Free show at Pike Place to celebrate Beatles' last gig

It's been 40 years since the Beatles took the stage together for the last time. And it wasn't a stage at all.

The impromptu performance before a London lunch crowd took place atop the roof of their record company, Apple. That January 1969 show — later to be known as "the rooftop concert" — turned out to be the hallowed band's last public performance.

Ken Mansfield, the U.S. manager at Apple, was there to witness it, standing with Yoko Ono just steps away from the band. And to mark this week's 40th anniversary of the event, Mansfield is teaming up with Seattle Beatles cover band Crème Tangerine for a free performance at Pike Place Market on Friday.

Grammy Award-winning producer Mansfield went on to serve as a senior vice president of Capitol Records and write several books, including "The Beatles, the Bible and Bodega Bay" and "The White Book." Besides the Beatles, he worked with Willie Nelson, the Beach Boys, Judy Garland, Merle Haggard, David Cassidy and Dolly Parton.

Crème Tangerine (pictured above) focuses on the Beatles' sound rather than their look. The five-piece band released their debut album, "Crème Tangerine," in 2007; their latest, "The Abbey Road Project," is due later this year.

The free 40th-anniversary tribute concert starts at noon Friday, on the rooftop balcony of the Copacabana Cafe in Pike Place Market. After the show, Mansfield will discuss his work with the famous band and sit for a Q&A with the audience.

Marian Liu: 206-464-3825 or mliu@seattletimes.com