NEW JERSEY, December 2, 2001: This week, we celebrate the life and legacy of George Harrison.

Not only was he an expert guitarist and exquisite songwriter, George Harrison was, after all, a member of the Beatles -- perhaps the most influential group in the history of recorded music. A bunch of boyhood friends, really, that chased a dream and changed the world.

The path of nearly every band playing right now can be traced back to the Fab Four. And unlike some of the homogenized, pre-packaged members of today's "boy bands," George Harrison was the real deal. Wrote it. Played it. Recorded it. Performed it. Live.

Yet, somehow, in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney, George Harrison's accomplishments appear diminished, like a second place finish. But that's all it is -- an appearance. In fact, we believe Mr Harrison's contributions to the world of music, and the music of the world, are worthy of our attention and praise.

For example, did you know that George taught John Lennon how to play the guitar? Harrison was, in fact, the most accomplished musician in the band. But it raises an interesting question -- just like in "It's a Wonderful Life" -- imagine what the world would have been like if George hadn't been there to show Mr Lennon his first bar chords? Imagine indeed...

Did you also know that George was the first rock star to organize a concert for charity? Sure they're pretty commonplace today. But his Bangladesh bash at Madison Square Garden in 1970 started it all. Featuring friend and former bandmate Ringo Starr, and other rock legends, like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton, George's concert was the predecessor to Band Aid, Live Aid, Farm Aid, No Nukes, Amnesty, Monserrat, Kampuchea, The Secret Policeman's Ball, Rainforest, Walden Woods -- the list goes on and on. And they all can be traced back to George Harrison's good will, perseverance, and ingenuity. Character traits that belong in all of our personal brand identities...

Moreover, George Harrison never phoned it in -- he never wrote a "Nothing Song." You know, that song on an album that simply fills up space? (No, that was Paul who wrote "Let 'Em In.")

Consider that, even though they were called pop tunes, almost every song George Harrison wrote spoke about the search for spirituality, love, and the meaning of it all. Listen to these gems, you realize what an incredibly talented, perceptive, and transcendant man he was to get these concepts on AM radio:

My Sweet Lord. What is Life. All Things Must Pass. Open. Honest. Genuine. Even his most famous hit, a passionate love song, no doubt -- is filled with, well, doubt:

"You're asking me, will my love grow?...I don't know, I don't know. You stick around now, it may show. I don't know, I don't know..."

We stuck around. We know.

The Quiet Beatle? Try, The Existential Beatle. The Deep Beatle. The UnBeatle.

We don't mean to sound preachy, but in a year of so much fear and sorrow, in a season of so much joy and hope, there is much we can learn about ourselves and our journeys from the life and legacy of George Harrison. Just crank up the knob. Happily, his music lives on.

George, thanks for Something...and for everything. May you rest in peace.

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