Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This remarkable photograph captures George Harrison of The Beatles and legendary Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar at a press conference in Los Angeles on 3 August 1967.
Although they are surrounded by microphones, they were not performing when this photograph was taken. They were announcing a musical partnership that would eventually become one of the most important cultural friendships in popular-music history.
George met Ravi in London in 1966 and travelled to India later that year to study the sitar under his guidance. Ravi was much more than a music teacher to George—he became his mentor, close friend and spiritual influence.
George had already experimented with the sitar on The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood,” but his studies with Ravi gave him a much deeper appreciation of Indian classical music. Songs including “Love You To,” “Within You Without You” and “The Inner Light” introduced millions of young Western listeners to the sounds of the sitar, tabla and tambura.
Ravi Shankar was one of the world’s greatest sitar players, but he was also a disciplined classical musician who wanted audiences to understand that Indian music was far more than a fashionable sound. George respected that deeply and used his fame to help Ravi’s music reach an enormous international audience.
Their greatest shared achievement came on 1 August 1971, when Ravi told George about the terrible humanitarian crisis affecting refugees from Bangladesh. George responded by organising two historic benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden. Ravi opened the event with Indian classical music, while George brought together Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and other famous friends.
The Concert for Bangladesh became the model for the large charity concerts that followed and its album later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
George and Ravi continued working together for decades. George produced Ravi’s recordings, including “Shankar Family & Friends” and the beautiful “Chants of India.” They also toured North America together in 1974.
Their partnership was never simply about two famous musicians playing together. It was a meeting of East and West, teacher and pupil, tradition and experimentation—and, above everything else, two lifelong friends united by music, spirituality and compassion.
What is your favourite George Harrison song featuring Indian musical influences? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments.
#GeorgeHarrison #RaviShankar #TheBeatles #MusicHistory #BelfastJack
This remarkable photograph captures George Harrison of The Beatles and legendary Indian sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar at a press conference in Los Angeles on 3 August 1967.
Although they are surrounded by microphones, they were not performing when this photograph was taken. They were announcing a musical partnership that would eventually become one of the most important cultural friendships in popular-music history.
George met Ravi in London in 1966 and travelled to India later that year to study the sitar under his guidance. Ravi was much more than a music teacher to George—he became his mentor, close friend and spiritual influence.
George had already experimented with the sitar on The Beatles’ “Norwegian Wood,” but his studies with Ravi gave him a much deeper appreciation of Indian classical music. Songs including “Love You To,” “Within You Without You” and “The Inner Light” introduced millions of young Western listeners to the sounds of the sitar, tabla and tambura.
Ravi Shankar was one of the world’s greatest sitar players, but he was also a disciplined classical musician who wanted audiences to understand that Indian music was far more than a fashionable sound. George respected that deeply and used his fame to help Ravi’s music reach an enormous international audience.
Their greatest shared achievement came on 1 August 1971, when Ravi told George about the terrible humanitarian crisis affecting refugees from Bangladesh. George responded by organising two historic benefit concerts at Madison Square Garden. Ravi opened the event with Indian classical music, while George brought together Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston and other famous friends.
The Concert for Bangladesh became the model for the large charity concerts that followed and its album later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
George and Ravi continued working together for decades. George produced Ravi’s recordings, including “Shankar Family & Friends” and the beautiful “Chants of India.” They also toured North America together in 1974.
Their partnership was never simply about two famous musicians playing together. It was a meeting of East and West, teacher and pupil, tradition and experimentation—and, above everything else, two lifelong friends united by music, spirituality and compassion.
What is your favourite George Harrison song featuring Indian musical influences? Share your thoughts and memories in the comments.
#GeorgeHarrison #RaviShankar #TheBeatles #MusicHistory #BelfastJack
