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The name "John Lennon" and the words "gone too soon" are practically synonymous. The gentle musician and songwriter had so much to share with the world, and who knows what he would be doing today. John Lennon could earnestly talk about peace and love and the world would listen instead of laugh cynically. Part of it was the times, but part of it was the fact that John Lennon could back up his preaching with a breath-taking, nuanced artistic vision. In addition to recording with The Beatles and as a solo artist, John Lennon was a visionary artist, author and film-maker, and a champion of social causes like poverty and peace. What John Lennon has left for music fans, and the enduring popularity of his songs, is testament enough to the man's legendary status. Born in Liverpool, England on October 9, 1940, Lennon's early life was not happy; after his father went AWOL during WWII, Lennon's mother refused to take him back when he eventually returned home. Bitter custody battles followed, and Lennon ultimately wound up living with his working class aunt and uncle, with whom he was always close. Lennon's mother encouraged his love of early American rock records like Elvis Presley and Fats Domino, and bought him his first guitar when he was 16. Sadly, she was hit and killed by a car when John Lennon was 17. After that Lennon did poorly in school and soon dropped out to pursue his musical dreams with Paul McCartney and The Quarrymen. The rest, as they say, is rock history. As songwriters in The Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney both competed with and inspired each other, leading to classic Beatles tunes like "Eight Days A Week", "Birthday", "Help!" and "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds." Some rumors say that The Beatles really fell apart when new wife and artist Yoko Ono replaced Paul as a collaborative partner in John's mind. Regardless, following The Beatles' breakup, John Lennon continued to live the life of an iconoclastic bohemian art star, and his solo singles like the anti-war anthem "Give Peace A Chance", "Instant Karma" and "Working Class Hero" remain some of the most beloved tracks on rock radio today.

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