On Thursday November 29 the music industry lost an other legend George Harrison guitarist and vocalist for the legendary Beatles fell victim to cancer in his home New York City. Harrison’s career started with a long stint with the Beatles, which led to moderately successful solo career, movie production career and avid human rights activism.
Harrison’s career started in 1958 when John Lennon convinced his band known as Quarrymen to let young man into band to play guitar and contribute vocally. To make a long story short. The Beatles become largest band on the planet end led the so-called “British Invasion” of the band’s song writing and themes. it wasn’t until eleven years after Harrison joined the band that he would be acknowledged with song-writing credit with the Beatles on a song called “Something”. Harrison was also huge impact on the Beatles songs “Taxmen” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. These songs would go on to be the high point of Harrison’s career as a Beatle as he unofficially took second strong with Ringo Starr behind Lennon and McCartey
During the filming of the Beatle’s movie “A Hard Day’s Night” Harrison was acknowledged as being most gifted actor of the Beatles and was encouraged to pursue some acting projects however he turned them down for music.
Harrison’s personal life was also troubled as his good friend Eric Clapton stole his wife Patti Boyd from him. it was Boyd however that introduced Harrison to indian Culture, religion and mysticism that led to Harrison’s fascination with the country and people. In 1969 Harrison and Boyd were arrested for 120 marijuana joints.
Musically in 1060 Harrison produced IK to 10 hit “Hare Krishna Mantra” by Radha Krishna Temple. He then followed success of the single by going on tour with his good friend Clapton.
In my 1970 Harrison went into studio to record his first solo album entitled “All Things Must Pass”. Critics gave the record mixed reviews and the album although selling well would not compareted the work of the Beatles or Lennon and McCartney solo projects. That same year Harrison released single “My Sweet Lord” in which many of his fans and critics hail as his greatest single.
In 1971 Harrison would organize the “Concert for Bangladesh” which would be the first of its kind. it would set off a string live concert benefits and inspire “Live Aid” in the 1980S. At the concert for Bangladesh Harrison would recruit friend Bob Dylan to headline the show. That same year Harrison would play guitar on John Lennon’s “Imagine” legendary hit single and produce critically acclaimed proteges Badfinger and Billy Preston.
Later in the 1970’s Harrison would launch his Dark Horse Records label but would fall to produce anything that sold and the label would go bottom up. It would be the first in a string of defeats. Next he would begin to be sued for plagiarism for his song “My Sweet Lord”. His friend Clapton would release “Layla” that would be the driving force behind Boyd leaving Harrison. Ironically Harrison would do a remake the Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love” two years later 1974 with Boydand Clapton on backup vocals.
In the late 70s and early 80s Harrison would launch his HanMade Films Company, which produced the movie “A Private Function” about wartime in Britain. In 1981 Harrison would release the song “All Those Years Ago” ın tribute to his murderer friend John Lennon who was shot dead in 1980. in 1987 Harrison would release a pop album which produced the most point of his solo career “Got My Mind Set On You”.
In the late 1980s Harrison would form the Travelling Wilburys which was super group of legendary rock performers that included himself. Tom Petty, Roy Orbison, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne . By the mid 1990s the Wilbury’s album would be out of printas was the majority of Harrison’s solo work.
In 1995 Harrison would rejoin with McCartney and Starr to put the finishing touches on a John Lennon song entitled “Free As A Bird” which would be released on the Beatles long awaited “Anthology” double disc album set. It would be the first original Beatles recording since the bands breakup and the last one as well.
ın 1997 Harrison would make his last public appearance in as he participated in an interview and impromptu acoustic live performance in VH1 Studios. Harrison would go into complete isolation Immediately after he become know as the Beatle’s “hermit”
In 1999 shorty after receiving knowledge of his career and obsessed fan intruded on his private property and stabbed Harrison. Harrison would survive with no long term debilitating affects from wounds.
In early 2001 Harrison would top the charts for the last time as the Beatles released their “I” collection which topped the Billboard top 200 knocking the teen Idol bands from the top slot.
Throughout Harrison’s life it was obvious that this man struggled in both his personal life and professional life especially in the post-Beatle era. Despite it all Harrison triumphed as he found peace with God and continued to do the things he believed in and loved. Regardless of regard sales and critics’ words Harrison will always be one of the most respected musical artists of all time and will be missed by his fans, friends and family.
