The Beatles On Ed Sullivan Was Life-changing for Micky Dolenz

Many who saw the Beatles on their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964, said that it changed their lives.

In the case of Monkee Micky Dolenz, it most definitely was life-changing.

The Beatles coming to the United States in February 1964 has taken on an almost mythological status.

Their effect on American pop culture was immediate - how kids dressed, the way they wore their hair, the amount of electric guitars that were sold almost overnight - all of it was reflective of the type of impact that the country had never seen the likes of.

If you're of a certain age, you know EXACTLY where you were on the night of February 9 when they made their first of what would be three consecutive appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Micky Dolenz, who would ultimately be cast as the drummer for the Monkees, had no way of knowing it that night, but within about a year and a half, his life would be changed forever, along with someone else who appeared that night on the same bill as the Beatles (Davy Jones with the cast of "Oliver").

Micky's memory of where he was, and how he saw The Ed Sullivan Show that night is particularly unique.

Micky will be at the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in Queens NYC this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for the Fest For Beatles Fans sharing all kinds of memories of meeting the Beatles, his career on and off the TV screen with the Monkees, and more.

For details on this weekend - www.thefest.com

If you've never seen the screen tests for the Monkees TV series which were filmed in the fall of 1965, this video is a real gem.

As you watch, you'll truly understand what the producers were looking for when casting the show, and the charm that Micky Dolenz, along with Mike Nesmith, Peter Tork, and Davy Jones brought with them.

Two of Micky's former Monkees companions were guests here on WDHA.

Remembering Peter Tork on WDHA
Remembering Mike Nesmith on WDHA

One of the biggest events in TV history took place 57 years ago today.

After landing at New York’s JFK Airport two days prior, The Beatles made their American television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, and music was never the same.

In honor of this iconic moment in pop culture history, here are some important statistics every music lover should know: