Birth of Music Legend John Lennon
On October 9, 1940, one of the world’s most celebrated songwriters and performers was born – John Lennon.
Lennon was born in Liverpool, England during a German bombing raid in World War II. John had a tough childhood, and his mother was killed in a car accident when he was 17. Lennon founded a band called “The Quarrymen” that same year. Paul McCartney and George Harrison soon joined.
After changing their name to The Beatles, the band played in nightclubs in England and Germany. In 1962, Brian Epstein became the group’s manager and arranged a recording session. At that first session in the studio, The Beatles recorded an entire album in less than 10 hours, despite Lennon suffering from a severe cold. Called Please Please Me, the album was a big hit in Great Britain, and marked the beginning of “Beatlemania.”
Please Please Me also led to an invitation to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, which launched The Beatles into stardom in the U.S. What followed was a magical ride as The Beatles recorded 22 number one hits from 1963 to 1969. In an eight-year run, the band released thirteen albums, with Lennon and McCartney writing almost all of the songs.
The strains of constant touring and recording started to add up. John’s marriage to his childhood sweetheart Cynthia Powell fell apart, and he entered a relationship – and eventual marriage – with performing artist Yoko Ono. As the members began to go in different artistic directions The Beatles broke up.
Lennon’s solo work was still popular, and the albums Imagine and Double Fantasy were particularly successful. But on the night of December 8, 1980, Mark David Chapman shot him four times – hours after Lennon had autographed an album cover for Chapman. He died from his wounds shortly after.
Lennon is fondly remembered as a songwriter and performer who helped change America’s music scene.
Click the images to add Lennon’s legacy in stamps to your collection.
Sad memories great music .
I had to greet them at N.Y. airport for AMERICAN AIRLINES the first time they came to the U.S they were very cheerlul at that time..I was working for American then
This was a very informative article and I enjoyed reading it very much. Wish I had a stamp to add to my Dad’s stamp collection.
Thank you very much.
Cindy
Super story. John Lennon an excellent choice. This the “Best Day in History” yet! Loved the stamps shown and also learning of the story of Lennon’s personal stamp collection. A keeper!
Lennon should really get a U.S. Stamp.
I’m a little disappointed that Ringo is not mentioned at all.
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/United-States/3188o/USA/
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/Worldwide/M9309/Great%20Britain/
Great info on a very influential person.
Would love to get a price list of American stamps for the past 1900-2007. I have a collection of US stamps and would like to see. How much I would need to complete my set. Especially years 1900-1930. My set are all com retires
Is their such a list.
I think Mystic’s U.S. Stamp Catalog should be very helpful. And you can even use it online: https://www.mysticstampcatalog.com/index.cfm/catalog/2015_Vol_6
Thanks for the birthday celebration honoring John Lennon and the tour of his stamp album at the National Postal Museum. Great work, Don and the Mystic Team.
I think that the series should confine itself to american events. If the U.S. would issue a stamp in his honor that would be a different story.
Really good article. Enjoyed it very much. Thank you.
Lennon and his band…..The Beatles…..what a great band!!!!No actual band is compared to this band….
Lennon was a great pacifist, preaching peace, writing songs about it, and practicing it constantly. How ironic and tragic that he would die so violently.
i used to pick both john asnd yoko up in the city newyork newyork party party party OH YES BACKB IN THE DAY good times goodtimes
Thank you Mr Thomas Kiefner. I also agree that U.S. Stamps should confine itself to American History and its people. I met Ringo Starr, while working at
LAX. He was flying back to England. I had to verify his documentation-Passport. His real name is: Richard Starkey.