A Fab Celebration

 

 

by STEPHANIE POWERS

What would have been George Harrison’s 75th birthday will be celebrated with ukuleles and more in Palm Harbor.

Known as “The Quiet Beatle,” George Harrison would’ve been 75 Sunday, Feb. 25. And oh how we miss the singer, the songwriter, the Beatle, the peacekeeper and the guitarist. The world could definitely use a little more Harrisons right now, that’s for sure.

Peter Grace, a George Harrison tribute artist, is hosting a celebration of George Harrison’s music, life and birthday at Leo’s Italian Grill in Palm Harbor. Opening the celebration: The Pineapple Scruffs, an all-ukulele band including Grace, that will perform all Harrison and Beatles tunes.

“Since George was an avid ukulele player, it is fitting to honor his memory by featuring these ukulele performances, and we are pleased to have them as part of our event this year,” Grace stated. Peter Grace and Friends headline the night, a five-piece rock band with Grace on vocals and guitar, doing even more Harrison and Beatles tunes as well as some songs from the megagroup The Traveling Wilburys.

Some of the songs you might expect? “‘Don’t Bother Me’ is one of my favorite George songs, it’s the first song he ever had (wrote) on a Beatles album. I also like “Old Brown Shoe” a lot as well as “This Is Love”, which is one of his post-Beatles radio hits.”

Grace has performed nationally in Beatles tribute bands and has hosted life celebrations for both Harrison and John Lennon since 2001. “I’ve been a lead guitarist like George all my life ever since my first guitar lesson in 1964,” he said,  “so I’ve always considered George my favorite for that reason. I also like his style of songwriting and his lyrical messages and spiritual influences on his life and his work.”

Sadly, Harrison died in 2001 at the age of 58.

Sun., Feb. 25; 5 p.m.; $10; Leo’s Italian Grill; 33286 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor