The Chernov family of Quincy boasts three generations of Beatles fans. Catherine Chernov, 6, and brother Christopher, 3, have fallen for The Beatles, much like their parents and grandparents decades ago. ▲

New generation falls for the mop-tops

A February 1964 story in Newsweek called The Beatles a passing fad. "They're too hot not to cool down," the magazine predicted.

Fast-forward 44 years, and the Fab Four's following is as fervent and broad as ever, from those who watched the band rock out on the Ed Sullivan Show to kids such as Catherine Chernov, 6, of Quincy, who have fallen for The Beatles, much like their parents and grandparents decades ago.

When Catherine was 6 months old, her mother, Sharon Chernov, would lull her to sleep by singing "Hey Jude." Today, the song still calms Catherine, whose knowledge of the famed singing group is "getting better all the time," says her mother.

"It goes by generation," said Jeremy Yudkin, a music professor at Boston University who taught a Beatles course last year. "Now there is a third generation of young teenagers or college kids who come across The Beatles in funny ways."

Last weekend Catherine – dressed in a long white Beatles shirt – went to see the tribute band Beatlejuice at Bad Abbotts in Quincy with her aunt and fellow Beatles fanatic, Debi Giacomozzi, 29, of Braintree. As she watched the group perform, Catherine offered a simple explanation for her fascination with the original English foursome.

"They have really good songs."

An omnipresent force

Thirty-five years after they burst on the music scene, and with two of their four members having died, The Beatles nonetheless still seem omnipresent in American and European culture.

That includes the wildly popular "American Idol," where contestants recently picked tunes from the John Lennon-Paul McCartney songbook for two weeks.

The 2007 film "Across the Universe" also tapped into The Beatles' vibe in building an entire plot around characters from the band's songs. Then there's "Love," which is Cirque du Soleil's theatrical spin and "Rain," a traveling Broadway production that covers more than 200 Beatles' songs.

And as if that's not proof enough that the Fab Four are still kicking in 2008, several British newspapers have speculated that electronics company Apple may pay $400 million or more to use The Beatles catalog on their online music store, iTunes. And his recent costly divorce notwithstanding, Paul McCartney is England's richest entertainer with a $1.3 billion, according to published reports, selling out stadiums and selling albums into his 60s.

Yudkin said the quality of The Beatles' music is precisely what makes it timeless. "Almost every song was different from every song that had preceded it," Yudkin said. "Like all great artists, they were bored with something they had already done."

A family affair

Catherine's mom Sharon Chernov says her husband Andrew, 39, is the reason their kids are into The Beatles. He's been playing their albums for Catherine every night since she came home from the hospital. Chernov also plays them for their son Christopher, 3.

"For (him), it has been disc one of the 'Blue Album' (Greatest Hits) every night for a year and a half," Sharon Chernov said.

Andrew Chernov said he wants his children to grow up with an appreciation for good music, like he did. After all, as Chernov recalls, he too was about Catherine's age when he first discovered The Beatles music at the Thomas Crane Library in Quincy. He fell in love instantly.

"They could pull you into a different place with each song," Andrew Chernov said.

His kids, likewise, have caught the bug. Catherine is such an astute fan that when a Beatles song comes on at the supermarket, she'll tell her mom which Beatle is singing it. And Sharon Chernov said Catherine won't go anywhere without donning a Fab Four pin.

"She's been wearing George for a while now," said Sharon, 36.

"Ringo gets some play every once in a while," added aunt Debi Giacomozzi, who herself bears an ode to the late John Lennon with a neck tattoo of "Imagine" lyrics.

Catherine's favorite song changes frequently, but at the moment, it's "Something."

Andrew Chernov said he's been limiting the kids to the more "family safe" Beatles songs, but expects Catherine and Christopher to discover their later, more adult albums in time.

As for The Beatles possibly reaching a fourth generation of fans, Chernov remains optimistic.

"It's going to carry a little while longer," he said.

Kyle Sutton may be reached at ksutton@ledger.com.

- 30 million "American Idol" viewers for show featuring songs by McCartney and Lennon.

- $77.3 million Money grossed during Paul McCartney's 2005 world tour, including 570,000 tickets at $135.46 each, on average.

- $1 billion Net worth of McCartney and his estate

- 20 Beatles' songs made it to No. 1 on U.S. Billboard charts.

- 19 Beatles' Albums made it to No. 1 on U.S. Billboard charts.