Tag: JFK Airport

[cycloneslider id=”honoring-beatles-50th-anniversary” fx=”fade” timeout=”5000″ speed=”1000″ width=”600″ height=”400″ show_prev_next=”true” show_nav=”true” hover_pause=”true”] I was very lucky to get into the ceremony celebrating the arrival of The Beatles at JFK Airport in 1964. The NY news media was there in force as they met with Beatle fans and other dignitaries at the event in the famous TWA Flight Center, a building that Port Authority Executive Director  Pat Foye described “painstakingly recreated” as a symbol of the early sixties “jet age.”

The one official getting most of the attention was Gary Millar, the Lord Mayor Councillor of Liverpool (UK). I also met Billy J. Kramer, a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer who often opened for the Fab Four in those early days. A commemorative plaque was unveiled for the occasion, and the Beatles cover band Liverpool played a few songs in advance of this weekend’s Fest for Beatles Fans. Check out Liverpool’s performance embedded on the last slide above. (Note: Keep your mouse pointer in the slide area to view the video without interruption.)

I was fortunate to do a mini-interview with Liverpool lead singer/guitarist Glen Burtnik. It was pretty cool even though I was “winging it.” Glen was very friendly and approachable, he’s worked alongside Marshall Crenshaw in Broadway’s Beatlemania and mentored Graham Alexander. We started talking before I even got his full name!