John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 1940 – 8 December 1980) was an English singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist best known as the Beatles’ founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist. The rebellious nature and acerbic wit of his music, writing, and drawings, on film, and in interviews defined Lennon’s work. His songwriting partnership with Paul McCartney is still the most successful in history.
At the age of 15, Lennon formed the Quarrymen, a skiffle band. Quarry Bank High School was the name given to the group by John Lennon in September 1956. By the summer of 1957, the Quarrymen were performing a “spirited set of songs,” half skiffle and half rock and roll. Lennon first met Paul McCartney at the Quarrymen’s second performance, which took place on July 6 at the St Peter’s Church garden fête in Woolton. Then Lennon invited McCartney to join the band.
Was John Lennon raised by his aunt?
He was raised solely (in Woolton, a Liverpool suburb) by his maternal aunt, Mimi Smith, whose husband died during his adolescence, as did his biological mother, who had taught him to play the banjo.
Aunt Mimi, according to McCartney, “was very aware that John’s friends were lower class,” and would frequently patronize him when he arrived to visit Lennon. According to McCartney’s brother Mike, their father similarly disapproved of Lennon, declaring that Lennon would get his son “into trouble”.
Nonetheless, McCartney’s father permitted the fledgling band to rehearse in the family’s front room at 20 Forthlin Road. During this period, Lennon wrote his first song, “Hello Little Girl,” which went on to become a UK top 10 hit for the Fourmost in 1963.
