Let this Beatles explorer take you on a magical mystery tour of their musical history…

I am an award-winning author, acclaimed podcaster (Something About The Beatles) and sought-after speaker. Guests on my show have ranged from Beatles insiders like Pattie Boyd (who told me, “You ask questions no one has ever asked me!”) and Mike McCartney to filmmakers like Peter Jackson to musicians like Alan Parsons (who worked with them) and The Cars’ Elliot Easton (one of many inspired by them). I have presented at universities around the country (Monmouth College and Eastman School of Music, to name two) as well as before gatherings of curious and intelligent patrons of the arts (such as at the Woodstock Opera House). I am also a regular interviewee on radio and TV in my hometown of Chicago. My newest book (of six on The Beatles), Ribbons of Rust: The Beatles’ Recording History in Context Vol. 1, was published this year. It became the subject of a featured article in the Washington Post. 

I am what is categorized as a “2nd-generation” fan – too young to have witnessed their career in real time, but captivated in the 1970s as a child who couldn’t consume enough about them: first the music and then their story. I never set out to become a “Beatles author”; I in fact have contributed to or wrote/co-wrote a number of other books on historic pop culture subjects. But Beatles was the world I kept getting drawn back into, both by readers and listeners whose demands to find out more have kept me busy, but through the fact that the sun never sets on their world. A steady stream of books, documentaries and reissued product demands attention, not just for the joy it brings, but for each piece of the puzzle that it offers. And in understanding their story, their evolution offers a window into our own life journeys, with lessons applicable to all. Maybe this is the reason it remains so compelling: it offers hope for a more enlightened and inclusive world.  

As a passionate Beatles historian, I provide audiences with exclusive insights and untold stories that breathe new life into the Fab Four’s legacy. Getting the history right has been the underlying them to my work, and that means cutting through decades of myth and spin to get to the core of what is the real series of miracles at the heart of their story. I was most recently an invited speaker at the Magical Mystery Camp held in the Catskills. So enthralled were the attendees with my presentation that before the week was over, I was invited back to present next year, as well as to a new event coming late this year to New Jersey. I was the only guest speaker who brought books along to the event; I went home empty handed, having sold every copy I brought. 

Back when Oscar-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson was working on his epic Get Back film for Disney+, he tracked me down just before it premiered to offer himself up for a conversation (which ended up running for over three hours). During our talk, he said that he regretted not including certain things in the film that I had suggested. The event was so singular that it became the subject of an article published online in Forbes. Getting the attention of a world-class filmmaker or the Washington Post wasn’t anything I set out to do, but it goes to show that you never know who is paying attention when you deliver unique and insightful content. This is the takeaway from my events: you get a fresh perspective on a familiar subject that challenges you see and hear The Beatles from a different angle.  

MY BOOKS

• Fab Four FAQ: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About The Beatles…and More!  

            The book that started an entire book series for Hal Leonard, the world’s largest music publisher.

• Fab Four FAQ 2.0: The Beatles’ Solo Years 1970-1980 

            A book just named one of the top “10 essential post-Beatles books” by Goldmine magazine.

• The Beatles: Fifty Fabulous Years

            Created as an exclusive for the Barnes and Nobles bookstore chain and their best-seller at Christmas.

• Revolver: How The Beatles Re-Imagined Rock ‘n’ Roll

           Recognized by the Association for Recorded Sound Collections (ARSC) for “Best Research in Recorded Rock Music.”​​​​​​

• Solo in the Seventies: John, Paul George and Ringo 1970-1980

   The sequel volume to Fab Four FAQ 2.0. 

• Ribbons of Rust: The Beatles’ Recording History in Context Vol. 1  

            Written up as a featured article in the Washington Post.

My talks have drawn everyone from 1st-generation fans whose lives were changed when they saw them on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 to Gen-Z fans born decades after the group played their last collective note together, all bound by the unifying power of this secular religion. Being a Beatles is fan is about more than just their music: it’s about that “pocket of joy” they have delivered to the world over and over again which has resonated especially during the tough times. My talks explore the group’s singular history from every angle, celebrates their legacy and leaves audiences with a renewed sense of uplift that only immersing themselves in the unique magic of The Beatles can provide. It’s a story of empowerment, transcending boundaries, and evolution as well as a celebration of friendship and the joy of doing what you love with the people you love. There’s never been a time when the world needed it more. 

