After more than 20 years of dedicated research and performances, the critically acclaimed Beatles tribute band 1964 The Tribute will finally make their way to Newport. The band will perform at The JPT Film & Event Center (The JPT) on Saturday, August 17, at 8 p.m.
The show is a powerful tribute to the early Beatles concert experience, featuring period instruments, clothing, hairstyles, and onstage banter. The performances are faithful to the authentic Beatles, with Mark Benson as John Lennon, Mac Ruffing as Paul McCartney, Tom Work as George Harrison, Bobby Potter as Ringo Starr, and many other talented musicians backing up the tracks.
1964 The Tribute has received critical acclaim over the years, earning them the distinction from Rolling Stone magazine as the “Best Beatles Tribute on Earth.” The band has played at sold-out shows at Carnegie Hall and Red Rocks and received extensive critical praise for their authenticity and dedication to the Beatles.
Members
Mark Benson (John Lennon)
Mark Benson was introduced to music playing drums and piano at age eight. He made guitars for Eddie Van Halen and Jackson Browne and sold vintage guitars to The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bad Company, Hall and Oates, Ted Nugent, ZZ Top, The Eagles, Alvin Lee, Joe Walsh, The Allman Brothers, The Cars, David Lindley, Cheap Trick, and the Doobie Brothers.
In 1984 Mark and Gary, started “1964 The Tribute”. Mark says, “’1964′ shows the audience what it was like to attend a Beatles concert in the early sixties and generates the same feeling of happiness that is still generated by the music of The Beatles. We get so much of this positive energy back from our audiences, it reassures us that for now, we are where we are supposed to be”.
Mac Ruffing (Paul McCartney)
Mac Ruffing was born and raised near Cleveland, Ohio and as a young child started listening to his older sisters’ Beatle records. The first album he ever bought was “The Beatles 1962-66,” which is exactly what 1964 The Tribute does, and is still his favorite music. Mac is not naturally left-handed and spent the better part of a year training himself to play the bass guitar left-handed, like Paul McCartney.
Tom Work (George Harrison)
Tom Work (George) is a co-founder of “1964” The Tribute and is the act’s first George.
In 2006 Tom returned to “1964” The Tribute, ending a 12-year sabbatical. “During my time away from 1964 I worked with a few of the other Beatles shows,” he notes. “I learned a great deal and forged close friendships with some great people, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be, no group of performers I’d rather work with than “1964”. It’s great to be back!”
Bobby Potter (Ringo Starr)
He started taking snare drum lessons in the 5th grade and got his first set of drums in the 7th. Later, when The Beatles arrived on the music scene, he made it a personal goal to be like Ringo. Still wanting to achieve his personal “Ringo” goal he joined two Beatle tributes, spending 8 years in this endeavor.
He states in his own words, “In the tribute world, you can’t get any closer or higher up than this for authenticity, style and sound in the same way The Beatles performed live”.
Tickets
Tickets for “1964” The Tribute at The JPT on Saturday, August 17, at 8 p.m. are $49 – $69 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at JanePickens. com or by calling 1-800-657-8774.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.