LOS ANGELES – George Harrison of the Beatles has died of cancer at the age of 58. Harrison’s wife Olivia and son Dhani were at his side when he died Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles.
George Harrison was the quiet lead guitar player of the Beatles, the British quartet that burst onto the world’s pop music charts in the early 1960s.
One of the group’s dominant personalities, Paul McCartney, said he was devastated by the death of a man he referred to as his baby brother. McCartney told reporters Harrison was a beautiful man who had a wonderful sense of humor.
The only other remaining member of the so-called “Fab Four,” Ringo Starr, said he had lost a best friend.
Harrison was a heavy smoker. He was first treated for throat cancer four years ago. The disease later spread to his lungs and brain.
Although George Harrison was the youngest Beatle, he is the second member of the group to die. John Lennon was shot to death by a deranged fan in New York City in 1980.
Among the songs Harrison wrote for the Beatles were “Here Comes the Sun” and “Something.”
He also wrote “Taxman” (from the album “Revolver”), “Within You, Without You” (from the album “Sergeant Pepper”) and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (from the Beatles’ “White Album”).
He was the first of the Beatles to find success after the breakup of the group in 1970, with the song “My Sweet Lord” from the 23 song album “All Things Must Pass” emerging as one of the biggest hits of the year.
Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.
