Here's to George

A few great George Harrison moments, including his being funny may be the big reason George Martin decided to work with The Beatles:

When the audition was all over, Martin invited them up for a chat and listen in the control room. Martin gave them a long lecture on recording and what was what at Abbey Road. "We gave them a long lecture about their equipment and what would have to be done about it if they were to become recording artists," says Norman Smith. "They didn't say a word back, not a word, they didn't even nod their heads in agreement. When he finished, George said, 'Look, I've laid into you for quite a time, you haven't responded. Is there anything you don't like?' I remember they all looked at each other for a long while, shuffling their feet, then George Harrison took a long look at George and said, 'Yeah, I don't like your tie.' That cracked the ice for us and for the next 15- 20 minutes they were pure entertainment. When they left to go home George and I just sat there saying 'Phew! What to you think of that lot then?' I had tears running down my face. "  Martin was later to comment that it was their wit more than their music that sold him.

And of course without him, there'd be no Life Of Brian:

When asked why he was willing to mortgage his house and put in $4M so that Monty Python could make Life of Brian, George Harrison supposedly replied "because I want to see the film."

Eric Idle famously called it "the most expensive movie ticket ever bought. 

And for some reason, it was George who out of the four of them believed they'd make it in America?

PLAYBOY: "We've heard it said that when you first went to America you were doubtful that you'd make it over there."
JOHN: "That's true. We didn't think we were going to make it at all. It was only Brian telling us we were gonna make it. Brian Epstein our manager, and George Harrison."

Maybe this is because he had a sister living in America and had visited a year earlier The Beatles landed? 

...the first American disc jockey to play a Beatles song in the United States in the summer of 1963. (Marcia's junior year of high school) she met a young lad from Liverpool, England. His name was George Harrison. Marcia had worked for her father's radio station, WFRX, in West Frankfort, Illinois. Marcia interviewed George in the summer of 1963 on WFRX. Marcia got a sneak preview of the Beatles' music, and also a Beatles photograph signed by George Harrison! Thanks to Marcia, Illinois became the birth place of the Beatles music in North America.

And the time he told a Princess to STFU in about as much of a no-nonsense way that only George could:

The member of the Royal family most associated with the Beatles is Princess Margaret, who John Lennon referred to in one of his book as Priceless Margarine. On July 6, 1964 the Princess and Lord Snowdon attended the premier of 'A Hard Day's Night' at the London Pavilion. After the premier there was a private party at the Dorchester Hotel and the Princess and Lord Snowdon dropped by with some friends. The Princess and her entourage seemed to be enjoying themselves when George Harrison approached Walter Shenson, the film's producer and said, "When are we  going to eat?" Shenson told him that they couldn't possibly eat until Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon had left. "Just be patient," he said. After another 15 minutes had elapsed, George walked up to the Princess and said, "Your Highness, we really are hungry and we can't eat until you two go."

"I see," said the Princess. "Well, in that case, we'd better run."

Thank God for George Harrison.