...that Martin Scorsese’s documentary “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” will debut on HBO in two parts on October 5 and 6. ‘The quiet beatle’(1941-2001) wrote such hits as “Here Comes the Sun,” “Something”, "All things must pass" and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”.
‘I had no ambition when I was a kid other than to play guitar and get in a rock 'n' roll band. I don't really like to be the guy in the white suit at the front. Like in the Beatles, I was the one who kept quiet at the back and let the other egos be at the front’(Harrison)
It is said that he was often overshadowed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Though, he introduced the Beatles to Indian culture, sitar music, improved the beatles’sound and worked with important artists like Bob Dylan in the Traveling Wilburys. Also he invited Billy Preston and Eric Clapton to take part during the recording of the 'White Album'. He had a great affinity towards India. In 1966, he traveled to India to study how to play the sitar with Pandit Ravi Shankar. In search of social and personal liberation, he met Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, which helped him to give up LSD and take up meditation.
In the summer of 1969, the Beatles produced the single “Hare Krishna Mantra”, performed by Harrison and the devotees of the Radha-Krishna Temple. Harrison’s albums The Hare Krishna Mantra, My Sweet Lord, All Things Must Pass, Living in the Material World and Chants of India were all influenced to a great extent by the Hare Krishna philosophy.[1]
In the summer of 1969, the Beatles produced the single “Hare Krishna Mantra”, performed by Harrison and the devotees of the Radha-Krishna Temple. Harrison’s albums The Hare Krishna Mantra, My Sweet Lord, All Things Must Pass, Living in the Material World and Chants of India were all influenced to a great extent by the Hare Krishna philosophy.[1]
As a human being, Harrison is an influence for many people. He organised a charity concert, The Concert for Bangladesh, on 1 August 1971 in order to raise money to aid the starving refugees during the Bangladesh Liberation War[2].
He was married twice, to model Pattie Boyd from 1966 to 1974 and for 23 years to record company secretary Olivia Trinidad Arias, with whom he had one son, Dhani Harrison[3]. In 2001 he left us but his music and philosophy is still with us. Harrison wished that his earthly body be cremated and the ashes immersed in the Ganges, near the holy Indian city of Varanasi.
'I wanted to be successful, not famous'
George Harrison
