Music fans in New York are celebrating former Beatle John Lennon's 70th birthday on Saturday to pay tribute to the music legend.

A photo of John Lennon sits on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, December 8, 2005.

New York marks its own claim on John Lennon, who spent most of his final decade here before being gunned down in front of his wife in December 1980 outside the Dakota building where they lived in Manhattan.

Nearly 30 years after Lennon was murdered, admirers of all ages gathered right across the street in a part of New York's Central Park called "Strawberry Fields," honoring his memory by singing his songs.

A free public screening of "LENNONYC," a new documentary that traces his personal, political and artistic life in New York, will be shown in Central Park later in the day. Lennon arrived in New York in 1971 and found a refuge from the press that chased him in England. "It allowed him to step away from the fame machine, to recalibrate and become a person," said Michael Epstein, director of "LENNONYC."

The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute will take place at New York's Beacon Theater on Nov. 12 with performances by artists including music legends Jackson Browne, Patti Smith and Cyndi Lauper.

John Lennon was one of history's most worshipped musicians and was listed as the fifth greatest singer of all time.

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