The past month has been a gradual buildup to one memorable show: The Night That Changed America: A GRAMMY Salute To The Beatles, which aired last night on CBS (February 9), on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles‘ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964. All of that coverage, including new features and photos to archived audio and images, can be seen over at CBSNewYork.com.
Related: Don Was Previews ‘Extremely Powerful’ Beatles Ed Sullivan Tribute
Adding to the anticipation was a reunion of sorts at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards on January 26, where Ringo Starr accompanied Paul McCartney on stage for a performance of “Queenie Eye”; McCartney’s second single from his 2013 album New. Macca released a short video yesterday of the two former bandmates rehearsing the number prior to their Grammy performance on the 26th.
“And to play with him is, like, very special,” McCartney says during the video.
“And he’s a good drummer,” McCartney continued. “I tell people, I remember the very first time he ever sat in with us, with The Beatles… we looked at each other like, ‘What’s going on in [here]?’ The band lifted to what it was about to become.”
Seen over McCartney’s right shoulder is Abe Laboriel, Jr.; Laboriel has been McCartney’s drummer since 2001 and can bee seen in the video playing alongside Starr. He was also off to the side of the stage during their Grammy performance, playing as well.
– EJ Judge, WCBS-FM, New York
