John Lennon 'Music Icon' stamp coming from United States Postal Service

Chris Jordan | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Julian Lennon 'so happy' about March for Our Lives Julian Lennon, the son of late Beatles singer John Lennon, looks back on the recent March for Our Lives and praises Paul McCartney's attendance at the event. (April 20)

Music legend John Lennon wanted nothing more than to become an American citizen.

He wasn’t able to attain that before his shooting death outside his apartment building across from Central Park in New York City in 1980, but he will appear on a new United States Postal Service stamp.

The stamp will be dedicated by Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 7 at the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park, not far from the Strawberry Fields Lennon memorial.

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“Beloved around the world, Lennon was successful both as a founding member of the Beatles and as a solo artist. Lennon’s music continues to speak for truth, peace, and tolerance,” said the Postal Service.

The "Forever" stamp features a 1974 Bob Gruen photo, cast in different gradient colors, of Lennon taken for the 1974 “Walls and Bridges” album. The stamp pane resembles a vintage 45-rpm record sleeve and features a Peter Fordham photo of Lennon at his white piano that was used to promote the 1971 album “Imagine.”

The Lennon stamp was designed by Neal Ashby and Antonio Alcala was the art director. It’s part of the USPS Music Icons series and so far Lydia Mendoza, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley have been honored.

Lennon, a native of the English seaport of Liverpool, and who lived in the Dakota near Central Park before his death, was attacked by the Nixon administration for his anti-war stance but he did receive a U.S. Resident Alien registration in 1976. He was eligible to become a U.S. citizen in 1981.

Visit about.usps.com for more information.

Chris Jordan: cjordan@app.com. Twitter: @chrisfhjordan