This is the year John Lennon John gets his first guitar, a mail order instrument, and his aunt and guardian, Mimi Smith makes the immortal statement "The guitar’s all right for a hobby, John, but you’ll never make a living at it."

January 16:
The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool, as a venue for jazz and skiffle groups.

July 6:
Ivan Vaughan, one of John Lennon’s friends, brings Paul McCartney to meet John at a Woolton Parish Church fête, where the Quarry Men perform. (A tape, with renditions of "Puttin' On the Style" and "Baby, Let's Play House" and vocals by Lennon, is still in existence and owned by EMI. The earliest known photograph of the group, including Lennon, was probably taken at this church festival.)
Soon after this meeting, John invites Paul to join the group.