February 24

George Harrison's Birthday
 

Although he was previously a strong student, Harrison eschewed his academic studies for music dreams. He met Paul McCartney when he was just fifteen, a full year older than George. Despite some qualms about his young age, Lennon and McCartney agreed to let Harrison join the Quarrymen, the band that would later become legendary rock group The Beatles. 

Harrison quickly established himself as the most musically attentive member of The Beatles, tuning instruments before shows and playing lead guitar. Although the majority of The Beatles’ songs were written by Lennon and McCartney, Harrison contributed several tracks to each album, including many of the band’s most beloved hits: “Something,” “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” and “Here comes the Sun.”

In fact, by 1965’s Rubber Soul, Harrison’s musical influence within The Beatles was clearly predominant, as his interest in Indian mysticism and music took the band’s sound in entirely new directions. Harrison’s interest and friendship with Ravi Shankar is widely credited with introducing sitar music to Western audiences. However, the other members of The Beatles were resistant to including Harrison’s songs on their albums, and Harrison was the first member to call it quits when The Beatles disbanded. 

After The Beatles, Harrison embarked upon a solo career that produced a string of successful albums and hit singles. His further developed his close personal and professional relationships with other major rock icons like Eric Clapton and Jeff Lynne. With Lynne, he was a member of the rock supergroup The Traveling Wilburys, which also included Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison. Harrison was also a prolific songwriter and producer, including songs for former bandmate Ringo Starr. 

In 2001, George Harrison died of lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain, leaving behind a rich musical legacy and many close friends in the industry. To properly honor The Quiet Beatle, might we suggest a home made version of the decadent confection immortalized by one of the songs Harrison wrote for the White Album – the Savoy Truffle. Savoy Truffle is the penultimate song about the dangers of eating too much chocolate. The song's lyric about "good news" refers to a British brand of assorted chocolates called Mackintosh's Good News to which his friend guitarist Eric Campton was addicted. 

According to George,
 

"Savoy Truffle on The White Album was written for Eric. He's got this real sweet tooth and he'd just had his mouth worked on. His dentist said he was through with candy. So as a tribute I wrote, 'You'll have to have them all pulled out after the Savoy Truffle'. The truffle was some kind of sweet, just like all the rest - cream tangerine, ginger sling - just candy, to tease Eric."

We suggest enjoying a few our Savory Truffles in moderation with a viewing of A Hard Day's Night (1964).
 

Savoy Truffles