The British Invasion of the 1960s is credited with bringing a new commercial-pop style to the United States by such iconic bands as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Dusty Springfield. The new sound was based on imported American records by such early Blues artists as Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and early Rock and Roll artists like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly and Fats Domino.

Now, 50 years after the initial musical impact, five TSU students will learn about the influential movement while inside the country that produced it.

Beginning July 1, five TSU students will journey to London, England, to explore the creative breeding ground from one of the world’s most memorable and long-lasting musical movements.

“The British Invasion has a big history and we want to explore its roots and origin,” said Coordinator of Commercial Music Dr. Mark Crawford. “It signaled the take-off for modern pop music in the (United States) and our students will get to see it for themselves.”

Commercial music majors Leandria Lott, Milton Mansfield, Vernon Walker, Jasmine White and music education major Dorian Townsend will join Crawford and Dr. Patricia Reeves, coordinator of music education, as they journey to London for an up close and personal glimpse of the country’s rich musical landscape and historical presence in popular music.

“The students going on the trip will complete a special topics course on the material and history they learn while in the (United Kingdom). They are going to take in the culture that helped produce artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who,” Crawford said.

Thanks to a grant proposal drafted by Crawford last fall, the group of students and professors will spend 10 days sightseeing and gaining a one of a kind education in international music history.

“I want the students to go to Liverpool, visit Abbey Road Studios and even visit some of the blues and jazz clubs in the same areas that produced some of the great music talents,” Crawford said.

These students and others in the College of Arts and Sciences will be allowed to visit international locales thanks to opportunities made possible by the University’s International Education Committee, the Pilot Center for Academic Excellence in Intelligence Studies (PCAEIS) and the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TnCIS).

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