Today in Music History: John Lennon born 75 years ago
October 09, 2015
History Highlight:
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.
Birthdays:
The Who bassist John Entwhistle was born today in 1944.
Jackson Browne is 67.
Pogues accordionist James Fearnley is 61.
PJ Harvey is 45.