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George Harrison (1943–2001) was an English musician who gained international fame as the lead guitarist of the Beatles. With his songwriting contributions limited by the dominance of John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the Beatles, Harrison was the first member of the band to release a solo album. Wonderwall Music (1968), a mostly instrumental soundtrack album combining Western and Indian sounds, was also the first album issued on the Beatles' Apple record label. He followed it with Electronic Sound (1969), an experimental album containing two lengthy pieces performed on Moog synthesizer.

In November 1970, seven months after the Beatles' break-up, Harrison released the triple album All Things Must Pass. Co-produced by Phil Spector, it included the hit singles "My Sweet Lord" and "What Is Life", songs such as "Isn't It a Pity" and "All Things Must Pass" that had been overlooked for inclusion in the Beatles' releases, and "I'd Have You Anytime", a collaboration with Bob Dylan. The album included musical contributions from Eric Clapton and Ringo Starr, both of whom collaborated regularly with Harrison throughout his solo career, and featured two signature elements of Harrison's work: his slide guitar playing and spiritually themed songwriting. In 1971, he organised the Concert for Bangladesh and recorded the charity single "Bangla Desh". The triple live album from the concerts included three of Harrison's best-known Beatles songs: "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", "Here Comes the Sun" and "Something". Living in the Material World (1973), which Harrison produced alone, featured a pared-down sound and increasingly devout lyrics. It included the single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" and a title track in which contrasting sections of Indian music and Western rock mirrored Harrison's struggle to attain his spiritual goals. Dark Horse (1974) included songs inspired by the end of his marriage to Pattie Boyd and, particularly in the title track, vocal performances marred by Harrison contracting laryngitis – a result of overexertion as he prepared to launch to his Dark Horse record label. Extra Texture (Read All About It) (1975) contained several songs in a downbeat soul style, reflecting his despondency following the mixed reception afforded his 1974 North American tour with Ravi Shankar. Largely recorded in Los Angeles, the album included "This Guitar (Can't Keep from Crying)", a sequel to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".

Harrison's first release on Dark Horse Records, Thirty Three & 1/3 (1976), furthered the American soul influence. A more buoyant collection relative to its predecessors, it typified Harrison's move towards love songs that invite interpretation as being addressed to his deity as much as a romantic partner. Co-produced by Russ Titelman, George Harrison (1979) reflected Harrison's contentment after a period spent travelling. Among its tracks were the hit single "Blow Away", songs celebrating the tranquil surroundings he had discovered on Hawaii, and a tribute to Formula 1 racing drivers, "Faster". Somewhere in England was released in 1981 and featured "All Those Years Ago", a tribute to Lennon following his murder in December 1980. Gone Troppo (1982) included the single "Wake Up My Love" and "Circles", a song that, like "Not Guilty" from George Harrison, had originally been considered for the Beatles' White Album in 1968.

After a four-year hiatus, Harrison returned with Cloud Nine (1987), co-produced by Jeff Lynne. It included a cover version of Rudy Clark's "Got My Mind Set on You" and the Beatles tribute "When We Was Fab". Harrison then formed the Traveling Wilburys with Lynne, Dylan, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty. In between recording two self-titled albums with the Wilburys, he issued the 1989 compilation Best of Dark Horse, which included "Cheer Down", co-written with Petty. Harrison's 1991 Japanese tour with Clapton was documented on Live in Japan (1992), which included renditions of his Beatles compositions "Taxman" and "If I Needed Someone". In 1994–95, Harrison reunited with Starr and McCartney for the Beatles Anthology multimedia project, before collaborating with Shankar on the latter's album Chants of India (1997). Harrison died of lung cancer in November 2001. His final album, Brainwashed (2002), was completed by his son Dhani Harrison and Jeff Lynne.