A LITTLE-known folk singer who worried that financial success might ruin his powerful songwriting has received a letter of advice from John Lennon, 34 years after it was sent.
The late Beatle wrote to English musician Steve Tilston after reading an interview with him in a music magazine in 1971, The (London) Daily Telegraph reports.
In a note, which has been made public for the first time, Lennon said wealth wouldn't change the important things in life.
The letter, signed from him and wife Yoko Ono, was sent just after the Beatles split in 1970, to the offices of the now-defunct ZigZag magazine, but wasn't passed on to Tilston until a collector contacted him five years ago.
Addressing the then 21-year-old singer, Lennon wrote: "Being rich doesn't change your experiences in the way you think.
"The only difference, basically, is that you don't have to worry about money - food - roof etc.
"But all other experiences - emotions - relationships - are the same as (anybody's).
"I know, I have been rich and poor and so has Yoko (rich - poor - rich). So, whatya think of that. Love John and Yoko."
He included his home phone number.
Ono has said she remembers Lennon writing the letter.
Tilston, who is now 60, has gone on to record more than 20 albums during his career, and will mark 40 years in the music business with a concert in Bristol next month.
He said he would have called Lennon if he had received the letter, which is estimated to be worth around £7000 ($A12,200).
"I feel it was a rather brotherly letter really,'' he said.
"Not antagonistic, just offering words of advice.
"If I had received it all those years ago, my young self would definitely have rung him.''
Tilston said he never had to worry about how extreme wealth would affect his creativity.
"Sadly, I was never really able to test this theory out."
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