The middle of the semester means one thing—enrollment for
next semester. Deciding on a class to take that sounds interesting
can be hard.

Carl Rath, professor of music, teaches an honors class entitled
“Beatles Seminar” every spring at OU. The class is
based around the history of the Beatles, the influence they have
had on the world and the story behind their songs, Rath said.

He said he brings in many people to speak to his class.

“I started the class in 1995,” Rath said.
“It’s gotten to the point that I really like bringing
in people.”

Rath has had friends of the Beatles come to speak to the class,
as well authors of Beatles’ books. Another involvement he
feels is important for the class is Beatles tribute band 1964.
Earlier this year, Rolling Stone magazine named 1964 “the
best Beatle tribute band on Earth.”

Rath brings 1964 to OU at the beginning of each semester that he
teaches the class.

“(It is) because of my Beatles class,” Rath said.
“Even though it’s just that one weekend, we started
bringing them in and we’re not stopping yet.”

The band performs over a weekend.

“The best night to catch them is Saturday night,”
Rath said.

Rath, himself a rock ‘n’ roll drummer, decided to
open for 1964 when they came to Norman. His band, Midlife Crysis,
has been the opening act for 1964 since 1996.

Last year, there was a lecture conducted an hour before the
concert about the Beatles’ music, given by the author of
“Beatles Gear,” Andy Babiuk. His book is also used as
the text for the class. At the lecture, collector Russ Lease
brought his Beatles memorabilia, which included Ringo Starr’s
drum head used on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964. He
also brought the jacket Starr wore for the cover of “Abbey
Road,” Paul McCartney’s suit worn at the famous Shea
Stadium concert and a suit originally belonging to John Lennon.

Lease doesn’t do much touring with his collection any more
because of his fear of wear and tear, but he said he will make an
exception for OU.

“I sort of have a really nice relationship with Carl, so I
probably will come down to Oklahoma whenever he wants me to, at
least for the time being,” said Lease. “But other than
that I don’t really tour it around or exhibit
myself.”

He’s planning to change the lineup of his collection when
he comes to OU.

“I’ll be back with a different kind of set up this
year,” Lease said. “I will bring some different stuff
this time. We’ll have a good time and I’m sure the drum
head will come back with me because I think that’s what
everyone wants to see. I will probably bring some performance
contracts and I will probably bring a pair of John Lennon’s
glasses.”

Rath said his guests enjoy their appearances in class.

“They (Lease and Babiuk) are just so blown away by my
class,” Rath said. “Russ Lease asked if he could fly in
and listen in on the class. I said, ‘No, I will pay you to
come and bring your stuff.’”

Rath met many of his guests at the Fest for Beatles Fans, held
annually in Chicago.

“I met George Harrison’s sister, Louise,
there,” Rath said. “I asked her if she would be
remotely interested in coming to talk to our class. She said
she’d love to. It was right after he was diagnosed with
cancer, and I decided not to press that (her lecturing the class)
for obvious reasons.”

Kyle Davis, professional writing sophomore, is a Beatles fan and
thinks Beatles Seminar would be insightful.

“I read an article that said a lot of Americans find
Beatles music to be how they defined the concept of love in
America, which is a pretty hard core thing, and I don’t think
it’s much of an exaggeration,” Davis said.

Rath believes the Beatles are important to learn about because
they influenced the world.

“One of the things I try to do more and more in the class
is get into discussions about how this music influences other music
and how it was affecting the world,” Rath said.

Rath believes the band opened the world’s eyes to all
kinds of discrimination. He believes the Beatles are still
influencing the world today.

“Rap started with the Beatles,” he said.
“‘Give Peace a Chance’ is a rap song.”

He said he doesn’t have a favorite Beatle because he sees
the group as a whole.

“They were all very important to me,” Rath said.
“I cried just as much when George died as when John
died.”

He said he was devastated by the breakup of the Beatles in
1970.

“It took me several years to get out of my funk when the
Beatles broke up,” Rath said. “I don’t know what
happened in the ’70s. That’s one reason why I teach
this class—I teach myself about the Beatles.”

Beatles Seminar is taught in the spring semester. 1964 will be
at Catlett Music Center Jan. 28 through 30.
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