Who's the biggest influence on how the Beatles created their sound in your opinion?

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Many many many! I couldn’t really say one was the most influential, and all 4 members (during their peak times) brought their own set of influences to the table. Frank Sinatra influenced McCartney’s vocal style, but so did Otis Redding. Ravi Shankar had a big influence on George Harrison as well as other musicians from India, and so did Carl Perkins. John Lennon was influenced by a lot of folk artists, and not just Bob Dylan but Dylan’s influences. Bach, people don’t know this in general but Denny Laine influenced both John and Paul. There’s way more.

LeopoldBloom · M

@BackyardShaman I also think Yoko Ono had an influence on the more avant-garde direction they took in their later work. She was a Fluxist and may have introduced them to the music of Stockhausen and other modern composers.

BackyardShaman · 61-69, M

@LeopoldBloom I’d say you’re right .

dubkebab · 51-55, M

@BackyardShaman There's truth to that,the Moptops were certainly aware of musique concrete in that period. They also spent time with W.S. Burroughs who was deep into running tape recording experiments and backwards sound effects in London in the late sixties.