The Birth of the Beatles

Join EmpowerU For A Continuation Of Its Successful "Music Series"

The Magical Tale of How the Beatles Became a Band…

The story of how The Beatles touches the hearts of First Gen Fans who were there and resonates with today’s fans who see so much in the lads from Liverpool worth emulating. “The Birth of The Beatles” begins with the birth of the group’s founder and leader, John Lennon. As he grows and experiences one trauma after another, attendees can’t help but applaud his ability to square his shoulders and carry on. Living through (what John sees as) abandonment by his parents – who give John to an aunt and uncle to raise – the boy suffers loneliness and a feeling of intense insecurity, but learning to play harmonica, John manages to find peace in music.

Reunited with his musician mother Julia in his teen years, John is encouraged to form a band, and he recruits a few high school friends into a group called the Quarry Men. Julia invites them to rehearse at her house, and John and Jullia become inseparable mates. However, when Julia is hit and killed by a drunk driver a little over a year later, John is completely bereft…and the little rock’n’roll band he had quickly thrown together becomes John’s lifeline.

Via “The Birth of The Beatles” you will be a fly on the wall as John hones his band into something remarkable.  First, at a garden fête, he is introduced to Paul McCartney…and later, Paul introduces John to a very young (14-year-old!) George Harrison. You’ll find out how The Beatles’ first drummer Pete Best was selected and how early Beatles manager Allan Williams gave away to the refined and well-heeled manager, Brian Epstein. You’ll meet John’s college sweetheart – and later, his wife and mother of his son, Julian – the lovely Cynthia Powell. And you’ll travel along with the boys as they make their way to Hamburg, Germany, and then, into the hearts of fans throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Shades of Life Part 1 by Jude Kessler

As “The Birth of The Beatles” ends, the Fab Four have “come together” and are poised to invade America. Travel with Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series and artist/photographer Rande Kessler through the deeply significant years of 1940-1963 as the phenomenal band that fomented Beatlemania evolves from naive teenagers into seasoned professionals. This is a whirlwind trip…and “you know that can’t be bad.”

Many of the rare photos in this presentation were taken by Rande Kessler in 1993-2000, during the Kesslers’  seven trips to Liverpool for interviews with The Beatles friends, family, early band members and business associates.

Speaker Bio:

Jude Southerland Kessler is the leading authority on John Lennon, having spent the last 38 years researching and writing the first six books in the anticipated nine-volume John Lennon Series. Jude attended Northwestern State University of Louisiana, garnering two undergraduate degrees in three years. She did her master’s work at the University of Maryland and taught English at Troy State University in Alabama.

As part of Kessler’s research for The John Lennon Series, she traveled to London and Liverpool 7 times from 1993-2000, interviewing over 100 Beatles friends, relatives, band members, and business partners including John’s sister Julia Baird, Cavern Club DJ Bob Wooler, EMI second engineer Richard Langham, John’s college flat mate Rod Murray, Beatles first manager Allan Williams, John’s friend and the founder of Mersey Beat Bill Harry, Beatles early bass player Chas Newby, John’s friend and designer of his famous cap Helen Anderson, Beatles early drummer Pete Best, and many more.

In the United States, she has interviewed CEO of Apple America Ken Mansfield, Elephant’s Memory Band bassist Gary Van Scyoc, and reporters who traveled with The Beatles in 1964 and 1965, including Larry Kane and Ivor Davis, as well as other noted Beatles associates.

Kessler hosted “The John Lennon Hour” on BeatlesARama radio for five years and the monthly Beatles podcast “She Said She Said” with Recipe Records Series author, Lanea Stagg for 10 years. Currently, she is the host of the bi-monthly podcast “Tell Me Why.” She has appeared on BBC radio with Martin Kelner and ABC Radio Australia with Rod Quinn; Kessler has also been featured on Radio Merseyside, on PBR’s “Up All Night” with George Noory. She writes a monthly column for Culture Sonar entitled “Lennon Matters,” and is a Contributing Editor for Beatlefan magazine.

Jude will be bringing and signing copies of her important books on John Lennon.