SGA
Foundation Co-Sponsors WannaBeatles’ |
|||
|
On Jan. 30, 2009, the Songwriters Guild of America Foundation co-sponsored a special 40th Anniversary celebration of the Beatles’ Legendary Rooftop Performance in London. Members of the Nashville-based group The WannaBeatles conceived the idea to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the original Beatles’ event by performing live from Rippy’s rooftop in Nashville. At the corner of 4th and Broadway in Music City, Jim Hayden, David Toledo, Dennis Scott, and Bryan Cumming shared their version of the rooftop performance and celebrated with local Beatles’ fans who gathered on the roof and on the street below to remember and celebrate the legendary performance and the songs they love. Like their idols, The WannaBeatles took the stage at 12 noon. They performed “Get Back”, as well as many other Beatles hits that spanned the Fab Four’s career, including “Let It Be,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “A Little Help From My Friends”, and “I’m Looking Through You,” while managing to escape a “make-believe” arrest by English bobbies (cops). The WannaBeatles event featured an appearance by Mrs. America 2007, Christina Ryan. A portion of the proceeds from donations and the sale of WannaBeatles merchandise benefited the MENC: National Association for Music Education, an organization that advances education by encouraging the study and making of music. It also gave Mrs. Ryan an opportunity to circulate an MENC-sponsored petition for “Equal Access to Music Education.” (Those in support of music education and MENC’s mission may download a copy of the petition to circulate in their community and mail it in by April 3. Visit www.MENC.org for more details. The petition is also available in the offices of the Songwriters Guild of America.) It was favorable weather for the end of January
in Nashville, but still a bit chilly to be outside to be listening
and performing for two hours (the WannaBeatles went way beyond
the 42-minute set of the original performance). Despite the elements,
The WannaBeatles gave a high-energy performance celebrating the
band that has influenced music, fans, songwriters, and musicians
worldwide. Even Nashville Mayor Karl Dean made an appearance
to join in the celebration. |
|
||
"It was a cold day’s night for sure,” said group member Dennis Scott. “A good time was had by all, though, and we raised much-needed funds and public awareness for music education.” The WannaBeatles appropriately ended their set with “The End.” Following the performance, fans lingered to talk with band members, get some photos, and share Beatles stories. The Beatles’ original rooftop performance took place on Jan. 30, 1969, on the rooftop of Apple Studios, at 3 Savile Row in London. It has gone down in history as the Beatles’ last live performance. It was a performance idea that was actually conceived only a few days earlier on Jan. 26, when Paul McCartney announced that while it was great that they were recording live in the studio, why not play the songs in front of a few people…set the gear up on the roof and see how it turns out? Much of what was performed in that 42-minute set was used on the Let It Be album and in the Let It Be film. Three versions of “Get Back” were recorded during the rooftop performance, the first of which was basically a rehearsal and the third a distracted version because of the police presence trying to bring the show to a close. The other songs performed were “Don’t Let Me Down” (performed twice), “The One After 909," “Dig A Pony,” “God Save the Queen” (of which only a few seconds were caught on tape and never released on record or in film), and “I’ve Got A Feeling” (also performed twice).* The Nashville celebration was co-sponsored by the Songwriters Guild of America Foundation, Whiting Publicity & Promotions, Darrell Waltrip Honda Volvo, and WNRQ-FM 105.9 The Rock. For more information about The WannaBeatles, visit: www.thewannabeatles.com. *As outlined in "The Beatles Recording
Sessions," by Mark Lewisohn. |
|||
|
©2004, Further Communications |
||
