It's unreal to contemplate that Ed Sullivan has been dead for 40 years as of October 13. No figure, and we mean no figure who wasn't a musician themselves, had a bigger impact on the listening habits of Americans than Sullivan did. Need proof? Check out seven of the biggest musical moments on The Ed Sullivan Show, listed chronologically.
Bill Haley and The Comets (1955)
Many of the stories revolving around Ed Sullivan's musical guests involve how conservative the host was. That may be true but that didn't stop him from being the first TV host to feature the new genre of rock 'n' roll on his program. Bill Haley and his Comets took to the air during 1955 to play a brief version of what would become its signature song: "Rock Around The Clock." For as devil-riddled as the style was supposed to be, Sullivan would make a legacy of bringing hundreds of rock acts onto his show, including...
Elvis Presley (1956)
Presley was already an established star before he appeared on Sullivan's show but his appearance only further confirmed the fears of parents and his own sexual magnetism. It's legend that Sullivan demanded Presley only be shot from the waist up...and just that. A legend. Sullivan told others in interviews leading up to the event that any sexual nature in the performance could be edited using camera angles, however Elvis's performance itself was full-body and unedited. He would return for two more appearances in years to come.
The Beatles (1964)
This was more than one of the biggest moments in music television: It was one of the biggest moments in both American music and American television history, drawing 73 million viewers. The Beatles' appearances over the course of three weekends on The Ed Sullivan Show made the band an instant sensation in the United States, one that hasn't been matched since Michael Jackson (we'll get back to that). The Sullivan appearance has been hailed as the official beginning to the British Invasion.
James Brown (1966)
James Brown was already huge by the time he appeared with Sullivan for the first time during 1966 and he needed the publicity less. What makes his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show so noteworthy is strictly for his ability as a performer. Anyone who had the chance to catch Brown live or listen to Live At The Apollo knows how dynamite the King of Soul was onstage. Both his footwork and voice set him apart from the majority of all performers. Ever.
The Doors (1967)
Perhaps the most legitimate instance of Sullivan's family-friendly intentions coming through is his clash with The Doors during 1967. The host insisted that Jim Morrison remove the line "girl we couldn't get much higher" from the band's hit "Light My Fire." The vocalist, of course, forgot *cough cough* and delivered the line—which seems relatively mundane now. The band would never appear on the show again although it's argued whether that decision was made by the host or by the band's irritable management.
Jackson 5 (1969)
Pop groups of the '70s were all fairly talented and all seemed to industrially assembled to some degree. None were as impressive and well established as the Jackson 5 however. The harmonies, the dance moves, the legitimate familial storyline and most of all, youngest brother Michael. This was the first time most of America met Michael Jackson, which essentially means that the three biggest performers in pop music history (Jackson, The Beatles and Presley) were brought to you, to some degree, by Sullivan.
The Supremes (1969)
You can argue with Sullivan's approach to "controversial" material but you have to at least give him kudos for his support of black performers during that era. The Temptations and Supremes played dozens of performances on the show but perhaps the most relevant was The Supremes last appearance during 1969, when Sullivan would announce to America following the gig that Diana Ross was leaving the group to pursue a solo career.
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