Facts about John Lennon

Born: Oct. 9, 1940

Died: Dec. 8, 1980 (age 40), murdered in New York

Marriages: Cynthia Powell, Aug. 23, 1962-1968; Yoko Ono, March 20, 1969-Dec. 8, 1980 (John’s death)

Children: Julian Lennon, born April 8, 1963; Sean Lennon, born Oct. 9, 1975 (on John’s 35th birthday)

•John was on the cover of the premiere issue of Rolling Stone in November 1967.

•Lennon’s murder was first announced to the world by sportscaster Howard Cosell during Monday Night Football.

•John was cremated the day after his death. Yoko Ono has never revealed the whereabouts of his ashes. In lieu of a funeral, Ono asked for 10 minutes of silence and prayer at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14, 1980, a week after John’s death. She also encouraged the public to donate to charities in his memory.

•More than 140 artists have recorded cover versions of “Imagine.”

•The Beatles’ manager Brian Epstein was Julian Lennon’s godfather. Elton John is Sean Lennon’s godfather.

•In 2001, the Liverpool Airport was renamed the Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

•The iconic Rolling Stone’s cover featuring a nude Lennon hugging and kissing a fully clothed Ono was taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz on the day that Lennon died.