In the 1960s, the world fell under the spell of four young men from Liverpool. The Beatles started small, playing sweaty gigs at the Cavern Club, but it wasn’t long before they took over the globe. After conquering the UK, they stormed America with their legendary Ed Sullivan Show appearance, kicking off the worldwide phenomenon known as Beatlemania.
By the mid-’60s, their popularity was unparalleled. Teenage fans screamed their lungs out at every show, forcing the band to retreat from touring altogether. Instead, they channeled their energy into studio experimentation, crafting albums that would change the course of music history.
Even decades after their breakup in 1970, The Beatles’ legacy remains untouchable. Their music continues to captivate generations, and their influence stretches across every corner of popular culture. But as fans mourned the end of the Fab Four, the former members moved on, launching their solo careers and finding inspiration in new artists.
During an interview with Beetle Magazine in the mid-1970s, George Harrison revealed some of the musicians who had captured his attention. At the top of his list? Motown legend Smokey Robinson.
Harrison didn’t hold back his admiration, saying he was “madly in love” with Robinson’s music and calling him his “favourite.” Best known as the frontman of The Miracles, Robinson lent his silky vocals to classics like ‘The Tracks of My Tears’ and ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me.’
His signature smooth delivery and heartfelt lyrics clearly resonated with Harrison—and he wasn’t the only Beatle who felt that way. John Lennon also counted Robinson among his favorites, and traces of Smokey’s influence can be heard throughout The Beatles’ catalog.
But Robinson wasn’t the only artist Harrison praised. He also gave credit to Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band and guitarist Ry Cooder, calling the latter “sensational.”
These choices reflected Harrison’s broad musical taste, spanning pop, rock, and even film scores. As he stepped out from under The Beatles’ shadow, these influences would help shape his own solo work, proving that he had always been the band’s most underappreciated songwriter.
