On December 8, 1980, I was in Islamorada in the Florida Keys in a duo with Lenore Troia called 'Side By Side', performing in a resort lounge at night and enjoying 80 degree days, tourqouise water and believing a successful musical career was just around the corner. John Lennon's death completely undid us.
The shot heard around the earth. Where were you? John Lennon assassinated. My Kennedy? You bet.
John Lennon as the leader of my musical generation visualized peace; wrote ‘Imagine’, gave us a chance to see the world as something we could change and make a better place for everyone.
A non-violent man lost to violence.
I still need to dream and believe in the John Lennon perspective of the world.
My value of life-far reaching, my ideal that we can be non-violent and bring people together is ever present.
“You may say I’m a dreamer,
but I’m not the only one,
I hope someday you’ll join us
and the world will live as one.”
Here's a comment from my post last year: PS I think Double Fantasy was a great recording!
This is really something. I was too young to feel the impact. For me MIchael Jackson was my John Lennon, my Elvis. My partner had surprised me with tickets to go see him in concert in London which of course didn't happen. Your post led me to want to more about Lennon, which led me to find out he received Album of The Year at the Grammy's for "Double Fantasy". I've never heard the album and am planning to get it. Thank you Cathy.
forgot to mention the part that struck me about my find about Lennon in my last post. He won that Grammy in '81 for "Double Fantasy" - the year after he was assassinated. Jose
Update
on 2011-01-26 20:42 by NYC Subway Girl
Playing For Change Foundation new song Imagine is just the beginning of the Power To The People campaign. Artists around the globe play along to John Lennon singing Imagine. Fantastic way to bring people and communities together through music. Funds go to creating and developing schools.
Imagine from PlayingForChangeFoundation on Vimeo.
Playing For Change was started in 2001 by Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke. Their Mission to connect the world through music.
The Power To The People Campaign seeks to advance John Lennon’s vision of peace by engaging artists and audiences to contribute to music education programs worldwide. Proceeds raised will help build music schools, support teachers and music programs, purchase instruments, and connect schools for cross-cultural learning and conflict resolution across borders. Music IS the power: Power to the People.
To stay informed about the PFC Foundation, the schools they are building, the lives they are touching, and how you can participate, please join their mailing list, and participate in this global movement.