What were The Beatles' musical influences?

The Beatles were heavily influenced by American pop and rock and roll, particularly that of black musicians including "girl groups". read more

Buddy Holly (The Beatles’ greatest musical influence / inspiration was undoubtedly Buddy Holly as they were infact named initially as the “Silver Beetles” rather than adopting the now iconic band name we know them as “The Beatles” after Holly’s backup rock and roll band, The Crickets. read more

Another group, the Byrds, were widely celebrated as the American answer to the Beatles, and while their long-term influence has proven to be comparable to the Beatles and the Beach Boys, the Byrds' record sales failed to match those groups. read more

The Beatles were heavily influenced by American pop and rock and roll, particularly that of black musicians including "girl groups". The context of John Lennon's comments about Elvis Presley was that Elvis was the only white American musician that Lennon felt influenced him; he said that beyond that he was heavily influenced by American pop and rock and roll but only by black musicians and singers. read more