What started out as a hobby, while her naval husband was away at sea, has turned into a lifetime career for Louisiana born Jude Southerland Kessler.  Jude’s adventure and dream of writing about the life of John Lennon has taken her to Liverpool 7 times and allowed her to meet and interview friends, family and colleagues of John Lennon over the past 25 years and made her one of the leading experts on the subject of Lennon and the Beatles.

The John Lennon Series by Jude Southerland Kessler is a nine book series on the life of John Winston Lennon. The first book in the series, Shoulda Been There, was published in 2008, tells of Lennon’s life from birth in 1940 to December 1961, when the Beatles hired Brian Epstein as their manager. Book two, Shivering Inside, published in 2010, picks up the story of Lennon and the Beatles in 1961 and continues until the birth of John’s son Julian in April 1963. She Loves You, the third book in the series, is currently in the works and is due for publication in October 2013.

Ms. Kessler is a highly sought after speaker at Beatles festivals along corporate and club events across the U.S.  Because of her expertise, she was invited to host her own weekly radio show, “The John Lennon Hour”, on the number one Beatles internet radio station in the world, “Beatles-A-Rama!.” The show debuted in September 2012 and can be heard every Sunday night at 8 pm (est) at: www.BeatlesARama.com

Jude Kessler graduated from Northwestern State University in 1974 with degrees in English Education and History. She went on to receive a master’s degree in English from The University of Maryland.

For more information about Jude Southerland Kessler and her books, go to her website.

Image Courtesy : Jude Southerland Kessler

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‘You may say I am a dreamer, but I am not the only one’ is one of the greatest inspirational quotes. It makes us believe in our dreams again, makes us believe that we can make the world a better place. This line is from a song of one of the greatest musicians of all times, John Lennon.

Rock star, music composer, songwriter, and recording artist- John Winston Lennon was born October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, Merseyside, NW England, UK, during a German air raid in World War II. John wasn’t a very bright student at school, but he did show a very artistic side. Lennon met Paul McCartney in 1957 and invited him to join his music group. They eventually formed the most successful songwriting partnership in musical history, The Beatles. Lennon left The Beatles in 1969 and later released albums with his wife Yoko Ono, and others.

Lennon kicked off his post-Beatles career with back-to-back hits. Apart from being associated with the Beatles, John Lennon himself is a success, a rock star, a dreamer, and, according to some, ‘a musical genius.’ John’s career didn’t stop when the band split; instead, he went on with his wife Yoko Ono to bestow the world with some of his masterpieces.

His first solo album of popular music was Live Peace In Toronto, recorded in 1969 (prior to the breakup of the Beatles) at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival in Toronto ) with a Plastic Ono Band including Eric Clapton and Klaus Voormann. He also recorded three singles in his initial solo phase: the anti-war anthem Give Peace a Chance, ‘Cold Turkey,’ which was about drug withdrawal symptoms, and ‘Instant Karma’. The music of the Plastic Ono Band was said to be so emotionally raw that to this day they are difficult to listen to among songs of extraordinary beauty and simplicity. Lennon’s pain of being abandoned by his parents can be recognized in the way he screams ‘Mama don’t go’ and ‘Daddy go home.’

One of his greatest works, ‘Imagine,’ was released sometime in the year 1971 and was an instant success. This album had proved incontrovertibly that he was capable of greatness on his own. The change in the genre of music in this album is noticeable. It is as if John had returned with confidence once again, leaving behind all his abandonment issues. The songs are melodic and beautiful, and inspire hope in the listeners.

John’s next album ‘Somewhere in New York City,’ released in 1972, can be distinguished as an anti-war album. However, this album is said by many to be his weakest work. Yet it contains some great tracks, and like the name suggests, the album was to an extent inspired by New York where John had moved with Yoko.

In 1973, while John and Yoko had split up, John released some of his greatest works like Mind Games. The albums he made during this period include Walls and Bridges (1974) and Rock N Roll (1975). The mix is astonishingly good, and it was during these years John had his first-number one as a solo artist.

Other than being celebrated for his amazing music, John was an activist and also did charity work. His song ‘Give Peace a Chance’ was written as an anti-war anthem, and probably will be cherished as that forever. Another example of how seriously John thought about peace was when he returned his Member of the British Empire (MBE), awarded by Queen Elizabeth to the Beatles in 1965, in protest over Great Britain’s support for the Vietnam War in September 1969. This had seized the media and earned him great publicity, but he stated he was going to return the award anyways, and the war issue just triggered it. In the year 1972, Lennon performed a charity concert at Madison Square Gardens, to help improve living conditions for mentally handicapped children.

Like they say, ‘Life is not a matter of counting years, it’s a matter of making years count.’ John Lennon led a short but fulfilling life. He gave the world the gift of music, and fought for what he believed in. John is still cherished in this world through his music and by the examples he set, such as ‘Bed-in’ for peace, which many celebrities follow to date.

Image Courtesy of  John Lennon

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New York, U.S.A. – Screenvision, in partnership with Ace Arts , and multiple-award winning music documentary producer Iambic Media, brings one of the music world’s true “lost treasures” to the big screen with the feature presentation of ”The Beatles: The Lost Concert.”

