John Winston Lennon (born 9 October 1940, Liverpool, England - died 8 December 1980, New York, USA) was a British singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist, best known as a founding member of The Beatles, one of the most influential bands in the history of popular music. Lennon’s early life was marked by personal instability; his parents separated when he was young, and he was raised primarily by his aunt Mimi. He developed an early love for skiffle and rock & roll, forming his first band, The Quarrymen, in 1956. In 1957, he met Paul McCartney, and together they began writing songs, later joined by George Harrison and Ringo Starr to form The Beatles. From 1960 to 1970, The Beatles revolutionized popular music with their innovative songwriting, experimental recording techniques, and cultural influence. Lennon contributed some of the group’s most iconic songs, including “Help!”, “Strawberry Fields Forever”, “All You Need Is Love”, and “Come Together”. His lyrics often blended wit, surreal imagery, and social commentary. After The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Lennon pursued a solo career, producing critically acclaimed albums such as “John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band” (1970) and “Imagine” (1971), the latter featuring his enduring anthem for peace, “Imagine”. He became increasingly involved in political activism with his second wife, Yoko Ono, championing causes such as anti-war protests, feminism, and social justice. In 1975, Lennon took a five-year break from music to focus on raising his son, Sean. He returned in 1980 with the album “Double Fantasy”, but his life was tragically cut short on 8 December 1980, when he was shot outside his New York apartment building by Mark David Chapman. Lennon’s legacy endures as a symbol of artistic innovation, social activism, and the belief in the power of music to inspire change. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice - as a member of The Beatles (1988) and as a solo artist (1994).