R.I.P.: Ed Rudy, Broadcaster Covered The Beatles’ First Trip To America

Ed Rudy and The Fab Four

• He sent reports about the Fab Four’s travels to radio stations in February 1964. Then he turned the material into an album that rose to No. 20 on the Billboard chart.

On Feb. 7, 1964, when the Beatles were greeted by thousands of screaming fans at John F. Kennedy International Airport, a radio reporter named Ed Rudy was there, according to The NY Times.

Rudy filed reports to a syndicate of radio stations throughout the Beatles’ two-week tour of the United States, their first performances in the country, and soon after packaged his material into a 35-minute album, “The American Tour With Ed Rudy,” which rose to No. 20 on Billboard’s Top LPs chart.

“Here is the sound and substance of the world’s hottest entertainment group,” Mr. Rudy said at the start of the album in his booming Bronx-accented voice.

The album, a chronicle of the Beatles’ invasion of the American market, was released by Mr. Rudy to capitalize on the group’s astonishing early popularity. It was the central achievement among Mr. Rudy’s various undertakings as a writer, radio announcer, band manager and song publisher.

Mr. Rudy died on Nov. 7 at his home in Aventura, Fla. He was 93. His daughter, Anita Storr, confirmed the death.

Ruby worked in the 1950s on three New York City radio stations, 1010WINS, 1050 WMGM and 77WABC, in various on-air roles, as well as writing for the trade newspaper Show Business and other publications.

His daughter said that he also managed the doo-wop groups the Eternals and the Genies; he also published some of their songs, including the Eternals’ “Babalu’s Wedding Day” and the Genies’ “No More Knockin,’” the last of which he is credited with co-writing.