On This Date- Mikaela Gatewood

On October 9th, 1940, John Lennon was born, bringing forth one of the most important figures in rock and roll history. It was John Lennon, along with Paul McCartney, who brought to life arguably the most influential band in music, the Beatles. With the Beatles' beginning in 1960, they changed the perception of music through their innovative style and songs. From the release of their first album, Please Please Me, in 1963, the Beatles transitioned rock and roll into a new era, steering it away from the sounds of older artists like Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly with their upbeat British pop sound. Hits like "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You", along with their iconic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, skyrocketed their popularity, making them a world wide sensation. Soon the Beatles' style began to change with the release of later albums such as Rubber Soul and Revolver,  as they began writing more serious songs with a harder rock sound as opposed to their previous light and cheery style. Even though the Beatles' ended in 1970, their music and legacy carried on, and remains intact today, continuously influencing numerous artists. After the Beatles' breakup, John Lennon continued on with his music career, releasing his solo album Imagine in 1971, including the album titled single "Imagine" having a huge influential impact with it's promotion of world peace. Lennon's solo album was indicative of he and his wife, Yoko Ono's, peace activism and protest of the Vietnam War. He continued on with his activism up until the year of his death. On December 8th, 1980, that Lennon was shot outside his apartment, ending his life. It's unarguable that Lennon's influence and legacy live on today. His revolutionary actions will continue to impact the music industry and the world as a whole.