In the
Humanitarian category team Historyectomy is proud to select
John Lennon.
I have to admit, I am not choosing Lennon based solely on his humanitarian efforts, though I believe them to be worthy of selection. The man changed the world, musically, among other things. His contributions to music alone have rarely been rivaled. He was a fantastic poet, composer and by all accounts a fantastic human being.
Maybe being born during a Nazi air raid determined his future would be dedicated to bringing peace to the world, something the somewhat less popular Jesus Christ was unable to do. Who knows, had his life not ended prematurely he might have done it.
He promoted peace through music, that he knew would reach massive numbers of people. Songs like "Give Peace a Chance" and "Imagine" were powerful messages at peace and no doubt helped shape the anti-war sentiment of a generation.
The benefit concerts that Lennon organized, performed in and/or inspired are far too many to list here. The amount of money donated by him, because of him or in honor of him to charitable causes around the world is incalculable.
Just a few of those benefit shows are:
- November 1, 1971: John Lennon appears at a benefit concert at the Apollo Theater for the families of inmates at Attica Prison
- The concert for Bangladesh (which I believe continues today)
- One to One Benefit for the Willowbrook Institution for ######ed Children.
- "Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music" benefit for the American Red Cross
- Imagine A Cure benefits
The greatest song written about John Lennon, IMHO and one that speaks to the void on many levels.