Remembering JOHN LENNON's 70th Birthday at Central Park's Strawberry Fields

Fans circled the "Imagine" mosaic graced with flowers, candles and flag.

Part of the huge crowd that gathered at Strawberry Fields to celebrate the life and music of John Lennon who lived in The Dakota (covered by the trees in the background) with his wife Yoko Ono. On December 8, 1980, Mr. Lennon was shot in the back at the entrance to The Dakota.

Video from sunemax

Thousands of fans gathered today at Central Park's Strawberry Fields to remember slain British superstar singer-songwriter-activist, JOHN LENNON who would have turned 70 today. A crush of fans, young and old alike circled the flower-covered "Imagine" mosaic and sang Lennon songs. Some fans brought flowers, photographs, notes and paintings to celebrate the artist who just wanted to give peace a chance.

TRIBUTE TO JOHN LENNON

Former Beatle JOHN LENNON continues to be mourned in Strawberry Fields, a memorial garden area in Central Park, across the street from the Dakota building where Lennon and Yoko Ono lived. Shortly after his death, Yoko Ono donated $1 million for its maintenance. Strawberry Fields has become a gathering place for tributes on Lennon's birthday and on the anniversary of his death. Captured above is the scene on the night of December 8. Young and old alike, fans and admirers of Lennon gathered around the IMAGINE mosaic which is filled with flowers, photos, candles, and offerings.

On December 8, 1980, John Lennon was shot four times in the back by Mark Chapman who had asked the former Beatle for his autograph only hours before he laid in wait and killed him.

Chapman pleaded guilty to gunning down Mr Lennon and is currently serving life in Attica prison near New York. In October 2004 he failed for the third time to secure his release.

He said he had heard voices in his head telling him to kill the world-famous musician. Twenty years after his death millions of fans paid tribute to Mr Lennon in his home town of Liverpool and in New York.

His widow launched a campaign against gun violence in the United States to mark the anniversary.