The Quiet Beatle: The Life and Legacy of George Harrison
The Early Years
George Harrison was born on February 25, 1943, at his family home of 12 Arnold Grove, Liverpool, as the youngest of four children in a working-class family. His father, Harold Harrison, was a bus conductor, and his mother, Louise, worked in a shop. He had two older brothers Harry and Peter and the eldest sibling was Louisa. They were a close-knit and supportive family, with his mother, Louise, especially encouraging George’s interest in music.
Childhood & Education (1943–1956)
When George was 4 years old the Harrison family moved to the newly built estate of Speke, Liverpool. He and his siblings attended Dovedale Primary School (the same school as John Lennon) and later Liverpool Institute High School for Boys where he would meet fellow pupil Paul McCartney. He wasn't a top student and found school uninspiring, but he did develop a love for music from an early age.
Early Musical Influences (1956–1958)
Around 1956, Harrison became fascinated with rock and roll after hearing artists like Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Buddy Holly on the radio. At age 13, he persuaded his father to buy him a cheap Dutch Egmond acoustic guitar. He taught himself to play, often practising until his fingers bled. He drew early inspiration from guitarists like Lonnie Donegan, a British skiffle musician before discovering the American guitarist Carl Perkins. Perkin's influence is evident in much of George's early sound with The Beatles.
Harrison and his brother built a small amplifier, and he soon started playing with local skiffle groups. Around 1957, Paul McCartney, who was already friends with John Lennon in the band The Quarrymen, introduced George to the group. Lennon initially thought Harrison was too young (he was only 14), but after George impressed them with his ability to play intricate guitar parts, he was eventually accepted as a member in February/March 1958.
The Beatles Begin (1958–1963)
As The Quarrymen evolved into The Beatles, Harrison was enlisted to play lead guitar. By 1960, aged just 17, he travelled with the band to Hamburg, Germany, to perform in strip clubs and bars. Despite being too young to travel alone without a parent or being legally able to apply for a work permit, George forged his passport to make out he was actually 18 (he would later be found out and deported)!
When the Beatles were offered a second tour of Hamburg George had turned 18 and was legally allowed to travel. These early Hamburg years were crucial in shaping his musical abilities. The long hours of performing toughened him as a musician and helped The Beatles develop their signature sound.
By 1962, The Beatles had secured a record deal with EMI and began recording in their studio at Abbey Road. Harrison, still only 19, played lead guitar on their first single, "Love Me Do", and subsequent hits like "Please Please Me" (1963).
By March 1963 George had just turned 20 when The Beatles released their debut album, “Please Please Me”, and they were well on their way to becoming a global phenomena.
A Lasting Legacy
Though often overshadowed by Lennon and McCartney, Harrison was already proving himself to be an essential part of the group, both as a guitarist and a developing songwriter He would eventually go on to write over 20 Beatles' songs like “Here Comes The Sun” and “Something”. George's pioneering use of third world instruments like the sitar introduced British and American audiences to eastern music and philosophy, a sound that would reverberate throughout 1960's popular music and beyond.
Written By Damion - Tour Guide Manager at Liverpool City Sights