Meta Description: Explore the historic George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh streaming release. Learn how this iconic event changed music and charity, with proceeds supporting UNICEF.
George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh is now available to stream for the first time, with all proceeds going directly to UNICEF. This historic charitable event, which took place in 1971, marked a groundbreaking moment in music history and global philanthropy. The concert was born out of Harrison’s deep friendship with fellow musician Ravi Shankar, who was profoundly affected by the humanitarian crisis in Bangladesh.
Two concerts were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, attracting a lineup of legendary musicians such as Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, and Badfinger. These performances were a powerful response to the dire situation in Bangladesh, which was especially close to Shankar’s heart as he was born into a Bengali family.
The Impact of George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh Streaming Release
Harrison, moved by Shankar’s plea, leveraged his connections to organize this first-of-its-kind event, setting a precedent for future fundraisers like Live Aid and Farm Aid. Initially, Harrison and Shankar hoped to raise $25,000, but the event far exceeded expectations. Ticket sales alone brought in nearly $250,000, and the triple-disc release of George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh has since raised millions of dollars for UNICEF, providing critical aid to those in need.
Harrison reflected on the event, saying, “The musicians were great. I mean, they completely put down their own egos to play together and to do something because the whole vibe of that concert was that it was something bigger than the lot of us.”
Shankar also recalled the conversation that led to the creation of the concerts: “I was in a very sad mood, having read all this news, and I said, ‘George, this is the situation, I know it doesn’t concern you, I know you can’t possibly identify.’ But while I talked to George he was very deeply moved… and he said, ‘Yes, I think I’ll be able to do something.’”
In 1992, Harrison elaborated on the concert’s origin, stating, “The Concert for Bangladesh was a direct result of my relationship with Ravi. I said, ‘If you want me to be involved, I think I’d better be really involved,’ so I started recruiting all these people.”
At the time, Bangladesh was facing severe political turmoil, and the crisis was largely unknown in the Western world. However, George Harrison’s The Concert for Bangladesh not only raised millions of dollars but also brought global attention to the plight of the Bangladeshi people.
In 2005, Olivia Harrison, George’s widow, established the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF. Now, with the streaming release of The Concert for Bangladesh, all proceeds will continue to support this vital cause, furthering Harrison’s legacy of compassion and charity.
