John Lennon was a songwriter for the Beatles.
John Winston Ono Lennon , ( born John Winston Lennon ; 9 October 19408 December 1980 ) was an English guitarist , singer , and songwriter who co-founded the Beatles , the most commercially successful and musically influential band in the history of popular music . He and fellow member Paul McCartney formed a much-celebrated songwriting partnership . Lennon -- McCartney was the songwriting partnership between English musicians John Lennon ( 9 October 19408 December 1980 ) and Paul McCartney ( born 18 June 1942 ) of the Beatles .