Vicki Wickham, the legendary music producer behind the iconic British TV show Ready, Steady, Go!, has passed away at 87. Born on March 23, 1939, in Newbury, Berkshire, England, Wickham played a pivotal role in shaping pop music in the 1960s and beyond. Airing on ITV from 1963-66, Ready, Steady, Go! was an influential showcase of the British beat boom, and as talent booker and later producer, Wickham helped introduce The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, Cilla Black, Marianne Faithful, Donovan, The Kinks, The Animals, and The Yardbirds to viewers.
The Beatles appeared three times on the show in 1963 and '64 as Beatlemania swept the world. This exposure often provided their earliest, most significant national exposure.