Harrison chronology

Key events in the life of George Harrison:

February 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.

December 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.

The Beatles perform on the "Ed Sullivan Show" on February 9, 1964.

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

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

January 21, 1966 -- Harrison marries Patti Boyd.

August 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.

1970 – Releases first solo record, "All Things Must Pass." It included the single "My Sweet Lord," the first single by a former Beatle to top charts. Harrison was later sued by the Chiffons, whose 1962 hit "He's So Fine" sounded similar to Harrison's hit.

1971 – Harrison organizes rock's first major charity event, The Concert for Bangladesh. The second of two all-star shows at Madison Square Garden was recorded and released as a movie and triple album.

1978 – Harrison's son, Dhani, born. Harrison forms Handmade Films, which produces "Life of Brian" (1979) and "Time Bandits." (1981)

1981 – Releases "Somewhere in England," which includes the John Lennon memorial song "All Those Years Ago."

1982 – Releases autobiography "I Me Mine."

1987 – Harrison returns to the top of charts with the album "Cloud Nine," which includes the cover of the Rudy Clark gospel called "Got My Mind Set on You."

1988 – Harrison returns to No. 3 on charts as part of the Traveling Wilburys.

1995 – "Anthology" documentary and three double CDs of rare Beatles material were issued over the next year, sparking a resurgence in Beatlemania.

1999 – Survives stabbing attack by deranged man at his mansion in southern England.

November 29, 2001 -- Harrison dies of cancer