Paul McCartney's music has inspired generations

James Paul McCartney — that's Sir Paul McCartney to all of us — will play Utah for the first time on July 13.

He won't be playing alone.

Sure, he'll have his band, including longtime guitarist Rusty Anderson. But he'll bring so much more, including every audience member's memories.

When McCartney was introduced to John Lennon in 1957, the two had little idea what impact they would have on pop culture in 20th and 21st centuries.

Americans, arguably, felt the impact in the keenest sense.

When the Beatles landed at New York's newly christened John F. Kennedy Airport on Feb. 7, 1964, the country was still reeling from the assassination of the airport's namesake.

America was looking for something happy, uplifting and inspiring.

Much to the older generation's chagrin, the Beatles filled that void for their children.

And, as they say, the rest is history.

Jeff Whiteley, director of the locally based Excellence in the Community Concert Series, blamed the Beatles for his career choice.

"My mother dropped me off at the Gem Theatre when I was in elementary school to see 'A Hard Day's Night,' " Whiteley said. "The kids were screaming in the theater just like the people on the screen. Every seat was taken. It was pandemonium and a formidable experience."

Whiteley became a bassist in junior high and took an interest in McCartney's playing.

"When we'd learn all these rock songs from different groups, we had to slow down to learn a Beatles song because the composition was more sophisticated," he said. "Instead of just chord charts and everyone banging away on the same chords, the Beatles songs were more composed and more akin to ensemble playing."

Speaking of composers, Kurt Bestor had the opportunity to arrange classic Beatles songs for a couple of projects.

One was an arrangement for Brigham Young University's World Championship Formation Team 10 years ago.

"That was a lot of fun," he told the Deseret News. "We used 'Yesterday,' 'Eleanor Rigby' and some other hits."

The other, Bestor said, was an elevator music arrangement.

"I do have an apology for Sir McCartney," he said. "I was hired by the Muzak Corporation to arrange 'Norwegian Wood.' I should hold up a sign at his concert that says, 'I'm sorry.' "

Bestor confessed he was a late bloomer when it came to appreciating the Beatles and McCartney.

"The Beatles did inspire me, but I was not really into rock music growing up," Bestor said. "It was either classical or funk."

Bestor appreciates the Beatles' experimental era.

"When they started coming out with more adventurous things, like 'Sgt. Pepper,' I started thinking how interesting these guys were becoming.