Re -Train Your Brain To Happiness: John Lennon Born 75 Years Ago Today

October 09, 2015

John Lennon Born 75 Years Ago Today

Today in 1940, John Lennon was born in Liverpool, England. Lennon was a co-founder, singer, songwriter and guitarist with The Beatles, who sold more than 20 million singles worldwide between 1962 and 1970, and scored more U.K. and U.S. No. 1 albums than any other group. Post-Beatles, Lennon enjoyed a successful solo career that produced the critically acclaimed albums John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band and Imagine, and iconic songs such as "Give Peace a Chance," "Working Class Hero" and "Imagine."

On Dec. 8, 1980, Lennon was killed outside his New York home by a gunman. In 2002, a BBC poll voted Lennon eighth in a list of 100 Greatest Britons. Lennon was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1987 and into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice — as a member of the Beatles in 1988, and as a solo artist in 1994.

Also, Today In:
1961 - Ray Charles started a two week run at No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "Hit The Road Jack."

1964 - The Beach Boys recorded "Dance Dance Dance," with Glen Campbell playing the lead-guitar intro. It would go on to become the Beach Boys' 12th Top 40 hit.
1964 - Because of an anti-apartheid embargo by the British Musicians' union, the Rolling Stones cancelled a South African tour.

1965 - The Beatles started a four-week run at No.1 on the U.S. singles chart with the Paul McCartney ballad 'Yesterday' giving the group their tenth US No.1.

1973 - Elvis Presley and Priscilla divorced after six years of marriage. Priscilla was awarded property, $725,000 cash and $4,200 a month support.

1975 - Sean Taro Ono Lennon was born, the only child of John Lennon by Yoko Ono; John and Sean share the same birthday (John was 35 when Sean was born). Sean went on to become a singer, songwriter, musician and actor.

1976 - Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band went to No. 1 on the U.S. singles chart with "A Fifth Of Beethoven," a disco rendition of the composer's Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, First Movement.

1978 - Belgian singer-songwriter Jacques Brel died of cancer at age 49. Artists who have recorded Brel's songs include Ray Charles, Frank Sinatra, Dusty Springfield, David Bowie and Nina Simone.

1993 - Nirvana entered the U.S. album chart at No. 1 with In Utero, their third and final studio album.

2007 - The Imagine Peace Tower was officially unveiled near Reykjavik, Iceland. The memorial to John Lennon from his widow, Yoko Ono, consists of a tall "tower of light" projected from a white stone monument that has the words "Imagine Peace" carved into it in 24 languages.

With many thanks to The Current

Yoko Ono Celebrates John Lennon’s 75th Birthday In Iceland

Yoko Ono will commemorate her husband John Lennon’s 75th birthday today, October 9, with the annual lighting of Imagine Peace Tower on the island of Videy, Reyjkavik, Iceland.

Imagine Peace Tower is a conceptual tower of light emanating from a stone base into which the words ‘Imagine Peace’ are carved in 24 languages. It was unveiled by Ono in 2007 and she has visited Reyjkavik every year since then to initiate and participate in the lighting ceremony. This year is the 9th year.

Imagine Peace Tower is lit every year on October 9 and darkened on Dec 8, the day Lennon was killed.

Over 1 million hand written wishes have been received from people all around the world and these are buried beneath Imagine Peace Tower.

Yoko Ono said today: “Every year so many people celebrate John’s life in different and very special ways. I’m always so proud that John’s legacy just grows and grows and resonates with new generations all around the world. It always chokes me up to see his message still out there. Music helps create a global village and John’s music is very much woven into our lives and will continue to be so forever.

He wanted a better planet and together we tried to make it so. The message he was promoting was clear and direct and is as needed today as it was then. All we are saying is give peace a chance! I love you John”.

With many thanks to Noise 11