«John Lennon»

Done by Olga Kirbitova

• John Winston Ono Lennon(born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English rock, musician, singer, writer, songwriter, artist, actor and peace activist who gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles.

Early years: 1940–1957

• John Winston Lennon was born in the Liverpool Maternity Hospital, Oxford Street, Liverpool, to Julia Lennon and Alfred Lennon, during the course of a German air raid in World War II. He was named after his paternal grandfather, John 'Jack' Lennon, and Winston Churchill.

Mendips; George and Mimi Smith’s home, where Lennon lived for most of his childhood

The Beatles: 1957–1970

• When Lennon decided that he wanted to try making music himself, he and fellow Quarry Bank Grammar School friend, Eric Griffiths, took guitar lessons at Hunts Cross in Liverpool, although Lennon gave up the lessons soon after. Lennon started The Quarrymen in March 1957. The first song Lennon completed was "Hello, Little Girl" when he was 18 years old, which later became a hit for the Fourmost. After a series of name changes, the group decided on The Beatles.

Lennon's guitars

The Beatles arriving in the U.S. in 1964

John Lennon in 1964

Marriages and relationships

• Cynthia Powell met Lennon at the Liverpool Art College in 1957. Although Lennon was not her type, she was attracted to him. After hearing Lennon comment favorably about another girl who looked like Brigitte Bardot, Powell changed the color of her hair to blonde.Their relationship started after a college party before the summer holidays when Lennon asked Powell to go a pub with him and some friends

Writing and art • Lennon started writing

and drawing early in life, with encouragement from his Uncle George, and created his own comic strip in his school book, which he called "The Daily Howl". It contained drawings—frequently of crippled people—and satirical writings, often with a play on words.

Lennon's comic, "The Daily Howl".

Death

• On the night of 8 December 1980 Mark David Chapman shot Lennon in the back four times (the fifth shot missed) in the entrance hallway of the Dakota. Lennon had autographed a copy of Double Fantasyfor Chapman earlier that same night. Lennon's body was cremated at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, New York.

The entrance to the Dakota building where Lennon was shot.