John Lennon

John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, and activist who was one of the co-founders of The Beatles. Alongside bandmate Paul McCartney, Lennon formed one-half of one of the most celebrated songwriting partnerships in the history of music.

As a member of the Beatles, Lennon would attain great success as a musician. Later in life, he would also find success as a solo artist, particularly after the break-up of the Beatles and after his marriage to Yoko Ono. Lennon was also a member of The Dirty Mac, a one-off supergroup comprised of Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones, and Mitch Mitchell of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Lennon was tragically shot and killed on December 8, 1980 in the archway of his Manhattan apartment building, three weeks after the release of Double Fantasy, an album by him and Ono. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 as a member of the Beatles, and again in 1994 as a solo artist.