~All We Need is Peace & Love~

Black Musicians That Influenced The Beatles

Let's list some of the great artists associated with Beatles' works and the musicians that influenced them.

But first, I would like to recommend a documentary produced by Jamie Foxx, Thunder Soul - which chronicles Kashmere Stage Band, an all-black band, consisting of high school students, led by Conrad O. Johnson a.k.a. "Prof" in the 70s, when funk and soul was popular music and a time when big afros and butterfly bowties were in.

These students, a mix of girls and boys, who were 16 yr olds then, had won jazz festival contests repeatedly, nationwide, and in 2008, they had embarked a reunion of 30 original members to perform for their music teacher, who, at 92 at the time, along with the current students of Kashmere High School and for fans who have never heard them perform live before.

Some of these members hadn't even played in 34 years! Watch this documentary to watch an inspiring story of a black teacher, who led his black students in a life-changing journey throughout their high school years, which moved and shaped their lives, preventing them from a life of crime, gave them a male role model, and taught them how even a high school student, no matter what color your skin is, can change the minds and lift the souls with just a single note from a trumpet or a trombone, or a beat of a drum, or a note from a flute.

Visit the movie website here: http://thundersoulmovie.com/

Like their facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/thundersoul

Buy the movie on Amazon.com / Watch the movie online

Some notable black musicians who played with The Beatles were:

Billy Preston

Billy played keyboards for The Beatles in the Let It Be album and can be seen in the Rooftop Sessions jamming along to songs such as Dig A Pony, I've Got A Feeling, Get Back, and Dig It.

He is regarded as the "5th Beatle" by some Beatles experts.

Stevie Wonder

Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder collaborated on some songs in the 80s, which gave us the tunes Ebony and Ivory which became a #1 hit in 1982. Stevie also came to play the harmonica for Paul's Valentine's album Kisses on the Bottom on the track Only Our Hearts. I also believe Stevie may also have influenced Paul as well on songs like She's My Baby.

Michael Jackson

Paul McCartney also collaborated with Michael Jackson. He even wanted to write songs for him. They sang as a duet for The Girl is Mine and even appeared on a music video together for Say Say Say. I can say that you can also hear Jackson's influence on Paul on the song So Bad.

Black musicians that influenced The Beatles:

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry is the most notable black rock 'n roll musician of the 50s.

He still plays today in small venues in St. Louis, Missouri. He is 85 and still rockin'.

The Beatles came to cover many of his songs, which include Johnny B. Goode, Roll Over Beethoven, Rock and Roll Music, and Memphis, Tenessee.

Little Richard

Wonder where Paul got those high-pitched screams from? Yup, you guessed it. Little Richard's unique style of vocals influenced the young McCartney to reproduce those sounds, which can be heard on many of the Beatles tracks.

Arthur Alexander

Arthur Alexander's musicianship had influenced John, which can be seen with The Beatles covers of Anna written by Alexander and Soldier of Love made popular by Alexander, and A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, first recorded by Alexander.

Do you have more artists that you can think of to add to the list?

The Shirelles

The Beatles also sang covers of The Shirelles, one of the most famous black girl groups of the '60s, with songs like Boys and Baby, It's You.

Larry Williams

The Beatles also covered Slow Down, which is a song written and originally recorded by Larry Williams.

The Marvelettes

The Beatles recorded Please Mr. Postman, a song made popular by the girl group The Marvelettes.

The Isley Brothers

Well, shake it up baby now, Twist & Shout! is a song by the Isley Brothers that The Beatles had also covered. Also, on Anthology 1, you can hear a cover of Shout!which Paul had lead vocals on.

Jimi Hendrix

Even though The Beatles hadn't covered any JHE songs, Paul has shown us that even today, he holds tribute to Jimi Hendrix when playing in his live concerts. He will sometimes surprise the audience by playing a cover of Foxy Lady and/or Purple Haze, and even tell a story of how Jimi,... well, you've got to see Paul live in order to find out! Or search it on YouTube ;-)

Ben E. King

In 1975, John Lennon covered this song, which became a US hit #20. Ben E. King has said numerous times that respected John Lennon so much and that his cover is ones he'd ever heard.