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* Fifty years ago the Beatles took a vacation before starting an American tour. John Lennon went to Paris. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney headed to Greece. And George Harrison went to Benton, IL to visit his sister…
Illinois State Historical Society executive director William Furry says Harrison’s obscurity allowed him to walk Benton’s streets, jam with local musicians, visit record stores and even camp in the Shawnee National Forest without being hassled by fans. Harrison also bought a guitar in Mount Vernon and sang “Happy Birthday” at a bocce ball club in Benton.
A radio station in nearby West Frankfort played many of the Beatles’ first recordings, and Harrison was interviewed by a local teenager in what has been said to be the first American question-and-answer session with a Beatle.
Louise Harrison wanted to promote The Beatles’ music with local radio stations.
She had previously been sent a copy of “From Me to You,” that she took to the WFRX-AM radio station in West Frankfort. Disc jockey Marcia Raubach played the song over the airwaves for the first time in the U.S. in June 1963.
When George Harrison visited his sister, the two hitchhiked to the West Frankfort radio station with a copy of “She Loves You,” which had been released the previous month in the United Kingdom. The single was also played by the station.
Can you imagine a Beatle hitchhiking in southern Illinois to promote a single?
Wow.
* Marilyn Lewis Dickey interviewed Harrison back then for her high school newspaper…
I was editor of the BCHS newspaper, The Echo, during my senior year. My sister Jean had also been an Echo editor.
Louise Caldwell called me and asked if I would like to interview her brother, George Harrison, who was on “Holiday” from England.
She said he was in “a band.” Little did I know what that band was to become.
This was in the fall of 1963 before the Beatles were on Ed Sullivan in the spring. This “band” was not known in the States just yet.
I remember meeting Louise and her brother, George Harrison, on the front porch of the house. My first reaction was that I thought it strange that he had on socks with his sandals.
My next reaction was that his hair seemed long for the style at the time.
We went into the house and I asked him questions about his band and his impressions of the United States.
I don’t remember any of these answers! He then played a 45 rpm record of the band’s latest songs that were popular in England. Those songs were “She Loves Me” and “I Want to Hold your Hand”
You can find lots more details about his visit by clicking here.
* There was also a documentary made about his visit…
* From a press release…
Governor Pat Quinn has proclaimed Sept. 21 as “George Harrison Day” in Illinois to commemorate the late musical star’s two-week stay in southern Illinois 50 years ago, when The Beatles were poised to conquer pop culture and music history. Governor Quinn also urged citizens to attend the Sept. 21 historical marker dedication in Benton that will unveil a permanent reminder of Harrison’s southern Illinois activities as “The First Beatle in America.” Today’s announcement is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to promote heritage tourism in Illinois.
“Many icons through history have Illinois connections, and we are recognizing one more with this proclamation,” Governor Quinn said. “George Harrison helped define a generation, and we encourage visitors to follow his footsteps throughout southern Illinois.”
The historical marker dedication, hosted by the Franklin County Historic Preservation Society and the Illinois State Historical Society, will be held in Benton’s Capitol Park on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The marker will describe the regional exploits of a young British musician just months before he and his partners exploded into worldwide fame that is as strong today as it was in 1963.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 1:45 pm
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I read a story in which Louise Harrison said George filled in for a tired musician in a local band one night. She said his playing got the crowd up off of its feet, and of course this was just before The Beatles made it big in America.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:09 pm
What a great story. Terri Hemmert has interviewed Harrison’s sister a couple of times about her time in Illinois.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:13 pm
Fifty years ago I was 15.
*Sigh*
Comment by Nearly Normal Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:22 pm
Nearly Normal, so was I. I remember growing my hair long (for then) and people calling me a “Beatle.”
Comment by Sir Reel Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:39 pm
I saw a piece on the old “Wild Chicago” show about the visit once. That’s some great history for Benton & West Frankfort!
Comment by Stones Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:41 pm
I am about the same age and remember many hippies hitchhiking southern Illinois. Harrison was just a more talented hippie than most. I have seen his sister speaking to groups about this experience. It may seem trite to some, but the idea of Harrison tromping the Shawnee Forest always makes me grin.
Comment by observing Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:47 pm
Harrison… That’s the Traveling Wilbury guy, right?
– MrJM
P.S. Just kidding! “What Is Life” is one of the greatest songs in the history of everything.
Comment by MrJM Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:48 pm
=== I remember growing my hair long (for then) and people calling me a “Beatle.” ===
I had a 1963 Beatles haircut when I was in first grade five years later. By the time I was six, I had every Beatles and Rolling Stones record available.
Iroquois County was slow to change, to say the least. I was the only boy at Clifton Grade School with “bangs” - in 1968. You’re lucky you were only called a Beatle.
The lunch ladies refused to serve me one day because they said my hair was a health hazard. I marched to the principal’s office and he set them straight. But I got a crewcut soon after. Just couldn’t take the abuse anymore.
That was my last crewcut, however.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:50 pm
A few years ago, a couple (I don’t remember their names) bought Louise Harrison’s old house in Benton and turned it into a B&B. They called it “A Hard Day’s Night,” of course. (Then again, I suppose they could have named it “I’m Only Sleeping.”)
