John Lennon, the guitarist of the Beatles, although late now, remains alive in so many people’s minds.
He is regarded as one of the greatest icons in popularizing modern music and people still feel his presence anytime they listen to any records by his musical group.
Every one of his posthumous birthdays is a time for the music industry to reflect on his influence in modern music, his contribution to his group, his iconic character as a singer/songwriter.
In this piece, let’s take a look at how old Lennon would have been this year, his legacy, and his family.
Who is John Lennon?
John Lennon was a British musician, peace activist, singer, and songwriter who was born on October 9, 1940, and died on December 8, 1980. He was born in Liverpool, England, and died in New York City, New York, United States of America.
He died from gunshot wounds and his ashes were scattered in Central Park, New York City. He became active in 1956 and gained popularity when he became the founder, co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and co-songwriter in the Beatles musical group.
His songwriting partner was Paul McCartney and the partnership was one of the most iconic in the history of modern music. He was into different genres of music like Rock and Pop. He also played instruments like the Guitar and Keyboard.
His first band, Quarrymen, evolved to what we know as the Beatles today in the early 1960s. Later in the decade, he wrote and published two books: “In His Own Write” and “A Spaniard In The Works.” As a musician, he had over 20 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
He married Cynthia Powell in 1962 and got divorced six years later. He had a son, Julian, from that marriage whom he saw three days after he was born. In 1969, Lennon then married Yoko Ono and they had a son, Sean, after many miscarriages. On October 9, 2021, Lennon would have turned 81 years old.
Lennon’s Second Wife, Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono is a Japanese singer, songwriter, artist, and peace activist who was born on February 18, 1933, in Tokyo, Japan. She is a performing artist who performs effortlessly in Japanese and English. She married Lennon in 1969 before he was murdered 11 years later.
Before meeting Lennon, she had been in two marriages, one in 1956 and the second in 1963. She divorced the second man, Anthony Cox, the same year she married Lennon. She also has two kids, including her only child with Lennon.
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Ono has been active since 1961 and is a pro at playing the piano, keyboards, and other percussion instruments. She has many associate acts, including “The Beatles.” When Ono was twenty years old, she moved to New York, United States, to reside with her family.
She became popular and achieved huge commercial success when she released an album titled “Double Fantasy” in 1980. It was a collaboration with her late husband, Lennon, who was murdered barely a month after the album release. The project won the Album of the Year in the Grammys.
Ono Created A Project In Memory Of Her Late Husband
On Lennon’s posthumous birthday in 2007, Ono dedicated a building called the Imagine Peace Tower in Iceland. This year, she called for a live streaming event where the building will be illuminated in remembrance of the musical legend, Lennon.
In a post on Twitter, the widow shared the live streaming link and communicated the starting time each for the United Kingdom, New York, Tokyo, and Reykjavik due to the different time zones. The Peace Tower’s illumination is done annually to celebrate Lennon’s remembrance.
Iceland was chosen for illumination because the country generates its electrical energy from water, instead of oil, which means no pollution. It is a beautiful situation that portrays Iceland as a magical country.
What Lennon Is Being Remembered For
Lennon’s legacy has been a remarkable one as the musical star that he is. The legacy he left behind is portraying a line in his 1970 song titled “Instant Karma” where he said ‘we all shine on…”
A week before his birthday, his song, “Imagine,” was certified 3x Platinum by RIAA.
From the books he wrote and published, great authors described how excellent Lennon’s legacy is.
They also talked about how his existence impacted fans within and beyond music. Even after his death, he still posthumously received awards in one Grammy Awards occasion.
