Introduction
George Harrison was born on February 25, 1943 in Liverpool, England. He was the youngest member of the fame British band known as the Beatles. He was 14-years-old when Paul McCartney introduced him to John Lennon. However, George Harrison’s musical destiny began before he was a famed Beatle. He and his brother created their own musical ensemble called the Skiffle Band. During this early time in his life, the only instruments needed to make music were an acoustic guitar, a washboard and a tea chest. After becoming a Beatle, George not only played the guitar for the group, he sang and wrote music too. One of the first songs that bear his name as a songwriter is a tune called “Don’t Bother Me.” His journey as a Beatle and then as a solo artist makes him a legend and an icon in the history of music. George Harrison passed away at the age of 58 in Los Angeles, California.
Harrison and the Beatles
The Beatles became very popular in 1960 and lasted for 10 years. The rock and roll band members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison. Their style of music and their famed hairstyle are two of the main characteristics that made these four British lads stand out and get notice. During the 60’s, they had music that hit the top of the charts, songs such as Love Me Do, P.S. I Love You, I Want to Hold Your Hand and Please, Please Me. As one of the famed Beatles, George Harrison played the lead guitar and composed the musical tracks of Here Comes the Sun, Help, While My Guitar Gently Weeps and Something. Although Harrison played lead guitar with the Beatles, his first actual guitar was a beginner’s Egmond. He also played the vintage F-hole acoustic. In 1959, he switched over from acoustic to electric and started strumming on a Resonet Futurama. Other guitars that he played were the Gretsch 6128 Duo Jet, the Gibson J-160-E and the Gretsch Jet Fire Bird. Harrison introduced the band to other forms of instruments such as the 12-string eclectic guitar, the slide guitar, the sitar and the tambura.
Solo Work
Although the Beatles went their separate ways in 1970, Harrison continued his music career as a solo artist, showing that his worth and talent could stand-alone. Out on his own, the first album he released was All Things Must Pass. This turned out to be a 3-disc album with songs such as My Sweet Lord, What is Life and I Dig Love, to name a few. This debut album demonstrates that George had the ability to write, arrange and produce. There were more albums to follow, for instance, Dark Horse, Wonderwall and Living in the Material World. To compliment his music style and craft, Harrison had keyboard players, drummers, bass players, sax and flute players as well as people on strings. He even had a table player backing his musical renditions, very different from his days in the Rebel band ages before.
Conclusion: What is George Harrison’s Musical Legacy
Although George Harrison’s fame to glory began with the Beatles, his legacy does not end there, for he was a warm and compassionate person on a journey to improve himself and the world. People remember him not only for his musical talent, but also for his unchanging love and compassion of those less fortunate around the world. He was a man with a big heart, a humanitarian. Although a superstar in the eyes of many, he wore a spiritual clock of armor that sustained and moved him beyond the materialistic world. When you think of George Harrison’s musical legend, a song that might come to the forefront of your mind is “My Sweet Lord”, But as for the legacy of the man himself, the words that come to mind is peace and love, for that is what Harrison was all about.