To the Memory of John Lennon: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)"

On this day in 1980, according to the Associated Press, "rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by an apparently deranged fan."

Today I have posted two videos here on my blog, two videos that I dedicate to the memory of John Lennon (1940-1980). The first video is of Josh Groban singing "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," the lyrics of which John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote. The second video is of Josh Groban talking about the making of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." I hope you will watch both videos.

Watch Josh Groban - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" >>

Watch Josh Groban - The Making of "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" >>

John Lennon in 1969

Josh Groban - "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon and Yoko Ono [Official Music Video]

Josh Groban - The Making Of “Happy Xmas (War is Over)”

"Rosa Parks" by Nikki Giovanni

On this day in 1955, according to the Associated Press, "Rosa Parks, a black seamstress, was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus; the incident sparked a year-long boycott of the buses by blacks."

African-American poet Nikki Giovanni is the author of a poem titled "Rosa Parks."

Read "Rosa Parks" by Nikki Giovanni >>

Nikki Giovanni

"Dream Song 1" by John Berryman

To read the poem "Dream Song 1" by American poet John Berryman, and to listen to an audio recording of Berryman reading that poem of his, click here.

John Berryman (1914-1972)

Photo Credit: Tom Berthiaume

"Maple Leaf Rag" Played by Scott Joplin (1868-1917)