The new 92-minute documentary charts the birth and impact of Beatlemania in America and includes, in its entirety, their first-ever full U.S. concert performance from February 11, 1964 at D.C.’s Washington Coliseum, the only complete Beatles’ concert available to fans, one which has remained unseen by movie theater audiences across the nation for over 47 years. Rock superstar and American Idol judge Steven Tyler commented: ”This blows away every performance I’ve ever seen, including Elvis!”

The story of their historic arrival in America and the impact they had is revealed through new interviews with more than 20 Beatles’ associates, journalists, disc jockeys, concert attendees, historians and music luminaries and archival footage of the Fab Four.

The list includes Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Joe Perry , rock pioneer Chuck Berry , super producer Mark Ronson , journalists Maureen Cleave , Larry Kane and Ed Rudy , concert promoter Sid Bernstein , Beatle George’s sister Louise Harrison , The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr . and Nick Valensi , chart-topping U.K. songstress Duffy, renown Beatles historian Bruce Spizer, and Mike Mitchell , whose recently unearthed photos of the event are seen throughout the movie.

On February 11, 1964, two days after their record shattering appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” The Beatles traveled by train through a snowstorm to Washington, D.C. to perform their first-ever concert before an American audience at The Washington Coliseum, before an overbooked audience of 8,092 screaming (mostly female) teenagers.

Their 12-song set that lasted a little over a half-hour and included both chart-topping originals like “She Loves You” and high-energy covers like “Twist and Shout.” Professionally filmed by an eight-camera crew and mixed live on location, the show was broadcast a month later via closed-circuit to movie theaters across America to two million teenagers.

The film of the concert was then lost and remained unseen in its entirety by audiences for over 47 years! The original master tapes have now been restored and re-mastered and the entire concert, the ONLY complete Beatles concert available to fans, is included in The Beatles: The Lost Concert.

Sure to rekindle the fires of Beatlemania for both the generation who lived it and the younger ones influenced by it, the event will be shown in movie theaters across the U.S. in a limited engagement onMay 17 and 22, 2012. In addition, a special World Premiere is scheduled at New York’s landmark Ziegfield Theater on May 6 with two showings. For information, including detailed history, movie trailer and tickets, go to www.lostbeatlesconcert.com .

The resonating impact of the Beatles’ in performance is illustrated in the raves given in interviews during the documentary. Commenting on them as musical competition for all who came in their wake, Mark Ronson , the producer behind hits from Amy Winehouse and Adele, adds: “You’re always going to be standing in the shadow of The Beatles.”

U.K. pop sensation Duffy calls them “the Holy Grail of music,” while Mike Mitchell , the young photographer who chronicled the show, adds: “The concert was like being in the delivery room at the birth of an entire generation.” Tommy Roe , one of their opening acts that evening may have put it best: “This is history!”

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An unparalleled blast from the past, Purple Revolver celebrates 60s and 70s popular culture with a 21st century slant on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Rainbow Lagoon in Long Beach.

A celebration of all things retro, the family-friendly event infuses classic rock, Bohemian fashions and high-performance muscle cars along with premier food trucks, a throwback beer garden, celebrity look-a-likes and a three-acre festival. Stay tuned to www.purple-revolver.com for updates.

Thousands of “hipster” and “millennial” attendees will step back to the future, rubbing elbows with Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley impersonators while soaking up the essence of American pop culture from the era.

The greatest hits from legendary bands like the Rolling Stones, Beach Boys, Eagles, Boston and Bee Gees permeate the venue while nationally recognized Tribute Bands representing the Beatles, Queen and Led Zeppelin rock the Purple Revolver stage.

What’s old is new again as coveted Muscle Cars from the 60s and 70s – Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaroand Dodge Charger – sit alongside today’s popular siblings.  Tricked out Hot Rods, Custom Roadsters, Surf Woodies and famous TV show cars add to the atmosphere.  And paying homage to the original peace & love generation, modern hippy and eco-friendly influences are abundant; among the timeless classics are the mini skirt, bikinis, tie-dye, paisley prints and bell bottoms, all of which are back in vogue today.

A festival unlike anything you’ve ever experienced, the Purple Revolver Karaoke Lounge will challenge even the most hardcore music enthusiasts.  A nostalgic beer garden will pair “blasts from the past” (Budweiser, Pabst Blue Ribbon and Schlitz Malt Liquor) with several of today’s top craft brews while Gourmet Food Trucks will serve popular retro fare.

And helping fuel this unique retro revolution are several important Pop Culture anniversaries including the 50th of James Bond, the Beach Boys and Marilyn Monroe’s death.

Purple Revolver tickets will be on sale in May with proceeds benefitting several Long Beach charities and First Responders. The event is produced by MKM, a Huntington Beach-based active lifestyle firm.  Among the company’s premier properties are “Boardfest,” “Taste of Brews” and the forthcoming “Chocolate and Cordials.”  Purple Revolver updates are available at www.facebook.com/purple-revolver.

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/heiner1947/

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