My Kid Brother's Band a.k.a. The Beatles!

by Louise Harrison

As a record 73 million viewers watched the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show a half-century ago, the audience was largely unaware of the behind-the scenes efforts in the preceding weeks and months that made the historic February 9, 1964 performance a reality. Those efforts were spearheaded by Louise Harrison, sister of guitarist George Harrison, from her home in a small town in southern Illinois. In My Kid Brother's Band a.k.a. The Beatles Louise describes her tireless efforts to help promote the Beatles who were already household names in England and their records on this side of the Atlantic. My Kid Brother's Band a.k.a. The Beatles is the never-before-told story of the author's crucial behind-the-scenes work as an American resident to guide Beatles' manager Brian Epstein and producer George Martin and assist them in the effort to spread Beatlemania from Britain to the U.S. In the book, Louise Harrison describes and documents her efforts to establish nationwide contacts and help Epstein secure distribution agreements with Capitol Records and assist him in securing a meeting with CBS's Ed Sullivan. The book also describes her experiences in traveling with the Beatles on their first American tours in the summer of '64, '65 and '66, including many untold episodes of the ever-present hysteria faced by brother George and band mates Paul McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr and how they coped with Beatlemania. In My Kid Brother's Band a.k.a. The Beatles , Louise tells of the Harrisons' Liverpool home becoming a regular hangout for the group, and how her parents provided a nurturing environment for George and the other Beatles. The family principles, Louise says, helped to guide Harrison and the band through their unprecedented success during the 60s and through George's solo career. "It's important for you to know more about our parents and our upbringing, writes Louise, so you can better understand how (George) became the man you love and admire." The book contains dozens of never-before-published photos of George and the Beatles, as well as images of correspondence documenting her communication with Epstein and with radio and recording industry executives as she worked to secure airplay and exposure for the group in the months leading up to the landmark Sullivan appearance.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

367 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Gwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Kid Brother's Band a.k.a. The Beatles! started out great with some background on George Harrison and the Beatles and George's trip to the U.S. to visit his sister before he and the other Beatles first touched down on American soil to do the Ed Sullivan Show. I give the book 5 stars for the George/Beatle content.

However the title of the book is somewhat misleading. This book is more an autobiography of Louise Harrison than the story of her kid brother's band. I did enjoy reading her life story with some info as to what went on in Liverpool and England during WWII. The book would have gotten 5 stars for that as well.

The pictures in the book are great and are pix you won't see elsewhere. There are reproductions of mail correspondence and other items as well. The book gets 5 stars for those.

My 4 star rating is due to the misleading title and the fact that many of the stories in the book were told two (and sometimes three) times. It just seemed they were filler to make the book a bit longer.

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know a little bit more about the Beatles and especially George Harrison. My caveat is to remember you will also get an autobiography of Louise Harrison and some stories rehashed.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Louise Harrison's book, "My Brother's Band: a.k.a. The Beatles!" gives a behind-the-scene view of the Fab Four during the 1960s and beyond. If you haven't guessed, Louise, is George's big sister. The book is really a memoir as she recounts her early life in London as well as her adult life in Canada, Peru, and various places in the United States. She reflects on her involvement to promote The Beatles in the early years. She gives a rare glimpse of George, often portrayed as the "shy" Beatle, but really a sensitive, fun-loving and caring person. She writes about meeting famous folks, from Prince Phillip to President Clinton to Ed Sullivan, in her travels. What I liked about this book is that it's not all about The Beatles. I've read about all to I want to about the great group from Liverpool. She shows what it was like growing up in post-war England, George's visit to her home in Illinois a few months before British Invasion, and her loving parents. It's a delightful, conversational book that transcends traditional books about The Beatles. The 80-something author also offers some thoughtful opinions on the environment, politics, and a few other issues without being too preachy. Boomers should also enjoy the book.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the books on rock 'n' roll I've read, this is one of the best. Louise Harrison's contribution to Beatle lore, from the point of view as a sister to George, is informative, entertaining, and eye-opening. A few months before the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, Louise, as a resident of Illinois, worked tirelessly in her neck of the woods to get Beatles records on the air, and George's visit to her home in Illinois in 1963 made him the first Beatle to visit and perform in America. Her contribution to the start of the Beatles careers, at least in America, amazed me. Louise never cashed in on her brother's fame as a Beatle. Her hard work on the Beatles' behalf before they made it big in the USA can attest to that. Good job, Louise!

