In 1975, someone who would have really known told me George nearly always carefully prepared his solos prior to studio takes.

George seems to me a very private person in an enormously public lifetime. In his quiet manner, I believe he brought a stabilizing factor to his generational peers. In the historical unrest of the 60's and 70's, George seemed to favor inner self-exploration. It would be interesting to know to what degree his own pursuit of grace spilled over onto us all.

His most profound musical influence on the other Beatles was perhaps through the spirituality with which he seemed to conduct his life.

In February of 1965, I went to hear Ravi Shankar at Washington, DC's Coliseum with my then (British) boyfriend, also a musician. I still have the ticket stubs; more than that, a memory of my first exposure to of Eastern religion carried on the winds of raga. I can still hear the echo of the tabla behind the alternately eerie drone and uplifting frenzy from Shankar's sitar strings. Where the influences engendered by the Beatles' music led me spiritually over the years was good. I think I have George to thank for that.

Philosophy shines in his music, too. What musical creations he has shared with us over the years; first exposing baby rockers to the sophistication of his "'Till There Was You" solo, the knockout virtuosity on "Old Brown Shoe", the oft-imitated but never equalled "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Here Comes The Sun."

Is George as acknowleged in the world of guitarists as he should be? I rarely hear him cited as a "fave rave", though I do believe most guitarists have deep respect for his subtle choreography on solos and rhythm riffs.

Did he care who thought what about his playing? While not actually appearing to scorn his place in musical, social and political history; he has seemed to give it little more than an evolutional shrug; in a world where many play to live, George, rather, seemed to live to play. Has he been lauded as fantastic guitarist and a strong generational influence?