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THE FOLLOWING EVENTS TOOK PLACE ON FEBRUARY 15
1758 - Mustard is advertised for the first time in America. And it was Benjamin Franklin who brought the savory condiment to the US.
1797--Piano maker, Henry Engelhard Steinway, is born.
1820--Feminist-activist Susan B. Anthony is born in Adams, Maine.
1913--The first avant-garde art show in America opens in New York City.
1961--The Beatles perform at Aintree Institute, Aintree, Liverpool, and at Hambleton Hall, Huyton, Liverpool.
1962--The Beatles perform at the Cavern Club at lunchtime. That night they perform before an audience of 3500 at the Tower Ballroom, New Brighton, Wallasey. Sharing the bill with The Beatles is Terry Lightfoot and his New Orleans Jazz Band.
1963--The New Musical Express prints The Beatles lifelines. John Lennon lists his personal ambition as to write a musical; his professional ambition as to be rich and famous; his likes as blondes, leather; and his dislikes as stupid people.
1963--The Beatles perform at the Ritz Ballroom, Birmingham.
1964--A Billboard story headlines "US Rocks and Reels from Beatles Invasion: Beatles Begin New British Artist Push," and goes on to report that "Great Britain hasn't been as influential in American affairs since 1775." The fame of The Beatles has major and independent firms scrambling for more Britsh product. Meantime, Billboard, for the first time ever lists one act, The Beatles, with five songs in the Hot 100.
1964--I Want to Hold Your Hand is the #1 single in the US for the third straight week.
1964--The Beatles give an interview by telephone to Dick Clark during the ABC-TV show "American Bandstand." That afternoon they rehearse at the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, for their second live appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show."
1965--US release of The Beatles' single Eight Days a Week / I Don't Want to Spoil the Party (Capitol). 10 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #1.
1965--The Beatles in the recording studio (Studio Two, EMI Studios, London). Recording Ticket to Ride, Another Girl, and I Need You. Ticket to Ride is completed, but the other two songs require overdubs, which are done the following day. They record their rehearsals for the first time.
1965--John Lennon passes his driving test, although he remains at best an erratic driver, prone to dangerous lapses of concentration. He will, a few years later, run the car he is driving (with Yoko, Kyoko and Julian aboard) off the road, injuring them all. John will bear a clearly noticeable scar on the left side of his chin from the accident.
1967--The first anti-bootlegging recording laws are enacted.
1968--John Lennon and George Harrison, with their wives, travel to Rishikesh, India, to study Transcendental Meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Paul McCartney, Jane Asher, and Ringo Starr and his wife, Maureen, follow on February 19. Ringo and Maureen leave after only 10 days, bored with the routine and sick of the food. Paul and Jane leave on March 26. John and George and their wives leave after 11 weeks following an accusation (now thought to be untrue) that the Maharishi was attempting to seduce Mia Farrow, who was also studying there at the time (along with her sister, Prudence, who became the inspiration for Johns song Dear Prudence). The date of John and George's departure is April 12. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison all composed new music during this trip. Lennons songs ranged in mood from the beneficient idealism of The Happy Rishikesh Song and Child of Nature to the naked self-doubt of Yer Blues and Im So Tired. Other new Lennon songs, like Julia and Look At Me, reflect the influence of Donovan (also at the meditation camp), who taught John how to finger pick his acoustic guitar during the weeks he spent at the Mararishis ashram.
1971--US release of the George Harrison single What Is Life / Apple Scruffs (Apple). 9 weeks on Billboard chart; highest position #10.
1971--Britain changes over to decimal currency from pounds, shillings and pence.
1972--Day two of "The Mike Douglas Show" hosting for John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Douglas opens the show singing With A Little Help From My Friends. An excerpt from the yet unreleased "Imagine" movie is screened, which features the song Oh My Love. John and the band perform Midsummer New York. Guests include US Surgeon General Dr. Jesse Steinfield, radical filmmaker Barbara Loden, yippie Jerry Rubin, and a two-piece Asian folk duo, Yellow Pearl. Rubins assaults on government policy disturb Douglas and the studio audience. The FBI subsequently distributes transcripts of the show to its agents all over the country. (This show was taped on February 1, 1972.)
1988--George Harrison publishes a limited edition book entitled, "Songs by George Harrison," available only by mail order for £235 ($329). Each is individually autographed by George and the buyer had a choice of a 7" single or 5" CD of unreleased songs to be included with the purchase of the book.
For more day-by-day history go to HistoryUnlimited.net
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