George Harrison
Who was George Harrison?
Lead guitarist of The Beatles known as 'the quiet Beatle,' who wrote songs including 'Something' and 'Here Comes the Sun'.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on George Harrison (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
George Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician who became famous worldwide as the lead guitarist of The Beatles. Born at 12 Arnold Grove, Harrison went to Dovedale Primary School and then Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where he first met Paul McCartney. Nicknamed 'the quiet Beatle,' Harrison played a key role in shaping the band's musical growth and later built a successful solo career, exploring non-Western musical styles.
While John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote most of The Beatles' songs, Harrison contributed important tracks from 1965 onwards. Some of his standout songs include 'Taxman,' 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps,' 'Something,' and 'Here Comes the Sun.' Early influences like George Formby and Django Reinhardt gave way to later ones like Carl Perkins, Chet Atkins, and Chuck Berry. By 1965, he was steering The Beatles toward folk rock due to his interest in Bob Dylan and the Byrds, while also bringing in elements of Indian classical music, notably with instruments like the sitar, which he discovered during the filming of Help!.
Harrison's spiritual beliefs greatly shaped both his and The Beatles' music. He led the band in embracing Transcendental Meditation in 1967 and became closely involved with the Hare Krishna movement. In his personal life, Harrison married model Pattie Boyd in 1966; they divorced in 1977. He then married Olivia Arias in 1978, and they had a son, Dhani.
After The Beatles broke up, Harrison released the critically acclaimed triple album 'All Things Must Pass,' featuring his hit single 'My Sweet Lord' and making the slide guitar his trademark sound. Besides recording, he organized the pioneering 1971 Concert for Bangladesh with Indian musician Ravi Shankar, setting an example for future benefit concerts. As a producer, Harrison worked with several artists on The Beatles' Apple record label before starting his own label, Dark Horse Records. He passed away in Los Angeles on 29 November 2001, leaving a lasting impact that mixed Western popular music with Eastern spiritual and musical elements.
Before Fame
George Harrison grew up in a working-class family in Liverpool during the 1940s and 1950s. His interest in music started with skiffle and rock and roll, leading him to form his first band, The Rebels, while he was still in school. Through his friendship with Paul McCartney at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, Harrison met John Lennon and eventually joined their group, which would become The Beatles.
In post-war Britain, youth culture and American rock and roll had a strong influence on Harrison's generation. As a major port city, Liverpool exposed its young musicians to different musical styles from America, setting the stage for the musical revolution that The Beatles would lead in the 1960s.
Key Achievements
- Lead guitarist of The Beatles, one of the most influential bands in popular music history
- Organized the Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, pioneering the concept of benefit concerts
- Released the critically acclaimed solo album 'All Things Must Pass' featuring the hit 'My Sweet Lord'
- Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice - with The Beatles (1988) and as a solo artist (2004)
- Introduced Indian classical music and spiritual concepts to Western popular culture
Did You Know?
- 01.Harrison was the youngest Beatle, only 14 years old when he first auditioned for the band on a double-decker bus
- 02.He was the first Western musician to play sitar on a rock recording with 'Norwegian Wood' in 1965
- 03.Harrison funded the Monty Python film 'Life of Brian' by mortgaging his home when EMI withdrew funding
- 04.He was attacked by an intruder in his home in 1999 but survived despite being stabbed multiple times
- 05.His song 'Something' became the second-most covered Beatles song after 'Yesterday'
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Billboard Music Awards | — | — |
| Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | 2004 | — |
| star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | — | — |
| Member of the Order of the British Empire | 1965 | — |
| Academy Award for Best Original Score | 1971 | — |