THE FAB 40!
Celebrating The 40th Anniversary Of
The Beatles Coming To America

THE HONORARY COMMITTEE

"THE FAB 40!" is the name of the honorary committee of notable family, friends and associates of the Beatles from 1964 - who have banded together to ensure that the 40th Anniversary of the Beatles' historic first visit to the USA is celebrated in grand style. All of the committee members were participants in - or close witnesses to - that legendary first visit in February 1964.

The Honorary Committee consists of:

• Tony Barrow - Key UK publicist for the Beatles 1962-1968. Barrow liaised with US media to jump-start the Beatles' invasion of America - including "16 Magazine" and the London bureaus of CBS & NBC - which both ran stories about Beatlemania on US TV - as a prelude to the Beatles first US visit.

• Sid Bernstein - Promoter of the Beatles' February 1964 Carnegie Hall concert. He subsequently promoted their record-breaking concerts at Shea Stadium in 1965 and 1966.

• Vince Calandra - TV executive with "The Ed Sullivan Show" during all four shows starring the Beatles. He was their talent liaison for their 1965 Shea Stadium concert. In February 1964 he stood-in for George Harrison during camera rehearsals when the guitarist was suffering from strep-throat.

• Robert Freeman - Official Photographer of the Beatles' first US visit, photographer/designer of five consecutive album jackets for them - and creator of the title sequences for their first two films.

• Louise Harrison - George Harrison's only sister - who was with the Beatles on their first US visit.

• Billy J. Kramer - British Invasion singer and close Beatles pal - with multiple US & UK hits written specially for him by Lennon-McCartney.

• Cynthia Lennon - John Lennon's first wife - who accompanied him throughout that first US visit. Cynthia was with John from 1959-1968, is the mother of John's son Julian Lennon and was the inspiration for songs such as "In My Life"

• Alan Livingston - President of Capitol Records 1962-1968 - who signed the Beatles to Capitol and spearheaded their American breakthrough. (He also signed The Beach Boys and Frank Sinatra.)

• Albert Maysles - Celebrated documentary-maker who captured the entire visit for US & UK TV.

• Gordon Millings - Partner with his father in Dougie Millings & Son - the tailors who custom-made all the iconic suits the Beatles wore on their TV appearances and concerts on their first American visit.

• John Moffitt - Associate Director of the Ed Sullivan Show during all 4 shows starring the Beatles.

• "Cousin Brucie" Morrow - Top disc jockey on New York's influential WABC in 1964 who gave extensive airplay to the Beatles.

• Scott Muni - Top disc jockey on New York's influential WABC in 1964 who gave extensive airplay to the Beatles.

Organizer and Honorary Chairman of the Committee is Martin Lewis - noted Beatles scholar, Producer of the DVD Edition of the film "A Hard Day's Night," Associate Producer of the DVD of "The Ed Sullivan Shows Featuring The Beatles" and a protégé of legendary Beatles publicist Derek Taylor.

In 1997 Lewis, was one of the organizers of Liverpool's official celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the day that John Lennon & Paul McCartney met for the first time - the starting point that led to the formation of the Beatles. For that occasion, Lewis secured special greetings for the event from Sir Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, President Bill Clinton, Prime Minister Tony Blair - and Her Majesty The Queen.

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