Lennon’s heartfelt letter supporting Yoko Ono’s music sells for $28K
John Lennon letter in support of Yoko Ono’s music, handwritten to New York broadcast legend Joe Franklin, auctioned for $28,171 on Oct. 23, 2014. Image courtesy of RR Auction
BOSTON – A John Lennon letter handwritten to New York broadcast legend Joe Franklin in which a passionate case is made for acceptance of Yoko Ono’s music sold for $28,171 on Thursday evening, October 23rd. Massachusetts-based RR Auction conducted the sale.
The two-page handwritten letter, 8.5 by 11 inches, on Apple memorandum letterhead, is dated December 13, 1971.
Lennon writes in part: “I know you’re a musician at heart! and especially I know you dig jazz.—Well, Yoko’s music ain’t quite jazz but to help you get off on it, or understand it, please listen to a track on the ‘Yoko/Ono/Plastic Ono Band,’ called ‘AOS,’ which was recorded in 1968 (pre Lennon/Beatles!) with Ornette Coleman at Albert Hall London, you could call it free form, anyway Yoko sits in the middle of avante-garde, classic, jazz—and now through me and my music—rock ‘n’ roll!”
He continues: “On the new album ‘Fly’ the experiment goes a step ‘further’—free form music—with robot musicians! (not computer—electronic—)—check the inside of Fly double-album for info and photo of the ‘musicians,’ of course Yoko can explain her music better in person, this is a kind of introduction.”
“This letter shows how proud John was of Yoko and how he believed in her as a multi-talented artist,” said Bobby Livingston, executive VP at RR Auction.”The letter is one of the finest Lennon letters we have ever offered, and it was not a surprise that it brought in such an impressive figure.”
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ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
John Lennon letter in support of Yoko Ono’s music, handwritten to New York broadcast legend Joe Franklin, auctioned for $28,171 on Oct. 23, 2014. Image courtesy of RR Auction
