George Harrison

The mystical Beatle joined his friend Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the Quarrymen in the late '50s. Several name and member changes later, the Beatles emerged as more than just a popular band; it was a modern phenomenon that held the world in the palm of its hand until it lost interest and let go in 1970. Harrison provided the lyrical lead guitar, a voice not infrequently over-played in the early days by McCartney's crashing rhythm chords, and over the life of the band he perfected his style and found his songwriting voice in numbers like "If I Needed Someone," "Love You Too" and "Here Comes the Sun." When the Beatles broke up, Harrison's solo persona took flight and the path upon which he'd started after meeting Ravi Shankar in 1966 became clear. All Things Must Pass was a Phil Spector-enhanced album that flushed out George's unsung songs and produced grand, lush and spiritual fare. Dark Horse in '74 was less successful and reflected Harrison's damaged voice and personal life. Dark Horse became his record label and the name of his North American tour, a sporadic musical adventure he gave up soon after Live in Japan in '91. Harrison's retreat into personal life didn't mean he retreated from music, however, and his death in 2001 of inoperable brain cancer was a blow to those who loved the Beatle and those who loved the mystic cruiser. Concert for George at London's Royal Hall was a touching, rocking, sell-out tribute to this man of many talents.