<P> In the United Kingdom, the Beatles had experienced popularity since the start of 1963 . But in the United States, Capitol Records, owned by the band's record company EMI, had for most of the year declined to issue any of the singles . The phenomenon of Beatlemania in the UK was regarded with amusement by the U.S. press, once it made any comment . When newspaper and magazine articles did begin to appear towards the end of 1963, they cited the English stereotype of eccentricity, reporting that the UK had developed an interest in something that had come and gone a long time ago in the United States: rock and roll . Headlines included "The New Madness" and "Beatle Bug Bites Britain", and writers employed word - play linking "beetle" with the "infestation" afflicting the UK . In late 1963, Capitol Records agreed to release the single "I Want to Hold Your Hand" with a large accompanying promotional campaign, due to Ed Sullivan's agreement to headline the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show . The Beatles' American television debut was on 18 November 1963 on The Huntley - Brinkley Report, with a four - minute long piece by Edwin Newman . On 22 November 1963, the CBS Morning News ran a five - minute feature on Beatlemania in the UK which heavily featured their then current UK hit "She Loves You". The evening's scheduled repeat was cancelled following the assassination of John F. Kennedy the same day . On 10 December, Walter Cronkite decided to transmit the piece again on the CBS Evening News, and the resulting interest led to the rush - release of "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and--only weeks before the Beatles' arrival--a U.S. commercial breakthrough . </P> <P> Eleven weeks before the Beatles' arrival in the U.S. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas . The nation was in mourning, in fear, and in disbelief . The assassination came after a fifteen - year build - up of Cold War tension . The motivation and identity of the assassin would be doubted by many Americans for decades, despite the Warren Commission's issued report in September 1964 . As the United States tried to restore a sense of normality, teenagers in particular struggled to cope, as their disbelief began to be replaced by a personal reaction to what had happened: in school essays, teenagers wrote that "then it became real", and "I was feeling the whole world is going to collapse on me", and "I never felt so empty in all my life". </P> <P> The music industry in Memphis had large role in bringing bands to the attention of the American public, and in the 1960s, many British bands, among them the Beatles, aspired to emulate the sounds of Memphis musicians including Elvis Presley--without whom, according to Lennon, "there would not have been the Beatles". The sudden popularity of the Beatles, and the British Invasion triggered by their arrival, became a major new influence in the United States, which not only established the popularity of British bands, but also affected the musical style of U.S. bands--including those subsequently formed in Memphis . </P> <P> During their U.S. tours, the Beatles were introduced to both Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan . Strongly influenced by Presley since before their formation, the band had tried to meet him in the past, but arrangements had fallen through . At Presley's suggestion, guitars were set up in his living room and the gathering played music for an hour, following which they discussed the music business and exchanged anecdotes . The other meeting, with Dylan, influenced the music subsequently produced by the Beatles as well as shaping Dylan's own musical style . This was made evident both in Dylan's controversial adoption of electric guitar, and in changes that were apparent in Lennon's vocal and guitar - playing styles . </P>

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