Strawberry Fields Forever

On this fateful day in 1980, the life of John Lennon was extinguished far too soon. It was one of the most shocking days in popular music history and news of his death left the world feeling numb. Just take a look at this rare footage of Stevie Wonder finding out about John Lennon’s assassination and delivering the news to his stunned audience.

His impact as a singer, songwriter, activist and icon is undeniable. His influence was immense… as was the size of his heart.

I was born the year he died, so I never quite understood the scope of Beatlemania when I was younger. But as I’ve grown older my appreciation for John Winston Lennon has grown as well. So much so that when I was in New York a few years ago, I knew I had to go to Strawberry Fields in Central Park (where I took the picture that accompanies this article). To see people from all around the world congregating there to celebrate his life was incredibly beautiful, and showed me just how powerful of a influence he was… and continues to be.

In honour of the great life and times of John Lennon, let’s look at some of the various tributes that have been recorded over the years:

George Harrison’s tribute to his friend – “All Those Years Ago”