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Humble beginnings -

George Harrison, the youngest of four children, was born at 12 Arnold Grove in Wavertree, Liverpool, on February 25, 1943, during the Second World War.

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A supportive mother -

George Harrison was born into very humble beginnings, with his family having just enough money to live. But Harrisons’ mother was a music fan and incredibly supportive of his talent, wishing only that her children be happy.

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Musical influences -

As a boy, throughout the early 1950s, Harrison gained significant influence from skiffle, jazz, and blues guitar musicians of the time. Skiffle music would famously have percussion played on a washing board. This photo shows the Chas McDevitt Skiffle Group, a famous skiffle group at the time.

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Discovering rock and roll -

Elvis Presley’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ shook Harrison to his core. He heard the song while cycling to school one morning. This song and the musical influences that he had been garnering throughout the past years would allow him to bond with Paul McCartney over music on a school bus to Liverpool Institute, where they both attended.

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The Rebels -

In 1956, at the age of 13, his father bought him his first guitar, and soon after George Harrison formed his first band, the Rebels, who played skiffle music and often performed with manufactured and homemade or improvised instruments.

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The Quarrymen -

A young John Lennon was skeptical of George Harrison joining his and Paul McCartney’s band, The Quarrymen, because he was just 15 years old, roughly three years younger than the other members.

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The late night bus audition -

As John Lennon was hesitant to allow George Harrison into the band after his first audition at the Morgue Skiffle Cellar, Paul McCartney organized a second meeting on a night bus in Liverpool. After playing ‘Raunchy’ on guitar “perfectly” (according to McCartney), Harrison was in.

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An apprentice electrician -

The band continued for the next few years, most playing locally in Liverpool. At age 16, George Harrison dropped out of school to apprentice as an electrician, giving up after several months.

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Hamburg -

In 1960, music promoter Allan Williams arranged the band known as the Beatles, after their first tour in Scotland. The band moved to Hamburg, gaining residencies in some clubs to perform, which prematurely ended as George Harrison was too young to play in the clubs.

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Beatlemania -

In 1961, Brian Epstein began managing the band, and they signed a recording contract. One year later, Ringo Starr joined the band and their first single ‘Love Me Do’ was released. Their first album, ‘Please Please Me,’ was released in 1963, and Beatlemania arrived soon after.

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Meeting Pattie Boyd -

Model Pattie Boyd and George Harrison met in 1964, and were married two years later.

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"The quiet Beatle” -

Due to Harrison’s serious nature on stage and his reserved character in interviews, especially in comparison to John Lennon and Paul McCartney, he became known as "the quiet Beatle.”

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World music enthusiast -

Later during his career with the Beatles, he became interested in Indian and Eastern styles of music.

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Blending musical influences -

Harrison had already recorded and released two albums before the Beatles split, with the aforementioned musical styles present.

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The Beatles split up -

The Beatles split up in 1970, seven years after the release of their first album. In the end, the bandmates would go in separate musical directions. George Harrison had been feeding his interest in Eastern music, art, and philosophy by 1967, which heavily influenced ‘Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.’

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The Hare Krishna -

He had become engulfed by Indian spiritual practices, particularly the Hare Krishna movement.

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‘The Radha Krsna Temple’ -

This photo shows Harrison with his friends of the Hare Krishna movement during the recording of ‘The Radha Krsna Temple’ album.

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Divorce -

His marriage would end with Pattie Boyd leaving Harrison due to infidelities on both sides. Harrison had an affair with Ringo Starr’s wife, Maureen Starkey. Pattie Boyd had an affair with the Rolling Stones’ guitarist, Ronnie Wood.

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His finest work -

In 1970, Harrison released what is regarded as his finest work, his album ‘All Things Must Pass,’ which featured a host of renowned musicians jamming, such as Eric Clapton. Clapton, a close friend of Harrison, commented that they shared many interests, including clothes, music, and women. Eric Clapton actually fell in love with Pattie Boyd, who would leave George Harrison for Clapton.

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The Travelling Wilburys -

In the next seven years, Harrison would release several best-selling singles and albums. In 1988, he founded the Travelling Wilburys.

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The Travelling Wilburys, a supergroup -

The supergroup featured several of the most prolific musicians of the time, including Tom Pretty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne.

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His Indian sitar virtuoso friend -

By this time, Indian musician Ravi Shankar and Harrison had become friends.

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The Concert for Bangladesh -

In 1971, Harrison accepted the invitation from Shankar to play the Concert for Bangladesh, a precursor to benefit concerts like Live Aid. This image shows the crowds in attendance at the concert in 1971.

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Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee -

George Harrison is a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee as a member of the Beatles in 1988, and posthumously for his solo career in 2004.

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The Billboard Century Award -

In December 1992, he became the first recipient of the Billboard Century Award, for his "critical role in laying the groundwork for the modern concept of world music" and for his having "advanced society's comprehension of the spiritual and altruistic power of popular music.”

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Attacked in his home -

In 1999, a mentally ill man entered George Harrison’s home and attacked him with a knife. The former Beatle would have died if not for his wife, Olivia Harrison, incapacitating the intruder with a fire poker. Harrison suffered multiple severe stab wounds and was in a critical state.

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A gardener -

George Harrison became interested in gardening at a mature age. Here he is photographed at a garden show in London.

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Family -

Harrison had one son, Dhani Harrison, with his wife, Olivia Harrison.

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Funding 'Monty Python's Life of Brian' (1979) -

Harrison also became a film producer and formed his own film production company called HandMade Films, which is still around today and has produced some very well-known movies.

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A kind and considerate friend -

In Martin Scorsese’s ‘George Harrison: Living in the Material World’ documentary, Ringo Starr becomes emotional in an interview when speaking about his final meeting with George Harrison, feeling that these last moments encapsulated their relationship and his kind, selfless, and considerate personality at large.

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His last word to Ringo Starr -

Ringo Starr visited Harrison in a hospital in Switzerland, but had to cut his visit short to travel to Boston, where his daughter would have brain surgery. Harrison was terminally ill and bedridden, but when Starr had to leave, Harrison's last words were, “do you want me to come with you?” In telling the story, Starr breaks down in tears.

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“All religions are branches of one big tree. It doesn't matter what you call him, just as long as you call” -

Harrison died of cancer on November 29, 2001. He was 58 years old. Paul McCartney revealed that he died peacefully.

Sources: (George Harrison: Living in the Material World) (Biography) (The Vintage News)

See also: The Beatles: find out more about the Fab Four

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