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John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the singer-songwriter team that made the Beatles the most popular and influential musical group of the late 20th century. Hailing from Liverpool, England, the rock quartet won legions of fanatical teenage fans early in the 1960s with such hits as ''Love Me Do'' and ''I Want to Hold Your Hand.'' In early 1964, ''Beatlemania'' hit the United States; an estimated 73 million U.S. television viewers, or about 40 percent of the U.S. population, tuned in to see their first performance on the ''Ed Sullivan Show''. As the '60s progressed, the Beatles' music became increasingly sophisticated, and in 1966 they played their last public performance, preferring instead to concentrate on their groundbreaking studio recordings, such as 1967's ''St. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band,'' a psychedelic concept album that is regarded as a masterpiece of popular music. The Beatles' music remained relevant to youth throughout the great cultural shifts of the 1960s, and critics of all ages acknowledged the songwriting genius of the Lennon-McCartney team. In 1970, the Beatles disbanded, leaving a legacy of 18 albums and 30 top 10 U.S. singles. During the next decade, all four Beatles pursued solo careers, with varying success. Lennon, the most outspoken and controversial Beatle, was shot to death by a deranged fan outside his New York apartment building in 1980. McCartney was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1997 for his contribution to British culture.