Julian Lennon, son of the legendary Beatles member John Lennon, is best known for his connection to his father’s music. Paul McCartney wrote “Hey Jude” to comfort Julian after his father’s departure. Other Beatles songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Good Night” were also inspired by Julian. Despite his father’s fame, Julian Lennon has proven himself as a talented musician in his own regard.
However, his talent was proven. Julian sent his demo tape to Tony Stratton Smith, the head of Charisma Records, in September 1983. To avoid biases, Julian used an alias on the tape, fearing he wouldn’t be taken seriously as John Lennon’s son.
Surprisingly, Stratton Smith was impressed by the music and intended to offer Julian a record deal before learning of his famous lineage. Upon meeting Julian, Stratton Smith was taken aback to discover who he is exactly and was pleasantly surprised to find Julian to be down-to-earth and not living a lavish lifestyle.
In reality Julian was pretty much living a middle class lifestyle while striving to establish himself as a musician and songwriter. Despite being the son of the famous John Lennon, Julian did not inherit any financial support from his father’s estate after his passing.
In 1984, Julian released his debut album titled “Valotte,” which turned out to be a success. Produced by Phil Ramone, the album produced two top 10 hits, including the title track and “Too Late for Goodbyes.” Julian’s talent earned him a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1985. His record contract, although significant, was a standard deal given to new artists during that era.
Consider the challenges Julian faced: not only did he have to navigate constant comparisons to his father, but he also lacked financial security. Despite these obstacles, Julian earned his record deal based on his own merit and talent, rather than riding on the coattails of his father’s fame.