Tue, October 05, 2010
Los Angeles is honoring the legacy of John Lennon as the 70th anniversary of his birth on October 9 nears.
Art exhibits throughout the city showcased Lennon's career, pre- and post- Beatles.
Sketches and photographs of John Lennon in his days with The Quarrymen were on display in Hollywood. Three members of The Quarrymen made a special appearance to view the exhibit.
Guitarist and banjo player Rod Davis recalled Lennon's drawing skills.
SOUNDBITE: Rod Davis, "The Quarrymen" guitarist (English):
"Well, John's big talent at that time was as a caricaturist. And the caricatures still are fantastically acid and brilliant. There's a picture of himself. There's a picture of Pete Shotton. There's a picture of a number of the teachers and the other guys at school. And they still stand-up as brilliant caricatures. He wouldn't have needed to be a musician. He would have been a very acid caricaturist."
Lennon was an original member of The Quarrymen. Paul McCartney joined in 1957, and George Harrison became a member the following year. The group would eventually morph into The Beatles.
In another part of Los Angeles, Lennon's songwriting talent is on display. Most of the items featured are on loan from Yoko Ono. The exhibit includes memorabilia from Lennon's history, spanning much of his career including his transition into a solo artist.
The John Lennon Songwriter exhibit runs through March 2011.
Lindsay Claiborn, Reuters.