SOME NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Created a unique template for presenting a lot of information in an easily digestible format with my first Beatles book. Thus was the FAQ series born, which Hal Leonard then expanded into over 100 titles on a broad range of pop culture subjects following my format. 
• Staged an online Beatles-themed event, Fab4ConJam, seen around the world at the height of the COVID pandemic. This two-day convention saw thousands of virtual attendees experience a series of taped and live programs, including The Rooftop Reunion, which brought together three Beatles insiders and witnesses to the group’s last live performance for the first time in forty years for a Q&A.
• Started the Something About The Beatles podcast in late 2013. The show is now well-past producing its 300th episode, which was celebrated this year with a “greatest hits” edition, assembling past guests alongside input from listeners. Notables on show have included Pattie Boyd (ex-Mrs. George Harrison and Eric Clapton), director Peter Jackson, photographer Ethan Russell, producers Chris Thomas and John Leckie, journalists Ray Connolly and Sylvie Simmons, and loads of other Beatle authors and guests.
• Produced the Now and Then special episode to commemorate the release of the “last” new Beatles song. This show featured twenty-one guests, ranging from people who knew and worked with the Beatles to musicians to academics to 1st-gen and Gen-Z fans. It ran nearly four hours and was likened by listeners to a Beatles-themed party.    
• Generated press in journals ranging from Forbes to the Washington Post based on my podcast as well as my latest book, volume one of a series covering The Beatles’ recording career entitled Ribbons of Rust. 
• With Ribbons of Rust, I created a groundbreaking mix of old and new media: the book contains QR codes throughout, allowing readers to hear and see what is being depicted throughout the narrative by linking to online resources.  

As you can see, as a disseminator of information on a subject beloved by the world, I am constantly looking for ways to present their story through every imaginable platform. This capacity for innovation has been recognized by the world. 

At a time when there’s a lot in the world to be stressed and unhappy about, the story of The Beatles never fails to inspire and lift spirits. That’s another way of saying that we have never needed them more. My talks leave audiences with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts just when they need it most. 

READER TESTIMONIALS

• “Of the literally thousands of books out there about The Beatles, this one stands head and shoulders above the usual fare. Revolver: How The Beatles Reimagined Rock ‘N’ Roll is one of the more original takes on this band I have had the pleasure to read. My hat is off to you Mr. Rodriguez for telling this portion of The Beatles’ story in a very compelling manner.” Greg Barbrick – Blinded By Sound 
• “For fans like me who have long held the belief that Revolver  is the finest album the Beatles made, Rodriguez’s book is essential….If Rodriguez wanted me to appreciate Revolver  even more (which I didn’t think was possible), he certainly did his job.” Daniel S. Levine – The Celebrity Cafe 
• “Just when you may have thought the world didn’t need another Beatles book, he has delivered a focused, compelling, and impeccably researched volume that emphasizes the artistry in their 1966 classic.” The Other Chad – Blogcritics 

LISTENER TESTIMONIALS

• Something About the Beatles is a must for anyone looking to dive deeper into what made this band so timeless. The host gets it. He’s not just telling the story — he’s exploring the spaces between the notes, the tensions, the love. Each episode feels like an intimate conversation with people who have lived with this music as deeply as you have. It’s not just about the facts, but the feeling behind the music. He goes INCREDIBLY deep and I have found so much joy in going back and listening to the episodes from the very beginning (spoiler: there are a lot lol). 
• Robert is an excellent communicator and listener, extremely knowledgeable, and has a wide array of guests. Something About The Beatles has something for everyone. 
• There are other Beatles podcasts that are great in very specific ways, but there is no better overall show surveying every aspect of The Beatles from before their beginnings to where their legacy may go next. Each episode tends to be a deep dive, but with such a broad back-catalogue there’s something for everyone; whether you’re a fan who likes some of the tunes to a die-hard scholar with intense opinions about the musical and interpersonal ramifications of Rishikesh. Choose one that seems interesting, and I’m sure you’ll be drawn into curiosity about other episodes you’d never have considered. As the éminence grise of Beatles podcasting, Robert gets an amazing range of guests, some of them surprisingly important to the world of Beatles, and treats each one with unfailing respect.   

AUDIENCE TESTIMONIALS

• “Robert is the ‘Fifth Beatle’ …his presentation was not only thorough, but thoroughly enjoyable. Robert didn’t lecture, he engaged in a dialogue with the audience that left them wanting, and asking, for more. He is on my list for future presentations.” Dan Carroll, Adult Programming Manager, City of Blue Island Library 
• “I learned things that I didn’t know about the Beatles before! Visual portion of the program was exceptional. Robert was very knowledgeable of not only what happened and when, but how certain things impacted the group.” Mary Johnson, Head of Public Services, Palos Heights Public Library 
• “Robert’s presentation of “The Beatles: Their Performing Years” was excellent!  Robert was a knowledgeable, interesting and engaging speaker. He patiently answered every question asked and made time for each person that waited to speak to him after the presentation.  Robert arrived early for set-up and was professional in every manner.  We, as a library, hand out program surveys to our program attendees.  For Robert’s program, every survey received rated the program as “excellent,” the first time in my experience that this has happened.” Doug Ferrini, Adult Services Librarian, White Oak Library District
• “Robert is an extremely knowledgeable and engaging speaker. No matter what the members of the audience asked, he always had a great answer.  Every time he’s presented for us, attendees would stick around afterwards to talk to him and each other about the event, which to me is always a great sign of an excellent speaker and a successful program.” Rachel Hoover, Adult Services Librarian, Thomas Ford Memorial Library

Bring the magic of The Beatles to your next event—contact me to discuss how we can create an unforgettable experience for your audience!