LATE BEATLES STAR and musical legend John Lennon would have been celebrating his 80th birthday today.

The musician, who was shot dead aged 40 in New York in 1980, has continued to have an enduring influence on popular culture long after his murder.

Following a chance encounter with his future bandmate Paul McCartney at a church fete in 1957, he went on to change the course of musical history with a body of work which has stood the test of time.

After helping to propel The Beatles to international stardom and securing their place as one of the world’s biggest ever bands, Lennon continued to enjoy a varied career.

Following the band’s breakup in 1970, the Liverpudlian released his debut solo effort John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band in the same year, which included hits Mother and Working Class Hero.

Less than a year later came Imagine, whose title track has become inextricably linked to his legacy.

The Strawberry Fields memorial to the musician in New York’s Central Park, where Lennon’s ashes are scattered, features a mosaic bearing the word.

The Beatles (left to right) - Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison pictured in October 1963. Source: PA Wire/PA Images

His birthday is being marked around the world including in Liverpool, where the council has launched a worldwide contest to find another great songwriter.

A collection of previously unseen pictures of Lennon in New York will also go on display at The Beatles Story in Liverpool.

Tributes 

Lennon’s widow Yoko Ono, former bandmate McCartney and many others have paid tribute to him.

Happy Birthday John!
Happy Birthday Sean!
Yes, you are my angels. I love you!
yokohttps://t.co/AU1ZFRTjOf pic.twitter.com/uvIa3lu2hx

— Yoko Ono (@yokoono) October 9, 2020

What would @johnlennon be like at 80? Hear @PaulMcCartney discuss that and more during a sit-down interview with @AlecBaldwin on John's birthday (Friday, Oct. 9) and throughout the weekend on @thebeatles Channel: https://t.co/46VWUAEbm0 pic.twitter.com/q6GXozxE07

— SiriusXM (@SIRIUSXM) October 5, 2020

Happy Birthday Johnny!#gimmesometruth@johnlennon pic.twitter.com/bG52QeA5cU

— Noel Gallagher (@NoelGallagher) October 9, 2020

On what would have been the 80th birthday of @JohnLennon, today we will be celebrating the outstanding contribution John had and continues to have on the University and the City of Liverpool #LENNON80

Video featured music: @SamShandley (BA Music and Technology, 2020) pic.twitter.com/ll5W7UQt8a

— Liverpool Alumni (@LivUniAlumni) October 9, 2020

Photos never seen before, what a find #JohnLennon80 pic.twitter.com/QuHjJMRx1y

— Marty Whelan (@martylyricfm) October 9, 2020

‘Despicable act’ 

Lennon was also a prominent anti-Vietnam war protester alongside Ono, leading to US president Richard Nixon leading a failed three-year bid to have him deported.

Lennon and Ono had their son Sean in 1975 prior to the musician taking a five-year break from music.

His album Double Fantasy, which was recorded with Ono, was released in the year of his death.

Last month, his killer Mark David Chapman, 65, apologised to Ono for his “despicable act”, saying that he thinks about it all the time and accepts he may spend the rest of his life behind bars.

He was denied parole for an 11th time following a hearing in August after being jailed for shooting the musician four times outside his Manhattan apartment as Ono looked on.

Earlier this week, Sir Elton John said that if Lennon had lived he probably would have won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Speaking to Lennon’s son Sean, who is his godson, to mark the milestone in a BBC Radio 2 special, he said: “I think if your dad had still been alive he would have definitely been, maybe won the Nobel Peace Prize or something.

“That was what your dad was, he wanted to bring people together. He was a uniter and he was prepared to go to any lengths to make people see what his point was.”