By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Did you know that the Beatles began as a rhythm and blues cover band? Or that they filmed what would later be recognized as the first music video?

Don Meyer, a Lake Forest College music professor, is a walking archive of Beatles history. He shared his popular music insights and Beatles trivia with a large group of Sedgebrook residents in April. The entertaining presentation and discussion was the fourth and final in a pop culture lecture series hosted by Sedgebrook in conjunction with Lake Forest College. The first three lectures focused on Elvis Presley, Woodstock, and other notables.

Historical moment in music

Meyer discussed how the Beatles changed the course of modern music, and why their lyrics and melodies continue to resonate with people of all ages.

“I think without the Beatles, popular music would have taken a completely different track,” Mayer said.

Meyer, an enthusiastic Beatles aficionado, mixed it up by playing well-known
Beatles songs and engaging class participants.

A chance to learn something new

Gene Golemo, a Sedgebrook community member attended both the Elvis and the Beatles lectures, and he says he particularly enjoyed Meyer’s presentation.

“It was very good,” he says. “[Meyer] really knew how to work the audience.

Golemo, who has a record collection 300 strong, considers himself a Beatles fan.

“They brought a whole new novelty to music,” Golemo says. “They were always trying to explore, and move the envelope. They tried different things that weren’t like other artists,” he says of the iconic pop band.

Opportunities for ongoing learning

Erickson communities regularly host programs like the Lake Forest pop culture lecture series. The events provide residents with opportunities to learn more about interesting topics, and get to know one another in a relaxed and fun environment.