Beatles Expert Rod Griffith to Address MCC MILES Spring Opener

Beatles and 60’s enthusiasts – come to Middlesex Community College to hear the inside scoop from an expert and fellow fan Rod Griffith. Middlesex will feature Griffith as keynote speaker for the spring Opening Session of Middlesex Institute for Lifelong Education for Seniors (MILES) at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, in the Bedford Campus Center’s Café East, 591 Springs Road.

The event is free and open to the public.

“I’ll be providing a lot of interesting insights into the recording of the Beatles’ final album together – Abbey Road,” Griffith said. “We’ll review all of the challenges that the band was facing by the end of 1968 – and how their lives began to diverge into different paths at that time and into 1969.”

Griffith will discuss studio techniques and tidbits behind the making of classic songs “Come Together,” “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” among others. As a passionate collector of rare Beatles music and artifacts, Griffith was asked by the Beatles’ record label to act as a consultant, which led him to a role at the estate of John Lennon.

“They had an ability to create melodies that are timeless. And they never stayed the same – they always wanted to try new things,” he said. They weren’t interested in repeating their same success over and over. And the result is an incredible body of work that – quite amazingly – was created in just a seven year period together!

“They have a song for every mood – as I say. So almost anyone can find Beatles songs that are meaningful to them at any given time in their lives.”

Griffith spent 10 years in marketing positions at area technology companies before starting his own company 25 years ago – MarketReach in Nashua. Now a resident of Lowell and board member of the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL), he grew up in the Berkshires where he earned money as a teenager dusting off paintings for his elderly neighbor – Norman Rockwell.

MCC’s MILES program offers stimulating, interactive daytime seminars and workshops – with no term papers, tests or grades – for active, older adults ages 55+. This Opening Session provides community members an opportunity to learn more about MILES and the courses being offered – and is a good time to meet instructors and peers. Light refreshments will be served.

MILES Spring 2020 Session runs Mondays through Thursdays, March 23 through April 30. Classes meet from 2 to 4 p.m. and are facilitated by individuals with expertise in their field. Workshops and seminars focus on topics such as art, the environment, health, history, literature, movies and technology.

Each MILES course is $15 – with a maximum of $95 for the semester if you register for seven or more courses. All MILES participants enjoy free use of the MCC Fitness Center and library.

For the complete schedule of MILES courses, contact Lauren Ellis at 781-280-369 or email ellisl@middlesex.mass.edu. To register for courses, call 1-800-818-3434. Visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/MILES for more information.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, we educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners. MCC offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – on our campuses in Bedford and Lowell, and online. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!