Introduction

Yoko Ono is a Japanese singer, songwriter, artist, and peace activist who achieved global fame through her partnership with her husband, John Lennon. Ono has been an active figure in the music and art scenes since the early 1950s, when she first moved to New York City. She has released numerous albums and singles over the years, as well as writing books and creating art installations. In addition to making music and art, she is also an outspoken advocate for world peace and human rights.

Early Life & Career

Ono was born on February 18th 1933 in Tokyo, Japan. Her father was a banker and her mother was a descendant of a samurai family. Ono moved to New York City in 1953 where she studied at Sarah Lawrence College. While attending college she began to explore the avant-garde art scene and became involved in Fluxus, an international network of artists who challenged traditional notions of art and performance. She started writing her own music in the late 1950s and released her first single in 1962.

Musical Career

In 1965 Ono released her first solo album Unfinished Music No.1: Two Virgins which featured experimental sound collages created with her then-partner John Lennon. The following year they released Unfinished Music No.2: Life with the Lions which featured more avant-garde sounds and vocal performances by both artists. In 1969 they released Wedding Album which featured recordings of their wedding ceremony as well as a cover of the Beatles song “All You Need Is Love”. Throughout the 1970s Ono released several more solo albums including Plastic Ono Band (1971), Approximately Infinite Universe (1973) and Feeling The Space (1973). In 1981 she released Season Of Glass which featured a tribute to John Lennon written shortly after his death. Her most recent album Warzone was released in 2018.

Artistic Career

In addition to making music Ono has also been involved in various art projects throughout her career. Her earliest works were primarily performance pieces such as “Cut Piece” (1964) which featured her sitting onstage while audience members cut pieces of clothing from her body. She also created a series of instructional pieces such as “Grapefruit” (1964) which featured instructions for viewers to interpret the work however they choose. She has also created several installations such as “Skylanding” (1976) which featured a large steel structure that visitors could climb on and view the sky from its peak.

Activism

Ono has been an outspoken advocate for world peace since the 1960s when she met John Lennon and started performing anti-war concerts with him. She founded the feminist organization “Woman Power” in 1972 which sought to empower women around the world through education and activism. Throughout the 1980s she supported several environmental causes such as Greenpeace and Rainforest Action Network as well as speaking out against nuclear weapons proliferation. In 2002 she founded “IMAGINE PEACE” which is an international campaign dedicated to spreading messages of peace across the world.

Legacy

Ono has been credited with inspiring many prominent musicians including Patti Smith, Siouxsie Sioux, Bjork and Lady Gaga who have all cited her as an influence on their music. She has also been honored with numerous awards including being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 for her musical contributions alongside John Lennon. Her life-long commitment to peace and social justice makes her an iconic figure not only in music but also in activism.

Yoko Ono

About Yoko Ono

List of Yoko Ono's featurings

Yoko Ono's age

Yoko Ono's country of origin

Yoko Ono's real name

The Success Story of Yoko Ono