George Harrison was an influential and talented musician who was one of the founding members of the Beatles in the 1960s He was born on February 25, 1943, and passed away in 2001. His music transcended several genres and spanned from rock, folk, and country to classical, Indian, and spiritual music.
Harrison was known for his guitar playing which was featured on many of the Beatles’ classic songs including “Taxman”, “Something”, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “Here Comes the Sun.” He was also the lead guitarist in the group’s live performances, as well as a backing vocalist. His individual writing efforts included “For You Blue”, “I Need You”, “Here Comes the Moon” and “Give Me Love”.
Despite the fact that Harrison was not the frontman of the Beatles, his influence on their songwriting and sound is undeniable. He introduced Indian culture and spirituality to the group and helped to create a sound that was new and innovative.
Here are the five best examples of George Harrison’s accomplishments:
1. Harrison wrote one of the most popular songs in Beatles’ catalog, “Something”, which was covered by several artists including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Joe Cocker.
2. He arranged a series of mellotron strings for the Beatles’ “Strawberry Fields Forever”, which was included on their 1967 album, “Magical Mystery Tour”.
3. Harrison became the first Beatle to go solo with the release of his album “All Things Must Pass” in 1970, which included smash hits like “My Sweet Lord” and “What Is Life”.
4. He founded his own record label, Dark Horse Records, in 1974.
5. A devout Hindu and meditation practitioner, Harrison organized the legendary Concert for Bangladesh in 1971, benefiting refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War.