The Beatles are ‘here there and everywhere’ for one American author

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How the Beatles helped raise an American generation

Jere Hester explains 50 years of Beatlemania in the US in his new book, ''Raising a Beatle Baby'

It’s been 50 years since the Beatles made their U.S. debut on the “The Ed Sullivan Show” on February 9, 1964, but Beatlemania reigns supreme for those growing up in the 1960s and beyond, including journalist Jere Hester.

Hester grew up living in New York with his wife, Theresa, and daughter, Ella, but in some ways, the trio thinks they are a family of seven: They see the British rock band as extended members of their family.

In his new book, “Raising a Beatle Baby: How John, Paul, George and Ringo Helped us Come Together as a Family," Hester traces how he and his wife connected as Beatles fans and made the Fab Four the soundtrack for their family.

“The Beatles were … to use one of their terms, were always ‘here, there, and everywhere’ for me,” Hester told Fox 411.

Hester explained how the Beatles played a major role in his relationship with his wife and his daughter.

“We [wife and me] went to Liverpool on our honeymoon and with our daughter, she was born into a Beatle household,” said Hester. “I was serenading her with ‘Love Me Do’ while she was in the womb. She grew up with the music, [and] it’s like second nature to her.”

The Hester family has retraced the Beatles’ steps by traveling to many of their hot spots: Hamburg, London and Liverpool.

He explained an encounter his daughter had when meeting Yoko Ono, wife of the late John Lennon.  She asked Ono why the Beatles broke up.

“She [Ono] said in essence because they grew up, they wanted to do their own thing, and they did,” Hester recounted, saying it was the best explanation he had heard to date.

Even though it’s been five decades, Hester says, “the music and the story are as alive today as they have ever been.”