Realizing that rock ‘n’ roll — and the British invasion was here to stay, Sullivan went on to included other popular groups in his lineup, including The Rolling Stones, The Dave Clark Five, and Herman’s Hermits.

I watched The Beatles from my suburban home in Rosedale, Queens. I had just turned nine, and I sat on the rug in my living room, just inches from the TV, and couldn’t get close enough. For more girls, it was Paul — the pretty one — that they swooned over. For me it was George: tall, awkward, lanky, sexy, toothy mysterious George.

And I — and much of America — would never be the same again. The Beatles taught me how to sing harmony. They taught me that I could have my own music, music that wasn’t my mothers, or my fathers (although, much to my surprised, my mom liked The Beatles, and took me to see them at Shea Stadium the following year.

Their music has, so far spanned three generations in my family. My grandsons love their lyrics, they love to read about them, and I love that we have something to share that transcends generations. All you need is love.

Statistics Courtesy Edsullivan.com

Writing on the Wall won first place for "Best Column Writing" with Suburban Newspapers of America in 2010.