George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001), was an English musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter who achieved international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney were the bands primary songwriters, most of their albums included at least one Harrison composition, including While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Here Comes the Sun and Something, which became the Beatles second-most-covered song. Harrisons earliest musical influences included Big Bill Broonzy, George Formby and Django Reinhardt; Chet Atkins, Chuck Berry and Ry Cooder were significant later influences. By 1965 he had begun to lead the Beatles into folk rock through his interest in the Byrds and Bob Dylan, and towards Indian classical music through his use of the sitar on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown). He developed an interest in the Hare Krishna movement and became an admirer of Indian culture and mysticism, introducing them to the other members of the Beatles and their Western audience by incorporating Indian instrumentation in their music. After the bands break-up in 1970, Harrison released the triple album All Things Must Pass, from which two hit singles originated. He also organized the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh with Ravi Shankar, a precursor for later benefit concerts such as Live Aid. Harrison was a music and film producer as well as a musician; he founded Dark Horse Records in 1974 and co-founded HandMade Films in 1978. Harrison released several best-selling singles and albums as a solo performer, and in 1988 co-founded the platinum-selling supergroup the Traveling Wilburys. A prolific recording artist, he was featured as a guest guitarist on tracks by Badfinger, Ronnie Wood and Billy Preston, and collaborated on songs and music with Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Tom Petty, among others. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 11 in their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Harrisons first marriage, to Pattie Boyd, ended in divorce in 1977. The following year he married Olivia Trinidad Arias, with whom he had one son, Dhani. Harrison died in 2001, aged 58, from lung cancer. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered in the Ganges and Yamuna rivers in India, in a private ceremony according to Hindu tradition. He left almost £100 million in his will. Born 25 February 1943 Liverpool, England Died 29 November 2001 (aged 58) Los Angeles, California, US Genres Rock, pop, world, experimental Occupation(s) Musician, singer, songwriter, music and film producer Instruments Vocals, guitar, sitar, keyboards, bass guitar, ukulele Years active 1958–2001 Labels Parlophone, Capitol, Swan, Apple, Vee-Jay, Dark Horse, Gnome Associated acts The Quarrymen, the Beatles, Plastic Ono Band, Traveling Wilburys, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 00:04:07 +0000