The Beatles on Ed Sullivan on Feb. 9, 1964.Photo:Express Newspapers/Getty

American television host Ed Sullivan (center) smiles as he stands, with the members of British rock group the Beatles, on the set of his television variety series, ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ at CBS’s Studio 50, New York, New York, February 9, 1964.

Express Newspapers/Getty

It was 60 years ago today… that Ed Sullivan helped the band to play!

The Beatlestouched down in New York City for the first time in February 1964, and Friday marks the 60th anniversary of the group’s legendary appearance onThe Ed Sullivan Show.

Paul McCartney,John Lennon,George HarrisonandRingo Starrhad achieved success in their native England — but after 73 million viewers tuned in to catch their Sullivan set, Beatlemania was in full swing in the States, too.

Two days after they arrived in New York, the Beatles played five songs on Sullivan’s CBS Sunday night variety show, which at the time was one of the most-watched shows in the country.

The Beatles talking to Ed Sullivan.Bettmann Archive/Getty

New York: The Beatles, Great Britain’s Rock and Roll singing sensations, are shown during their first performance on the Ed Sullivan TV show, today, February 9th.

Bettmann Archive/Getty

“Just received a wire, they did, fromElvis Presleyand Col. Tom Parker wishing them a tremendous success in our country,” Sullivan told the audience. “Now tonight the whole country is waiting to hear England’s Beatles.”

All eyes were on the four lads from Liverpool as they sang “All My Loving,” “Till There Was You,” “She Loves You,” “I Saw Her Standing There” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand” to rapturous applause. Though music legends now, their faces were new to the millions watching at home, and each Beatle’s first name flashed below his face onscreen, with Lennon’s cheekily declaring, “Sorry girls, he’s married.”

Fans watching the Beatles perform on Ed Sullivan.Central Press/Getty

View of audience members during a performance, by the Beatles, on the ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ at CBS’s Studio 50, New York, New York, February 9, 1964.

Central Press/Getty

The Beatles first hit Sullivan’s radar in 1963, when his talent booker Jack Babb attended a concert in England at the behest of Peter Prichard, a London-based agent who happened to be friends with the group’s manager Brian Epstein. Sullivan’s interest in the group grew even more months later, when he witnessed 1,500 screaming fans welcoming the Beatles back to England while on a chance visit through a London airport.

Once they’d been booked, word spread that England’s hottest act was coming stateside, and more than 50,000 people requested seat tickets for a venue that could seat just 700.

The performance, of course, was a hit, and before long, the British rock ‘n’ roll invasion had begun. The Beatles appeared on Sullivan’s show a second time on Feb. 16, and a third and final time on Feb. 23.

source: people.com