The star-studded lineup at the Concert for George highlighted just how cherished George Harrison was among music legends. Held on the first anniversary of his passing, one of the evening’s standout performances was “My Sweet Lord,” featuring his Beatles bandmates Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, alongside session players Eric Clapton and Billy Preston.
Billy Preston, often referred to as the fifth Beatle, took on lead vocals and played the Hammond organ. As a longtime collaborator with Harrison, Preston’s emotional rendition of “My Sweet Lord” resonated deeply with the audience. This heartfelt performance has become the most popular video on George Harrison’s YouTube channel, amassing 137 million views.
As Clapton played the iconic 12-string guitar, McCartney handled the piano, and Starr was on drums. Adding to the touching tribute, George’s son Dhani Harrison played guitar and sang backup vocals, bearing a striking resemblance to his father. Also onstage were Harrison’s collaborators Jeff Lynne and Marc Mann, providing acoustic guitar and slide guitar, respectively.
The songs from the Concert for George were a huge hit on Harrison’s YouTube channel, with Clapton’s rendition of “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” being the second most popular video. Clapton and McCartney took prominent roles, singing lead vocals and playing solos on electric guitar and piano. Clapton’s reprise of his famous lead breaks from the original recording added a nostalgic touch to the performance.
Fans were particularly moved by Preston’s tribute, leaving comments like “Billy Preston was born to sing this song. He absolutely killed this vocal” and “Billy really poured all his talent, heart, and soul into this rendition of George’s song, in order to pay tribute to his friend. RIP to both.”
The Concert for George took place on November 29, 2002, at London’s Royal Albert Hall. Organized by Harrison’s widow Olivia and son Dhani, with Clapton as the musical director, the event’s proceeds were donated to Harrison’s charity, the Material World Charitable Foundation.
A truly wonderful concert and tribute to George Harrison!