The Beatles’ first live U.S. TV performance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in February 1964 affected many people ,including an 11-year-old Bob Halligan Jr.
“I was at the right age to be knocked out and altered by it,” said Halligan via phone from his home in Syracuse, New York.
La Porte Community Concert Association closes its 2018-19 season with “Paul the Beatle” May 9 at the Presbyterian Church of La Porte. The one-man show features Halligan portraying Paul McCartney through his career as one of the Fab Four.
“I play four different instruments — keyboard, bass, electric guitar and acoustic guitar. I have six different costumes. I do all the changing onstage,” Halligan said.
“I play about 29 songs in the prescribed part of the show. Some are snippets. Others are full-length versions. Once I go through the chronology of Paul as a Beatle, I take requests.
“Depending on how much time there is left in the evening and how many songs people want to hear, it could go on for quite a while. I do songs by all four of the Beatles in the request part.”
With a setlist including “I Saw Her Standing There,” “Hey Jude” and “Let It Be,” it can be hard to pick a favorite.
“Because of where it’s positioned in the show, I like ‘Yesterday’ the best because it’s the moment when people hear that I can sing and play and that it’s going to be something that is worth their time. It cements the notion that it’s not folly for them to have turned up for the show,” Halligan said.
“It’s fun. It’s informative. There’s a good amount of humor attempted. I’m an entertainer first and foremost.”
In addition to his one-man gig, Halligan has been one-fourth of the band for “The Official Beatlemania Stage Show,” in which he has portrayed McCartney for nine years.
“People fell in love with him and either stayed in love with him or after falling away fell back in love with him,” said Halligan about McCartney who composed many of the Beatles’ songs with fellow member the late John Lennon.
“These last bunch of years have cemented the charm we first experienced over here in 1964. McCartney’s still the lovable mop-top guy. He’s funny. He’s engaging. He’s someone you feel you could have a nice conversation with.
“He’s comfortable with the fact that he’s the most successful musician who ever lived on the face of the Earth. He’s not haughty about it, but he’s not embarrassed or anxious about it. He very much enjoys his status.”
Halligan, who has performed at the University of Notre Dame multiple times, has written more than 1,100 songs, including tunes recorded by Michael Bolton, Cher, Judas Priest and KISS that received gold or platinum certification.
Kix’s “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” which reached No. 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, was co-written by Halligan, John Palumbo and then-band member Donnie Purnell.
Chicago Tribune Sports
“There’s really nothing like creating something whether you’re building a house or making a painting or whatever it is. That moment of completion of something creative, I find wildly intoxicating,” said Halligan, who has sung on recordings with Felix Cavaliere, Joan Jett, Billy Joel and Michael McDonald.
One of Halligan’s other creations is the band Ceili Rain, which has played pop-rock with Celtic-Irish flavor since 1995 and has performed many Indiana shows including the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis.
Paul the Beatle
When: 7 p.m. May 9
Where: The Presbyterian Church of La Porte, 307 Kingsbury Ave., LaPorte
Tickets: $15 adults; $5 students through high school age
Information: 219-362-8262; www.facebook.com/events/678493279232079