The Beatles can be traced back to the Quarrymen, a group formed by John Lennon and five other musicians in the mid-1950's. Paul McCartney joined the group in 1957 after he and John Lennon met at a church function. George Harrison joined the band shortly thereafter. The three, plus bass guitarist Stu Sutcliffe and original drummer Pete Best played under several names before settling on the Beatles in 1960.
Pete Best was replaced by a drummer named Ringo Starr in 1962. That same year, Brian Epstein, a Liverpool record store owner who had become their manager in 1961, secured a record contract for the group.
The Beatles gained nationwide fame in 1962 when "Love Me Do" climbed to No. 17 on the British charts. Their second single, "Please, Please Me," was their first number one hit. In 1964, the Beatles became a global force in music. They toured the U.S. creating a sensation everywhere they performed. The era of the Beatles had begun!
The Beatles began to drift apart in the late 1960's for a number of artistic, business, and personal reasons. The group broke up in 1970, but by that time their records had outsold those of any other popular music or rock music performers in history.
Today, The Beatles are an enduring legend. Their music will be remembered and loved for many generations to come.
Paul McCartney has had a long career. Well into his 70s, he continues to tour and record. His album Egypt Station was released on September 7, 2017 through Capitol Records and became McCartney's first album in 36 years to top the Billboard 200, and his first to debut at number one.
Ringo Starr continues to be active as well. Since 1989, he has toured with thirteen variations of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band. Starr's musicianship has received praise from other drummers, including Phil Collins and Journey's Steve Smith. He was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2011, Rolling Stone readers named Starr the fifth-greatest drummer of all time. Having previously been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Beatle in 1988, he was inducted for his solo career in 2015, making him one of 21 performers inducted more than once. He is the richest drummer in the world with a net worth of $350 million.