Spencer Leigh was born and still lives in Liverpool, England, and is an acknowledged authority on the Beatles. He has been broadcasting his weekly show, On The Beat, on BBC Radio Merseyside for more than 25 years and, over that time, has conducted more interviews about the band - all captured on tape - than anyone in the world. He has also written over 25 books including biographies of Lonnie Donegan, Billy Fury, Buddy Holly, the Merseybeats and the Merseysippi Jazz Band. He is an Honoured Friend at Sir Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts (LIPA)and he has a Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.