In the history of rock and roll (see entry under 1950s—Music in volume 3), no group has had quite the impact on music and culture as did the Beatles, a quartet from Liverpool, England, consisting of John Lennon (1940–1980), Paul McCartney (1942–), George Harrison (1943–2001), and Ringo Starr (1940–). When they hit the world music stage in 1963, they reinvigorated rock and roll, moved the music in new directions, and set fashion and cultural trends, something they continued to do until their breakup in 1970. More than any other band, the Beatles set a standard for songwriting, musicianship, and cultural impact that has never been surpassed.

The group formed in the late 1950s when Lennon formed a group called the Quarrymen. McCartney joined him, and Harrison followed soon after. After changing their name to the Beatles, they began to win fans both in Liverpool, then in Hamburg, Germany, and later around England. In 1962, Starr...