Cancer Type – Throat
Bio – George Harrison constant smoking cost this Beatles’ star’s life, and we will never forget his lyrics in “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun”.
Short Story – In 1998, the ex-Beatle discovered a lump in his neck and was diagnosed with cancer. He underwent surgery to remove the lump and two rounds of radiation therapy to become cancer-free. Quoted, “I got it purely from smoking. Luckily for me, they found that this was more a warning than anything else.” Harrison gave up smoking in 1997.
In 1973 George formed The Material World Foundation to help inspire new forms of artistic expression, life views, and to support established charities and people with special needs.
In 2001, George Harrison was treated for lung cancer and brain tumor. Doctors believed the lung cancer was also a result of smoking excessively for years. He passed on November 29, 2001, of complications from the new disease.
“He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends,” the Harrison family said in a statement. “He often said, ‘Everything else can wait, but the search for God cannot wait,’ and ‘love one another.’ ”
We imagine George strumming his guitar, singing:
“Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right
It’s all right.”
There is also the George Harrison Castine Barnett scholarship.
We thank George for the years of music, the enlightenment, and hope your spirit always lives on.
Background information | |
Born | 25 February 1943, Liverpool, England, UK |
Died | 29 November 2001 (aged 58), Los Angeles, California, US |
Genres | Rock, pop, Indian classical, experimental |
Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter, music and film producer |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, sitar |
Years active | 1958–2001 |
Labels | Parlophone, Capitol, Swan, Apple, Vee-Jay, Dark, Horse, Gnome |
Associated acts | The Quarrymen, The Beatles, Plastic Ono Band, Traveling Wilburys, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, The Radha Krsna Temple |
Website | georgeharrison.com |
Notable instruments | |
Gretsch 6122 Country Gentleman | |
Fender Stratocaster “Rocky” | |
Gibson Les Paul “Lucy” | |
Rickenbacker 360/12 | |
Fender Telecaster | |
Gibson SG | |
Epiphone Casino |
Image Credits – David Hume Kennerly [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons