Lennon's Legacy Lives

The 29th Annual John Lennon Tribute will be held on December 4th at Symphony Space in New York City.  It will feature an impressive list of performers including Bettye LaVette, David Bromberg, Joan Osborne, Dana Fuchs, Dan Bern, Lucy Kaplansky, Nicole Atkins, Sonya Kitchell, Rich Pagano, The Kennedys, Chris Bliss, and Wendy Osserman Dance.  The Tribute is presented by Theatre Within, a performing arts presenter that produces benefit shows for charities and social causes.

The first John Lennon Tribute was held in 1981 as a response to Lennon's murder.  Theatre Within was located just down the street from the Dakota and a small group of musicians and performers came together there to share their grief through music and theatre.  Since then, the John Lennon Tribute has become a celebration of the life of John Lennon.  It is the longest running event of its kind and the only ongoing Lennon Tribute show supported by Yoko Ono.

This year's Tribute will be the largest in its history.  Inspired by humanitarian artists like John Lennon, George Harrison, Arlo Guthrie, and Willie Nelson, Theatre Within will continue its tradition of raising money for children's charities by donating the proceeds from this year's Tribute to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF.)

The Tribute is sponsored by Music Without Borders and WFUV, member-supported public radio from Fordham University in the Bronx. 

Photo by Roy Kerwood