NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) — The owners of the Empire State Building will mark what would have been the 80th birthday of music legend John Legend by illuminating the iconic part of New York’s skyline with an array of sky blue lights and a white peace sign rotating in its mast on the night of Oct. 8th.
The honorary illumination will be done in partnership with the John Lennon Estate and Universal Music Group and is intended to celebrate Lennon’s life, contribution to the arts, and legacy.
Sean Ono Lennon will be on hand to flip the switch and light up the iconic building in honor of his father.
While Lennon was originally from Liverpool, he relocated to New York in 1971 after the breakup of the Beatles, and called the city home until his untimely death in 1980.
In 1980, in the wake of Lennon’s death, photographer Bob Gruen was asked to choose an image for a vigil in Central Park for fans to grieve and chose a photo he took of Lennon wearing a white sleeveless t-shirt emblazoned with New York City in bold black type.
Strawberry Fields in NYC’s Central Park continues to serve as a memorial to Lennon, memorializing his role as a songwriter and peace activist.
