The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. The group consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The bands genre was rooted in rock and roll, the Beatles also utilized several genres, ranging from pop ballads to psychedelic rock, often incorporating classical and other elements in innovative ways. The band built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg. They gained popularity in the United Kingdom after their first hit, "Love Me Do", in 1962, and by early 1964 they had become international stars, leading the "British Invasion" of the United States pop market. From 1965 on, the Beatles produced what many critics consider their finest material, including the innovative and widely influential albums Rubber Soul (1965), Revolver (1966), Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Beatles (1968), and Abbey Road (1969). After their break-up in 1970, they each enjoyed successful musical careers. Lennon died in 1980 after having been shot by a deranged former fan, and Harrison died of lung cancer in 2001. McCartney and Starr remain musically active.

The Beatles have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other act.  As of 2012 the Beatles have sold 177 million units in the US, more than any other artist. In 2008, the group topped Billboard magazine's list of the all-time most successful Hot 100 artists. As of 2012, they hold the record for most number-one hits on the Hot 100 chart with 20. They have received 7 Grammy Awards and are all collectively mentioned in Time Magazines 100 most influential people.