Brian Epstein

In 1962, British music store manager Brian Epstein witnessed a concert by a Liverpool group called the Beatles, whom he would soon manage; in doing so, he became a guiding force for what was arguably the most influential rock-n-roll band of the 20th century. Epstein was integral in the group's transformation from leather-clad rockers to the well-groomed, charming quartet who set the world on fire with their music in 1963-64. He also provided financial stability for the band, allowing them to focus on creating what became the most significant song catalog of the rock genre.

After hours, Epstein led a troubled personal life due in part to his homosexuality and drug addiction, the latter of which led to his untimely demise from an accidental overdose in 1967. His death signaled a turning point for the Beatles, who would splinter under the weight of personal conflicts just three years after his passing. Yet for a half-decade, Brian Epstein was the key figure in maintaining the livelihood and creativity of the Beatles, whose legacy remained untouched half a century after their astonishing debut.

Born Brian Samuel Epstein on Sept. 19, 1934 in Liverpool, England, he was the older of two sons by Harry Epstein, owner of the North End Music Store (NEMS) chain, and his wife, Malka, who was known to family members as "Queenie." Brian Epstein was, by all accounts, a poor student who was bounced from one boarding school after another while the family rode out World War II in Southport. Upon returning to Liverpool, he expressed a desire to become a dress designer, but his horrified father insisted that he join the family business.

In 1952, he was drafted into the Royal Army Service Corps, where he was arrested by the military for impersonating an officer. He revealed to an army psychiatrist that he was a homosexual, which resulted in his medical discharge for being "emotionally and mentally unfit" to serve his country. Epstein returned to Liverpool in 1954, where he expressed his desire to become an actor. A brief stint at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art convinced him that he was not cut out for stage work, and soon returned to the family business.

He showed exceptional acumen at store management, and by 1961, was in charge of two of the biggest NEMS locations in England. That same year, he began penning a record column for Mersey Beat, a music magazine that frequently featured a local group called the Beatles in its pages.

Epstein became curious about the quartet, and after seeing them perform at a lunchtime concert at The Cavern Club, located near one of the NEMS store. Struck by their energy and personalities, Epstein approached the group with a proposal to serve as their manager. After some negotiations with the Beatles' parents and guardians - Paul McCartney, George Harrison and original drummer Pete Best were all under 21 at the time - the group signed a five-year contract with Epstein's management company, NEMS Enterprises. The contract gave Epstein 25 percent of their gross income, with the Beatles receiving shared income after various expenses had been paid.

In addition to organizing their schedule of live appearances, Epstein soon began to groom the Beatles for mainstream success. He required them to abandon their traditional stage garb of leather jackets and jeans for German collarless suits, and insisted that they not swear, smoke or drink on stage. Epstein was also responsible for the group's signature synchronized bow at the end of every show, and even generated early merchandise for English fans.

Though Lennon and Harrison initially chafed at the changes, they yielded positive results. The Beatles were soon playing larger venues and landing appearances on radio and television, something that would have never been an option for them during their early years.

Epstein then set out to land the group a recording contract. The name recognition of his family's chain, which sold numerous records, granted him meetings with labels, but the Beatles were rejected by nearly every company in England. He finally won over George Martin, the A&R manager of Parlophone, a subsidiary label of EMI. Martin later stated that it was Epstein's enthusiasm and not the Beatles' talent that convinced him to sign the group to his label, albeit with one condition: that they replace Best with a more capable drummer.

The unpleasant task of firing Best fell to Epstein, who soon replaced him with Ringo Starr, who had frequently sat in with the group at live gigs. In 1963, the Beatles took England by storm with their earliest recordings, including "Love Me Do" and "Please Please Me," with America following suit in February 1964.

As a manager, Epstein helped to transform the Beatles from hometown heroes to one of the biggest acts in the music business, which in turn led to their status as cultural icons. The success of their albums and live performances allowed him to move NEMS Enterprises to London, where he soon added such acts as Gerry & the Pacemakers, Billy J. Kramer, and Cilla Black to his stable. And if his business practices occasionally brought more money into his pockets than that of the Beatles and other acts, Epstein could be credited with establishing publishing and merchandising companies for his groups that eventually rewarded them handsomely.

Most importantly, Epstein freed the Beatles from worrying over the business end of their careers, thus allowing them to focus solely on their music.

Though the picture of professionalism during business hours, Epstein's private life was fraught with emotional tension. Homosexuality was illegal in England, which forced him to travel to more liberal countries like Amsterdam or Spain for physical relationships. In April of 1963, he visited Barcelona for a four-day holiday with Lennon, during which it was frequently rumored that the pair engaged in a sexual relationship, though Lennon would later refute the claims.

Epstein also frequently used stimulants to maintain his energy, which had a detrimental effect on his health. Gambling also became a serious vice that cost Epstein thousands of pounds in a single evening.

By 1967, Epstein's amphetamine use had reached addictive proportions, and while the Beatles were promoting their masterwork, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, he was attempting to break his drug habit at the Priory Clinic, a mental health facility. The stay proved unsuccessful. On April 27, 1967, he was found dead of a barbiturate overdose in his home in East Sussex.

The Beatles returned from India, where they were studying transcendental meditation, to attend a private memorial service. His death marked the beginning of the group's demise, as personality conflicts that would have been smoothed over by Epstein were allowed to fester until the Beatles imploded in 1970. In the years that followed, each of the Beatles cited his importance to the group's development, with McCartney adding that for all intents and purposes, Epstein was the fifth Beatle. By Paul Gaita