Harrison's family released a statement quoted in several reports, in which they said of the singer-songwriter: "He left this world as he lived in it, conscious of God, fearless of death, and at peace, surrounded by family and friends. He often said, 'Everything else can wait but the search for God cannot wait, and love one another.'"

It is not known if a public funeral will be held. De Becker told the press that a private ceremony had already taken place.

According to the Associated Press, fellow Beatle Paul McCartney [ tickets ] told reporters outside of his London home on Friday: "I am devastated and very, very sad. He was a lovely guy and a very brave man and had a wonderful sense of humor. He is really just my baby brother.''

Harrison revealed in 1998 that he had been treated for throat cancer. He then survived a knife attack during a 1999 incident in which an intruder who entered his home stabbed the musician several times, collapsing his right lung. (Harrison and his wife subdued the attacker, who later was found not guilty by reason of insanity.)

In May of this year, news surfaced that Harrison had undergone surgery to remove a cancerous growth from one of his lungs. He was quoted in an Associated Press report at the time as saying: "I got it purely from smoking. I gave up cigarettes many years ago, but had started again for a while and then stopped in 1997. Luckily for me they found that this nodule was more of a warning than anything else. There are many different types of cancerous cells and this was a very basic type."

In early July, widespread reports indicated that Harrison underwent treatments for a brain tumor. Harrison subsequently released a statement in which he said that he was "feeling fine" and apologized for the "unnecessary worry" caused by the reports.

Later that month, a report published in a London newspaper--which later was revealed to be fraudulent--quoted close Beatles associate George Martin as saying that Harrison was near death. Harrison and his wife responded with a statement that claimed that "reports [of his impending death] were unsubstantiated, untrue. ... Mr. Harrison is active and feeling very well in spite of the health challenges he has had this year."

In the early '60s, Harrison joined up with McCartney, John Lennon and Ringo Starr [ tickets ] to form the final incarnation of the Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle," Harrison was a talented songwriter and capable singer, though the prolific Lennon and McCartney often overshadowed his work with the group.

The guitarist wrote the Beatles' songs "Taxman," "Love You To," "Within You, Without You," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and "Here Comes the Sun," among others.

Following the group's 1970 break-up, Harrison released his first post-Beatles solo effort, "All Things Must Pass," on which he collaborated with producer Phil Spector. The album spawned the hit single "My Sweet Lord." The song's similarity to the 1962 Chiffons hit "He's So Fine" led to a successful suit against Harrison by the Chiffons song's publisher. An expanded anniversary edition of the album containing five extra tracks was released in January 2001.

In 1971, Harrison organized the Concert for Bangladesh, a two-night event held at New York's Madison Square Garden to raise money for aid to that nation, which was suffering a famine. The second of the two shows was later released as both a film and a live triple album.

Harrison went on to release "Living in the Material World" (1973), "Dark Horse" (1974), "Extra Texture" (1975), "33 & 1/3" (1976), "George Harrison" (1979), "Somewhere in England" (1981), "Gone Troppo" (1982), "Cloud Nine"(1987), "Songs by George Harrison" (1987) and "Live in Japan" (1992).

In addition to his many solo albums, Harrison, in the late '80s, teamed with Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison to form the Traveling Wilburys. The group released two successful albums: "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1" (1988) and "Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3" (1990).

With Harrison's death, McCartney and Starr become the only two surviving members of the Beatles. Lennon was murdered in 1980 by a deranged fan.