February 11 has played host to a parade of pivotal music moments, spanning multiple decades and genres.
In 1963, The Beatles hit Abbey Road Studios to lay down two of their most electric early tracks: the raucous “Twist & Shout” and the punchy “I Saw Her Standing There.” Just one year later, Beatlemania officially touched down on American soil when they played their first U.S. concert at the Washington Coliseum, marking a seismic shift in popular music.
Cher entered the studio in 1966 to record “Bang Bang,” a haunting ballad that would become one of her signature songs and enjoy a life well beyond its original release thanks to numerous covers and soundtracks.
The following year, The Monkees broke free from the studio musicians controlling their sound and pledged to play their own instruments going forward, a bold move that won them new respect among critics and fans.
1970 was a double dose of Beatles-related buzz: Ringo Starr’s surreal film “The Magic Christian” premiered in New York, while John Lennon put his money where his principles were, paying a fine for joining an anti-apartheid protest in Scotland.
In 1979, America tuned in to a different kind of rock royalty as the made-for-TV movie “Elvis,” with Kurt Russell in the title role, aired on ABC, introducing a new generation to the King.
The Rolling Stones cranked up the amps in 1983 with the release of their concert film “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” giving fans an immersive front-row seat to their high-octane shows.
The 1980s continued to blend music with broader pop culture. In 1986, Boy George guest-starred on “The A-Team,” while that same week, the novelty rap hit “Superbowl Shuffle” by the Chicago Bears Shufflin’ Crew was certified gold—proving that even athletes could ride the charts.
Finally, in 1994, Prince brought a dose of glamour and soul to the Miss USA Pageant by premiering “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” adding another standout moment to his long list of genre-defying performances.