George Harrison Dead at 58
A Timeline of Harrison's Life and Career

Go back to George Harrison's obituary

George Harrison in New York City, July 1997 Photo: Robert Siegel, NPR

Feb. 25, 1943
Harrison is born in Liverpool, England, to Harold and Louise Harrison.

August 1958
He joins The Quarrymen, a group that includes schoolmates Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

1959
He joins McCartney, Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe in a band called the Silver Beatles.

August 1960
The band, now called the Beatles, goes to Germany where it quickly becomes a popular local act.

May 1962
Producer George Martin signs the Beatles to first their record contract.

October 1962
The Beatles' first single, "Love Me Do," becomes a top-20 hit in Britain.

March 1963
The band releases its first album, Please Please Me. The single of the same name becomes the group's first chart-topper in Britain.

December 1963
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" becomes the band's first U.S. release -- and later, their first song to top the Billboard charts.

February 1964
The Beatles appear on Ed Sullivan's TV variety show and immediately become the most popular band in America.

July 1964
The first Beatles film, A Hard Day's Night, is released.

Jan. 21, 1966
Harrison marries Patti Boyd.

Aug. 29, 1966
The Beatles play their last live show, at San Francisco's Candlestick Park.

1967
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, is released. Many critics and fans consider it the band's greatest work.

1969
Harrison's song "Something" again takes the Beatles to No. 1 on U.S. charts.

April 10, 1970
McCartney announces he is leaving the Beatles. The band splits up.

1970
Harrison releases the solo album, All Things Must Pass.

Aug. 1, 1971
The benefit Concert for Bangladesh is staged at Madison Square Garden by Harrison and friends including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar. The resulting three-LP live recording earns Harrison a Grammy Award for album of the year.

November 1974
Harrison becomes the first Beatle to mount a solo world tour.

September 1976
Copyright holders of the Lonnie Mack song "He's So Fine," win a lawsuit against Harrison, in which they claim the Mack song -- a hit for the Chiffons -- was the basis for Harrison's "My Sweet Lord."

June 1977
Harrison divorces Patti Boyd (who later marries Eric Clapton).

Aug. 1, 1978
A son, Dhani, is born to Harrison and Olivia Arias. A month later, the couple marries.

1979
Harrison establishes a production company called Handmade Films, to produce Monty Python's Life of Brian.

July 1981
Harrison's tribute to John Lennon -- "All Those Years Ago," featuring McCartney and Starr -- rises to the No. 2 position on U.S. music charts.

January 1988
Harrison's "Got My Mind Set on You" hits No. 1 in the United States.

November 1988
Harrison releases Traveling Wilburys: Volume One with Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and Jeff Lynne.

June 1998
Harrison discloses that he has been treated for throat cancer, but says it's a battle he's winning. "I'm not going to die on you folks just yet," he says. "I am very lucky."

December 1999
Harrison and his wife are attacked in their London home by an intruder with a knife. Harrison is stabbed four times in the chest, and suffers a collapsed lung. After a trial the following year, the intruder -- described as having mental problems and an obsession with the Beatles -- is found not guilty of by reason of insanity and sent to a psychiatric hospital.

March 2001
All Things Must Pass is certified as a six-times-platinum album.

July 2001
Harrison confirms that he had radiation treatment in Switzerland for a tumor.

Nov. 29, 2001
Harrison dies of cancer at a friend's Los Angeles home. He is 58.

Sources: Associated Press, RockOnTheNet.com

Browse previous broadcast coverage of George Harrison

Other Resources

• George Harrison discography and song lyrics.

• Internet Movie Database profile of Harrison's film career.

Go back to George Harrison's obituary