My wife and I stayed there. We had our choice of four rooms: the John, the Paul, the George, and the Ringo, natch. (We opted for George.) Lotsa fun. Great Beatles memorabilia. Unfortunately, the B&B closed about 5 years ago.
The house is located at 113 McCann Street in Benton. Coupla miles off of I-57. Worth a driveby the next time you transit the area.
There’s a nifty book about George’s time in Benton: Before He Was Fab: George Harrison’s First American Visit by Jim Kirkpatrick. It painstakingly tracks George’s sojourn in Benton. A quick and fun read.
And whatever happened to Louise Harrison?
Why, she’s presently managing a Beatles tribute band based in Branson, MO. www.liverpoollegends.com/
And now — here’s your Beatles trivia question for the day. (Actually, it’s obtuse enough to be your Beatles trivia question for the entire month!)
TWO Beatles — that’s right, TWO Beatles — stayed at Louise Harrison’s house in Benton. Name them.
George and ummmmmmm….
Pete Best. He was touring in the States a few years back and stayed there, too, during the B&B years.
I’m outta here.
Comment by Third Reading Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:51 pm
===“What Is Life” is one of the greatest songs in the history of everything.===
Can’t disagree with that. One of the greatest love songs ever written for sure.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:56 pm
This story was familiar to me, but I have never heard it recounted in so much detail! Thanks for sharing it with all of us!
I can remember George’s sister, Louise, occasionally doing interviews with WXRT back in the day. I think that she may have visited Chicago when the annual Beatles’ Fest was still going strong (it used to be held at the Palmer House).
Comment by Esquire Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 2:58 pm
“What is Life” is a fantastic song. Frank Sinatra once said that another Harrison track “Something” was the greatest love song ever written.
Incidentally, “Something” and “Come Together” were the A & B sides on the same 45. Not bad!
Comment by Stones Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:06 pm
Finally, a good move by Gov. Quinn. I met someone who played with George in Harrisburg on his visit. That would be a chance of a lifetime…although this guy didn’t know it at the time.
Comment by Rusty618 Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:12 pm
I did not know any of this and I am a Beatles fan. Thanks for sharing.
Comment by Jake From Elwood Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:14 pm
My colleague at WSIU-TV David Kidd did a feature on the B&B a few years ago with Louise Harrison’s help. I met her a couple of times and she was very nice and quite approachable. I seem to recall that she was married to a coal miner in Benton back in the day. Quite a few of them then, not so many now.
Comment by Jak Tichenor Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:19 pm
===There’s a nifty book about George’s time in Benton: Before He Was Fab: George Harrison’s First American Visit by Jim Kirkpatrick.===
Jim Kirkpatrick is also Rep. John Bradley’s district office manager. He formerly worked for Ken Grey and Glenn Poshard when they were in Congress. Plus, he’s one of the nicest men you will ever meet.
Comment by Old Shepherd Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:19 pm
Very cool- gave me chills as I happened to be listening to my George Harrison station on Pandora today.
Comment by Boone's is Back Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:47 pm
Now if we can just get the Harrison photo of his trip to Garden of the Gods in time for Camel Rock to be on the Illinois quarter.
Comment by Downstate Illinosi Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 3:57 pm
I lived four doors down from her house so we heard the story growing up. Benton has had original Beatles drummer Pete Best (sorry to tell you Ringo wasn’t the first!) and his band perform in town a time or two to play up the Beatles connection, as well.
Comment by Southern Illinoisan Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 4:12 pm
My brush with Beatles glory! I remember when I first met Louise how she looked and talked so much like George.
Comment by Matt Dietrich Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 5:01 pm
The band Harrison sat in with was the Four Vests, and it was at the Eldorado VFW. How many thousands of relatively uneventful gigs have been played in a VFW in IL…oh, to be one of those Vests that night.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 6:55 pm
Another local band turned down George’s request to sit in. Can you imagine learning later that you dissed a member of the Beatles?
And Jak, I believe her husband was an engineer or something for British Petroleum, which owned Old Ben Coal.
Comment by dr. reason a. goodwin Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 8:38 pm
A number of years ago, Louise Harrison was a Thanksgiving guest of Centralia attorney Eddie Veltman (one of the biggest Beatles fans I’ve ever met.
Comment by transplant Monday, Sep 16, 13 @ 9:00 pm
this is oh so happy a read on a clear sunny day. Here Comes the Sun!
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 8:32 am
Thanks to all who commented about this story. The marker, sponsored by the Illinois State Historical Society and paid for entirely by friends and donors like you, will be dedicated on Saturday, September 21, in Benton’s Capitol Park. If you would like to donate ($5-$500), we can still get your name as a donor in the program through Wed at 5 p.m. Call 217-525-2781 to make your tax-deductible contribution. We are still $1000 shy of meeting our goal of $3500. Thanks,
Wm Furry
Illinois State Historical Society
Comment by wmfurry Tuesday, Sep 17, 13 @ 10:39 am