The Late Great Johnny Ace

"...On a cold December evening
I was walking through the Christmas tide
When a stranger came up and asked me
If I'd heard John Lennon had died
And the two of us went to this bar
And we stayed to close the place
And every song we played
Was for the late great Johnny Ace..."

This poignant and sad Paul Simon song appeared on his 1983 Hearts and Bones album. It always makes me remember exactly what I was doing when I heard John Lennon died.

This is the original 1969 John Lennon poster which I captured at MOMA last year. This was the one exhibit that said no photography, but I couldn't resist as I found it very moving. Re-edited yesterday.

[Peter de Graaff]

I remember where I was when I heard it

[Padlock]

I remember where I was, New York.

[Therese]

Very neat capture. I've never heard this song before!

John Lennon died 10 years before I was born... makes me feel very young.

[Ivan]

Poignant song and image, JL had his strange side but you couldn't avoid his talent and presence - not just physical presence, there was something more there. So pleased you sneaked this pic!

[Juliette Packham]

cool. I was only young, but remember my dad coming home and putting the TV on as he came in to watch the news. Yellow submarine was put on the next day and I was allowed to watch it!

[Sharon Lee]

A sad day, RIP John

[Chris]

The alarm radio came on, early morning - shattered by the news. I have since visited the Dakota Building and Strawberry Fields memorial Garden in Central Park, NYC. I really rate the "Rock and Roll Album" from the Lost Weekend period. Great voice.

(The album you mention, I think is Paul Simon's best)

[Elizabeth]

Moving. I remember where I was as well.

[Gail]

What a memory... can't blame you at all for capturing this shot.

[8yearson]

You are right... I remember hearing that John Lennon had died, also Elvis Presley and JFK...... Good shot to remember the historic moment by.

[David]

It was one of those days.. I too remember exactly where I was and what I was doing at the time. Well done for getting the shot.

[Lizzy Bean]

As soon as I saw him on the Ed Sullivan show,(even with "Sorry girls, he's married" banner under his name) he had my heart. Years ago I took some shots(with an instamatic unfortunately) at the Hard Rock in Boston of his guitar and the "Imagine" lyrics scribbled on a sheet of paper, and one of these signs. I made a photo collage for a friend(who just recently passed away) for his birthday-his favorite gift ever. Might have to try & find the negatives. (PS-I heard about it while flipping through the channels early on the 9th of Dec.-The 700 Club a Christian broadcast- was doing a segment on it, so after hearing it, and screaming NO NO NO!!!!! I kept changing channels to find out more info. I called my brother in Boston, crying like I had just lost my best friend

[Lizzy Bean]

fav

[Danny G.]

@lizzybean Thanks for the fav and the story. I was with my girlfriend at a cowboy bar in Atlanta when the dj stopped the music to announce his death. We took it very hard. A very sad day.