George was a quiet and modest man. He would never have claimed to have changed the world in any way, but he was part of a band that certainly changed popular music forever. I know that the Beatles are not everyone's cup of tea, but George's own contribution to the band's output was exceptional. He is probably best known for 'While my guitar gently weeps' - though it is not him playing the famous guitar solo in the song (Eric Clapton). My favourite song was 'Something', a slow sweet composition with a haunting guitar solo played perfectly by the man himself.
George was born and lived in a small house in Wavertree, Liverpool. As a student, I too had lived in Wavertree, just a few hundred yards from where the Harrisons had lived. He was the youngest of the Beatles and it took him a while to establish himself in the band as a teenager - but he could play the guitar well and that was good enough for the others.
After the Beatles broke up in 1970, George went on to work as a solo artist and in collaboration with some of the biggest names in rock music. He has left behind quite a legacy and his songs are covered by musicians the world over. A year after he died, a concert was held in his honour which featured the likes of Prince, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, Jeff Lynne and George's son, Dhani. The clip below is from this concert - a truly brilliant rendition of 'While my guitar gently weeps' - featuring a mind-blowing guitar solo from Prince.
Happy Birthday George!
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