‘The British Invasion Killed Us’: PBS Producer TJ Lubinsky on the Fate of America’s Teen Idols
An Era That Upended the Music Industry
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American artists dominated the music industry for decades until the Beatles, Rolling Stones, and other British bands arrived on our shores in 1964. Fans embraced the new sound, but once-popular artists at home suddenly found there was no room on radio playlists for their records. Concert gigs dried up, and many found themselves out of work.
Decades later, impresario TJ Lubinsky devised a way to return these artists to the stage. Lubinsky is the producer of the PBS My Music specials Doo Wop 50, ‘60s Rock, Pop and Soul, The British Beat, and others that span the Motown, folk, and big band eras. Lubinsky’s specials have raised millions for PBS and rejuvenated the careers of these beloved stars.
We asked Lubinsky in 2020 to talk about the British Invasion's seismic effects on American artists.
TJ Lubinsky: I love those particular years, 1957, 1958, into just before 1964. The reason I love those years is the variety is incredible…
