Key Events in Harrison's Life

Here is a list of key events in the life of George Harrison:

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

August 1958 -- He joins The Quarrymen, a group that includes schoolmate 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, quickly becoming a popular local act.

May 9, 1962 -- Producer George Martin, of EMI subsidiary Parlophone, signs Beatles to first record contract.

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

February 1963 -- "Please Please Me" becomes the Beatles' first chart-topping song in Britain. The band's first album, also called Please Please Me, is released the following month.

Dec. 23, 1963 -- "I Want to Hold Your Hand" becomes the band's first U.S. release; weeks later, it is their first song to top the Billboard charts.

February 1964 -- Beatles appear on The Ed Sullivan show and immediately become the biggest band in America.

July 1964 -- First Beatles film, A Hard Day's Night, is released.

Jan. 21, 1966 -- Harrison marries Patti Boyd.

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

1967 -- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, considered the band's magnum opus, is released.

November 1968 -- Harrison releases film score "Wonderwall Music," his first solo recording and first LP for Beatles' Apple label.

1969 -- Harrison's song "Something" is No. 1 hit in United States for The Beatles.

April 10, 1970 -- McCartney announces he is leaving the Beatles, prompting the band to split up.

1970 -- Harrison releases solo album, "All Things Must Pass."

Aug. 1, 1971 -- Concert for Bangladesh is held at Madison Square Garden with friends including Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan and Ravi Shankar. Three-LP live recording produced.

Nov. 2, 1974 -- Harrison becomes first Beatle to stage solo world tour.

Sept. 7, 1976 -- He loses lawsuit by copyright holders of Lonnie Mack's "He's So Fine," who claim it was basis for Harrison's "My Sweet Lord."

June 9, 1977 -- Harrison divorces Patti Boyd, who later marries Eric Clapton.

Aug. 1, 1978 -- His son Dhani born.

Sept. 2, 1978 -- Harrison marries Dhani's mother, Olivia Arias.

1979 -- He establishes 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, peaks at No. 2 in United States.

January 1988 -- He hits No. 1 in the United States with "Got My Mind Set on You."

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.

1994 -- Handmade Films sells for $8.5 million.

Dec. 30, 1999 -- He suffers a collapsed lung as he is stabbed several times by deranged man who breaks into his home near London.

July 9, 2001 -- He confirms that he had radiation treatment in Switzerland for a tumor.

Nov. 29, 2001 -- Harrison dies of cancer.