Ed Sheeran, Joe Walsh, Stevie Wonder, and a one-night-only reunion of Eurythmics' Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart. The house band for the event includes notable musicians Kenny Aronoff (drums), Lenny Castro (percussion), Chris Caswell (keyboard), Peter Frampton (guitar), Rami Jaffe (organ), Steve Lukather (guitar), Greg Phillinganes (keyboard) and Don Was (bass), who also served as musical director.

The special will feature David Letterman interviewing McCartney and Starr at the iconic Ed Sullivan Theater; recollections from three fans who were in the audience for the Beatles' first performance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"; and interviews with three people who worked at the show and were there that night. 

"The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute" will commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most historic moments in music and television. Featuring today's top artists covering songs performed by the "Fab Four" that momentous evening in 1964 and other Beatles classics through the years, the show will also include footage from that landmark Sunday night, as well as other archival material. In addition, various presenters will help highlight and contextualize the musical, cultural and historical impact of the group and this legendary performance.

The Beatles' first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" is one of the most-watched television events ever, with 74 million people tuning in to watch the group perform five songs during the variety hour. It is considered by many historians and critics to be one of the most important moments in music and television.

The Beatles are back!

"The Beatles: The Night That Changed America - A Grammy Salute" will celebrate the remarkable legacy of the seven-time Grammy-winning Beatles and their groundbreaking first appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Performances include:

Paul McCartney will perform "I Saw Her Standing There," "Get Back" and "Birthday" 

Ringo Starr will perform "Matchbox," "Boys" and "Yellow Submarine"

Paul and Ringo will unite for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band/With A Little Help From My Friends/Hey Jude."

The special will feature top artists covering songs by the "Fab Four":

•Alicia Keys and John Legend "Let It Be" 

Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynne "Hey Bulldog"

Ed Sheeran "In My Life"

Eurthymics "The Fool On The Hill" 

•Gary Clark Jr., Grohl and Joe Walsh "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"

Imagine Dragons "Revolution"

Jeff Lynne and Walsh "Something"

John Mayer and Keith Urban "Don't Let Me Down" 

Katy Perry "Yesterday"

Maroon 5 "All My Loving/Ticket To Ride"

Pharrell Williams and Brad Paisley "Here Comes The Sun"

Stevie Wonder "We Can Work It Out"

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