John Lennon was shot to death on December 8, 1980. I always think of Lennon at this time of year, not because this is when he died, but because “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” is one of my favorite songs, and it’ll be on the radio a lot now. You also can search on YouTube to hear many, many renditions of it, including videos with Lennon’s recording.
Andersen Library has materials on John Lennon, if you’re interested. Search the HALCat catalog to find titles such as “I read the news today”: The social drama of John Lennon’s death (3rd-floor Main Collection, ML420.L38 F64 1994) and Come together: John Lennon in his time (3rd-floor Main Collection, ML420 .L38 W5 1991). A search of the UW System Libraries finds a recording of the Happy Xmas number on the Shaved Fish album, available to UWW students and staff through the free Universal Borrowing service. Article databases can be searched to find articles such as the front-page New York Times article “John Lennon of Beatles is killed; suspect held in shooting at Dakota” (Dec. 9, 1980).
Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding materials.
