The Everlasting Beatles: Film finds Oklahoma influence on Fab 4
BY JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Thursday, May 19, 2011
5/19/11 at 2:42 AM
The Beatles changed rock 'n' roll forever, introducing two generations to one of the most influential bands of all time. One man has helped catalog the group's accomplishments.
British filmmaker David Silver will present "The Everlasting Beatles" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the OSU-Tulsa campus, current home to the Oklahoma History Center's "Another Hot Oklahoma Night: A Rock and Roll Exhibit."
"What's amazing is how the Beatles have endured all of this time, so many generations, and how influential the group is today," said Silver in a phone interview from Oklahoma City. "And they're hugely influenced by Oklahoma music. When I was growing up (near Liverpool), American music was everything, from Fats Domino to Eddie Cochran. All roads somehow lead through America. Many roads ran right through Oklahoma."
Silver will highlight the many Oklahomans who played a part in the Beatles' history. When Paul McCartney first played guitar for John Lennon in Liverpool, he played "20 Flight Rock" by Eddie Cochran, who claimed Oklahoma City as his hometown.
After The Beatles broke up, John, Paul, George, and Ringo went their separate ways. They each continued to pursue music on their own terms. Several Oklahoma musicians became part of the larger Beatles story.
Silver joined the speaking project because he's a strong believer in the proposed Oklahoma Pop Culture Museum, he said.
The Beatles program is a continuation of the Oklahoma Historical Society's effort to develop and build the new Oklahoma Museum of Music and Popular Culture in downtown Tulsa's Brady Arts District. The new museum will continue the OHS's mission to collect and preserve music and pop culture and share the story of Oklahoma as the crossroads of creativity.
"I've been good friends with the Hansons for a long, long time," he said. "They knew I'd enjoy this Pop Museum, and, really, it's a natural fit. Oklahoma's history and music is so important - not just on a national scale, but on a worldwide scale."
George Harrison relied on Tulsa Sound icon Leon Russell to put the house band together for the Concert for Bangladesh that also included locals Jim Keltner and Carl Radle and Jesse Ed Davis from Oklahoma City. John Lennon became good friends with Davis and the two also recorded together.
Silver also wrote the No. 11-charting MGM/UA/Warner film "The Compleat Beatles," the biopic of choice about history's most famous band.
In his lifetime, he's also done documentaries on Hanson, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Marley, Roger Waters, Allen Ginsberg, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Frank Zappa, Elvis Costello, Tony Bennett, Crosby, Stills and Nash, James Taylor, Joey Ramone and many others.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating will be limited to a first-come first-served basis.
For more information contact the Oklahoma History Center at (405) 522-0765.
Original Print Headline: Beatles Forever
Jennifer Chancellor 918-581-8346
jennifer.chancellor@tulsaworld.com
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British filmmaker David Silver will present "The Everlasting Beatles" on Thursday at the OSU-Tulsa campus. Business Wire
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