February- 25
George
Harrison (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician, singer,
and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the
Beatles. Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote most of the Beatles'
songs, their albums generally included at least one Harrison composition.
During
the 1960s, he became interested in the Hare Krishna movement, and became an
admirer of Indian culture and mysticism, introducing it to the other Beatles
and to their Western audience. Toward the end of the Beatles' career, he came
to express and assert himself by incorporating Indian influences into his
music. His songs with the band include "Taxman", "Within You
With out You", "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes
the Sun", "For You Blue", and "Something", which has
become the second most-covered Beatles song.
Following
the band's break-up in 1970, Harrison released the triple album All Things Must
Pass, from which two hit singles originated. Later, he wrote hit songs for
former Beatle Ringo Starr. With Ravi Shankar, Harrison organized the 1971 Concert
for Bangladesh, a precursor to later benefit concerts such as Live Aid. Also a
music and film producer, Harrison co-founded Hand Made Films in 1978. He
achieved several best-selling singles and albums as a solo performer and in
1988 co-founded the super group the Travelling Wilbur’s. Rolling Stone magazine
ranked him number 11 in their list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All
Time".
