On Sunday 27 August, two days after The Beatles' arrival in north Wales news broke of the death of their manager Brian Epstein.

BBC: The Beatles in Wales: Reacting to Brian Epstein's death

It was a casual, get-to-know-you visit, a meeting of an up-and-coming photographer and four rising pop stars arranged through Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

CNN: Framing the Fab Four

Their luck started when they were taken over by Brian Epstein, who ran a record shop in Liverpool near the Cavern Club, where the Beatles were regularly performing.

ECONOMIST: George Harrison | The

He also wanted to manage the group - but says they chose Brian Epstein over him after a mix-up with a newspaper advert for a gig in Aldershot meant only 18 people turned up.

BBC: Looking back at the birth of The Beatles

At the time McCartney and writing partner John Lennon wrote their songs, they retained only a portion of the rights in the publishing company created by the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, and London music publisher Dick James. (The company was called Northern Songs, a nod to the Beatles' Liverpudlian roots.) The company went public in 1965.

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