Folk musician Steve Tilston of Bristol, England

 

In 1971, 21-year old Bristol, England, folk musician Steve Tilston released his critically acclaimed debut album, An Acoustic Confusion, and the 1972 sophomore follow up, Collection. He released his lost, debut single, “Falling” b/w “All In a Dream,” on the British Transatlantic imprint, in 1972, culled from his second and final, sophomore album. MCA gave him a try for one single, “One Man Band,” in 1973.

In a 1971 ZigZag magazine interview, Tilston admitted — inspired by the editor/writer’s accolades for Tilson’s work — that he feared wealth and fame might negatively affect his songwriting.

Inspired, John Lennon wrote to Tilston — in care of ZigZag — to offer the upcoming musician encouragement, “. . . being rich doesn’t change your experience in the way you think,” Lennon wrote. It was signed, “Love, John and Yoko.” It turned out that, upon receipt of the letter, the magazine’s editor, believing Lennon’s letter “had value,” greedily kept the document; it was never turned over to Tilston.

How wicked the Fates: If the Lennon letter had been turned over to Tilston, would he and Lennon have forged a friendship? Would Lennon’s words have encouraged Tilston not to give up on the music business? Would Lennon have taken him under his wing, as Lennon did with Harry Nilsson?

Tilston did not become aware of the letter’s existence until 2005, when a collector contacted him to verify the document’s authenticity. When the story was officially reported in the music trades in August 2010, it inspired the 2015 Al Pacino-starring film, Danny Collins.

Thanks to the film, Steve went back on the road and recorded more albums.