George Harrison, MBE (25 February 1943 – 29 November 2001) was an English rock guitarist, singer-songwriter, author, film producer and sitarist best known as the lead guitarist for The Beatles. Following the band's breakup, Harrison had a successful career as a solo artist and later as part of the Traveling Wilburys super group. He was the first Beatle to have a number one solo album (All Things Must Pass). He also co-founded the production company Handmade Films, and in his work as a film producer, collaborated with people as diverse as Madonna and the members of Monty Python. After Harrison embraced Hinduism in the 1960s, his spiritual convictions were often evident in his music and public activities.

Although John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote the majority of the Beatles songs, Harrison generally wrote and sang lead on a few songs on each album. His later compositions included hits such as "Here Comes the Sun," "Something" and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." After the band's breakup, Harrison became the first ex-Beatle to achieve a #1 single ("My Sweet Lord"). Besides his talents as a singer, songwriter, guitarist and sitarist, he was also a record producer and music innovator, and as Harrison forged his own identity and drifted away from the Beatles he became a world-class songwriter, musical pioneer, and a catalyst for a generation's interest in Indian culture. In 1969, Harrison commented: "I believe that if I'm going to sing songs on record, they might as well be on my own."

Early years: 1943–1958

Harrison was born in Liverpool, England, on 25 February 1943 to Louise and Harold Harrison, parents of a Roman Catholic family with deep roots in Ireland. His maternal grandparents hailed from County Wexford in Ireland.

As a child, Harrison lived at 12 Arnold Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool, until 1950, when the family moved to 25 Upton Green, Speke. He first attended school at Dovedale Road Infants & Juniors School, very close to Penny Lane. There he passed his Eleven-plus examination and achieved a place at the Liverpool Institute for Boys (in the building now housing the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts), where he attended from 1954 to 1959 and where he met Paul McCartney.

He formed a skiffle group called 'The Rebels' with his brother Peter and a friend, Arthur Kelly.

1960–1970: The Beatles

main: The Beatles discography In the early days of the Beatles (when the band was still called the Quarrymen), McCartney asked Harrison to join. Harrison was the youngest member of the group, initially looked upon as a kid by the others. In actuality, he was never officially asked to join the group, but rather he hung out with the others and filled in as needed; he was soon looked upon as one of the group. During the early years of the group's rise to local fame, Harrison's mother often cheered him on from the audience, much to the consternation of Lennon's Aunt Mimi; she complained that they could all live "lovely peaceful lives" but for Mrs. Harrison's encouragement of the group. While McCartney was termed the "cute Beatle" and Lennon considered the leader, Harrison consistently ranked a favourite of the female fans. At some concerts, the group was occasionally showered with Jelly Babies, which Harrison had said were his favourite sweet. Unfortunately, American fans could not get hold of this soft British confection, replacing them instead with the harder jelly beans, much to the group's discomfort.Kane, Larry. Interview. Interviews with the Beatles Larry Kane. CD. Larry Kane, 2003.