George Harrison
The spiritually searching Beatle whose intricate guitar work and embrace of Indian music expanded rock's vocabulary and consciousness.
1943–2001 (age 58)·English musician·Birthday: February 25·The Silent Generation
Biography
George Harrison lived his public life in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney's songwriting partnership, but his quiet determination ultimately reshaped the Beatles' sound and the landscape of popular music. Initially the 'lead guitarist,' his curiosity led him to the sitar and Indian spirituality, introducing raga influences on tracks like 'Norwegian Wood' and 'Within You Without You.' His own compositions, such as 'Here Comes the Sun' and 'Something,' became some of the band's most beloved works. After the Beatles' dissolution, he flourished, releasing the acclaimed triple album 'All Things Must Pass' and organizing the groundbreaking Concert for Bangladesh, pioneering the charity rock event. His later years were dedicated to film production and gardening, a private man who had helped define the spiritual and musical quest of the 1960s.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
George was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Died at 58
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Key Achievements
- Wrote and sang lead on classic Beatles songs including 'Here Comes the Sun,' 'Something,' and 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps.'
- Organized the 1971 Concert for Bangladesh, the first major benefit concert of its kind, raising millions for refugee relief.
- Released the critically acclaimed solo album 'All Things Must Pass,' featuring the hit 'My Sweet Lord.'
- Founded HandMade Films, which produced cult classics like 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' and 'Withnail and I.'
Did You Know?
He was an avid gardener and helped create the elaborate gardens at his home, Friar Park.
He learned to play the sitar under the tutelage of Ravi Shankar.
He was the first person to use the term 'the quiet Beatle' to describe himself.
He owned a large estate that included a medieval manor house, which inspired his song 'The Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp.'
“All the world is birthday cake, so take a piece, but not too much.”
