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

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 Feb. 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...