[Ryn McAtee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Louise has such a genuine tone, and reading her book felt like reading a letter from a favorite auntie. I found myself laughing through most of the book, and crying at a few points as well. I had always wished there was a book about the Harrison family, and now I have one! Louise, her parents, and her trio of brothers are all lovely people, and I deeply enjoyed reading about their journey. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Louise!

[Csparrenberger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not for me. To summarize it was not as much about the Beatles as I thought it would be.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

To be honest, this book is more about Louise than George, though George does figure prominently in it. But Louise seems like a very interesting and likable person, and she has led an interesting life, so this book is well worth reading. It is written in a friendly, conversational style, and I have to say that I really enjoyed it.

[Joe B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not about George Harrison, per se. It was a biography of his sister, Louise. Then why was it titled “My Kid Brother’s Band AKA The Beatles”? Well, that was her famous phrase that she used promoting “kid brother’s band” back in the day. Hence, “Chapter 0”…this is the first chapter of the book explaining how she promoted her “kid brother’s band” in the States.

Her multiple correspondences to Brian Epstein and George Martin along with Dick James to update them on her promoting her “kid brother’s band” to all the radio stations in a 100 mile radius of her Southern Illinois home. Lo and behold, her “kid brother’s band AKA ‘The Beatles’” on Feb 9, 1963 finally made it to the “really big shew” and the rest was history!

This book is full of anecdotal stories from Louise’s perspective about her brother before he became part of the “Fab Four” and then about how Elvis influenced him to become interested in the guitar to meeting Paul and John at age 15. They became “The Quarryman” in 1958 and then Ringo joined them in 1962 to become “The Beatles”. Then with much of Louise’s documented assistance in the US they became the Rock n’ Band that changed the music world forever.

I must say that this book was hard to read. Sometimes it felt disjointed at times, but that’s OK. The story was about Louise and at 85 years old her memory was impeccable to transcribe here life experiences to the written page was astounding. But, yet as she was either writing or having her interviewed dialogue put on the page it was not chronological. She would repeat things over and over throughout the book.

I discovered why this was so after doing some research on the Internet. Especially, after watching her multiple interviews with different media outlets. Her stories were more a verbal history that she repeated time and time again to the multiple hosts she sat in front of during the many years of being interviewed. She was an expert on the subject.

Being that she had not only experienced these events first hand, but as time progressed her stories were rout in her memory. Every detail was exactly the same every time it was told. Her story was hers to tell and that she did. Being the sister of the most famous band member know as “The Beatles” was having a tremendous responsibility. She used it in a positive and uplifting way.

She never abused this right as some in the media portrayed her as doing, but rather she used to spread the word…the gospel of “The Beatles”! And that she did. She was also very transparent about her entire life and how even being the sister of one of the most famous celebrities she never let go to her head.

She lived life not as one who had an advantage, but rather just like everyone else did. Oh, yes she was provided grace and respect by her brother, but again she honored that with gratitude. She was “true to herself” and always was prepared from what was coming “around the corner”. I personally thank Louise for this book.

I have had the pleasure and honor to meet her on a personal level and she signed my copy. I will cherish the time I spent with her and being able to know more about “The Flying Mum” and to physically be embraced with her famous “Harrison Hug” and her smile. Enjoy her book!

[Jane Mizerak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book at The Fest for Beatles Fans in NY/NJ several years ago. I was fortunate to meet Louise and chat with her briefly, and she signed my book. She was a lovely person (unfortunately I understand she has since passed away). I enjoyed the book. It wasn’t solely about George Harrison but as she talked about her life growing up, it naturally involved him and the other Beatles quite a bit. The Beatle stories were interesting and humorous at times. She led a long, sometimes complicated, but interesting life. If you are a Beatles fan you will like this book. I bought it around 10 years ago…hopefully it’s still available? The only thing I didn’t care for was that one chapter delved quite a bit into her political views and honestly I could have done without that, but otherwise I liked it.

[RA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louise Harrison's book, more of a bio, but with a few details about George (you know the Beatle). Some of her stories/anecdotes/vignettes are revealing, offering more details about specific incidents in the Beatles' famous lives.

More of the book concerns Lousie and condensed information about the causes and groups she has supported and developed. Very interesting addition to the Beatle lore.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and quick read because I felt like she was talking to the reader.