On this date in 1940 English Guitarist, Keyboardist, Harmonicist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Author, and founder of the Beatles in 1960, John Winston Lennon is born in Liverpool, England. The Beatles achieved mainstream success in the UK early in '63. Lennon was on tour when his 1st son, Julian, was born in April. During their Royal Variety Show performance, which was attended by the Queen Mother and other British royalty, Lennon poked fun at the audience: "For our next song, I'd like to ask for your help. For the people in the cheaper seats, clap your hands ... and the rest of you, if you'll just rattle your jewellery."After a year of Beatlemania in the UK, the group's historic February '64 US debut appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show marked their breakthrough to international stardom. A 2 year period of constant touring, filmmaking, and songwriting followed, during which Lennon wrote 2 books, In His Own Write and A Spaniard in the Works. The Beatles received recognition from the British establishment when they were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the '65 Queen's Birthday Honors. Lennon grew concerned that fans who attended Beatles concerts were unable to hear the music above the screaming of fans, and that the band's musicianship was beginning to suffer as a result. Lennon's "Help!" expressed his own feelings in '65: "I meant it ... It was me singing 'help'". He had put on weight and would later refer to this as his "Fat Elvis" period, and felt he was subconsciously seeking change. A hurtful comment from a reporter would lead him to undergo several bouts with weight loss and appearance changes throughout the rest of his life. In March that year he and Harrison were unknowingly introduced to LSD when a dentist, hosting a dinner party attended by the 2 musicians and their partners, spiked the guests' coffee with the drug. When they wanted to leave, their host revealed what they had taken, and strongly advised them not to leave the house because of the likely effects. Later, in a lift at a nightclub, they all believed it was on fire; Lennon recalled: "We were all screaming ... hot and hysterical." In March 1966, during an interview with Evening Standard reporter Maureen Cleave, Lennon remarked, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink ... We're more popular than Jesus now ... I don't know which will go first, rock and roll or Christianity." The comment went virtually unnoticed in England but caused great offence in the US when quoted by a magazine 5 months later. The furore that followed, which included the burning of Beatles records, Ku Klux Klan activity and threats against Lennon, contributed to the band's decision to stop touring. Lennon was shot multiple times by Mark David Chapman as he returned home with his wife, Yoko Ono, after a recording session on December 8th, 1980, outside his New York City apartment building, The Dakota. A total of 4 bullets hit Lennon, 2 entering his back and 2 striking his shoulder and chest resulting in Lennon being pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital. 09 October 1940 – 08 December 1980 RIP 🕊️

On this date in 2008 English Keyboardist, Vocalist, Songwriter, Composer, and founding member of Pink Floyd in 1965, Richard William Wright dies from lung cancer in London at the age 65. Wright grew up in Hatch End, Middlesex, and met his future Pink Floyd bandmates Roger Waters and Nick Mason while studying architecture at the Regent Street Polytechnic, London. After being joined by frontman and songwriter Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd achieved commercial success in 1967. Barrett was replaced by David Gilmour in 1968, who, along with Waters and Wright, took over songwriting. Wright initially contributed significantly to the band as a singer-songwriter, writing and providing lead vocals on songs including "Remember a Day" and the single "It Would Be So Nice" (both 1968). Later, Wright acted mainly as an arranger on compositions by Waters and Gilmour. He began to contribute less towards the end of the 1970s and left the band after touring The Wall in 1981. He rejoined as a session player in 1987 for A Momentary Lapse of Reason, becoming a full-time member again for The Division Bell in 1994. Sessions with Wright during this period were later released on the 2014 album The Endless River. Wright's jazz influences and distinctive keyboard playing were an important part of the Pink Floyd sound. As well as playing Farfisa and Hammond organs and Kurzweil synthesizers, he sang regularly in the band and took lead vocals on songs such as "Time" (1973) and "Wearing the Inside Out" (1994). Wright recorded 2 solo albums and was briefly active in the pop duo Zee with Dave Harris of Fashion. Following Pink Floyd's Live 8 appearance in 2005, he became part of Gilmour's touring band. 28 July 1943 – 15 September 2008 RIP 🕊️

open.substack.com/pub/alanpa… Team GA was saddened to hear about the death of photograher Sidney Smith. He was always incredibly generous with his images. Condolences to his family and thank you @AlPaul for such a wonderful tribute.