"Ladies and gentlemen ... the Beatles!" With that introduction on his variety show, Ed Sullivan unleashed the four lads from Liverpool on a soon-to-be ecstatic nation.

The date was Feb. 9, 1964. That day launched a cultural revolution that changed society -- and rock 'n' roll -- forever. It's probably remembered more as a day of infamy for many American pop stars, who became musical dinosaurs overnight thanks to John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and the plethora of British bands who followed in their footsteps.

Though it's been 50 years since that magical night, its ripple effect can still be felt. And for those of a certain age, it seems like only yesterday.

Starting with their longish, mop-top hair, everything about the Beatles was different. Their sound was like nothing ever heard on American airwaves.

The prolific Lennon-McCartney songwriting duo soon became the pop music equivalent of Rodgers and Hammerstein, releasing hit songs at a furious pace.

To show how profound the musical landscape changed in just a few months, all you need do is check out Billboard magazine's top songs of 1963. Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs ("Sugar Shack"), the Cascades ("Rhythm Of The Rain"), the Chiffons ("He's So Fine"), and Bobby Vinton ("Blue Velvet") ruled the roost.

In just 12 months, five Beatle songs -- "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "She Loves You," "A Hard Day's Night," "Love Me Do," and "Please Please Me" -- were in Billboard's top 20.


And the other British groups waiting in the wings -- Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Kinks, Herman's Hermits, Zombies, Who, Hollies, Yardbirds, Animals, Moody Blues -- made sure the Beatles were no one-band British wonder.

Mothers, forget about brush cuts and piano lessons. Every kid wanted a Beatle haircut and an electric guitar.

This was their music -- not their parents' or even older siblings'. They identified with the "Fab Four."

And as their audience grew through adolescence, so inevitably did the Beatles. The heady breakthrough days soon matured into movie making and Sergeant Pepper, followed by their gradual, bitter breakup, which officially occurred in 1970.

Six short years, but so many songs and memories.

But as George Harrison sang, "All Things Must Pass."

They went their separate ways, but the success achieved individually would never match their previous collaboration.

Two have already met tragic ends. On Dec. 8, 1980, those watching Monday Night Football were informed of John's demise by Howard Cosell. He'd been killed in front of his New York apartment by Mark David Chapman, a mentally unstable individual who shot him at point-blank range.

George, the quiet, reflective Beatle, lost his battle with cancer in November of 2001.

As we know, Paul and Ringo still perform -- occasionally even together -- as they did at the recent Grammy Awards.

A collection of rock's stardom saluted the two surviving Beatles in a musical special that can be seen Sunday night on CBS.

While the music inevitably grows changes, their legacy endures.

Yes, 50 years ago, the Beatles forever changed yesterday.