• Listen to the entire program

KPFK Fund Drive Day 6
Seventy years ago this past Saturday a legend was born. Named for Winston Churchill and his maternal grandfather, John Winston Lennon was born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, in the middle of a German WWII air raid to a seamstress mother and a merchant marine father. After a tumultuous adolescence and a brief interlude at an art college, Lennon had already established himself as an accomplished musician, showman and songwriter by age 25. Nicknamed “the smart Beatle” for his wit and outspokenness, the talented singer-songwriter filled his songs with the clever wordplay and psychedelic, dream-like melodies that propelled The Beatles to fame and infected millions with “Beatlemania”. After launching his solo career, starting a family with Yoko Ono, and experimenting with different artistic media, Lennon became a highly vocal critic of America’s and Britain’s involvement in the Vietnam War. His work as a peace activist, coupled with his status as a celebrity, made him a target of constant FBI surveillance. Despite the Nixon administration’s attempts to have him deported, Lennon quickly became the figurehead of the American anti-war movement after penning its anthem, “Give Peace A Chance”. Since his untimely death in 1981, Lennon has been immortalized in songs, books, and art and admired by millions for his courage and creativity.

Thank You Gifts:

The US Vs. John Lennon DVD – $75 pledge
John Lennon Rare and Unseen DVD – $75 pledge
Gimme Some Truth 4 CD Set – $125 pledge

Call us at 818-985-5735 or visit www.kpfk.org to make a pledge.