Fans gathered before dawn yesterday to pay homage to George Harrison at Strawberry Fields on Central Park, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.
Harrison, 58, died yesterday of lung cancer at a friend's home in Los Angeles.
News of his death became public late Friday and within hours, Beatles fans headed to the park in Manhattan.
"I just bought a bottle of wine and some roses and headed over here," restauranter John Soler, 38, said. The first fan to arrive, Soler also had his laptop to play Beatles music.
Strawberry Fields, which takes its name from the Lennon-McCartney song, "Strawberry Fields Forever", was dedicated to Lennon after he was shot to death in 1980 by a deranged fan. On any given day, a lighted candle or vase of flowers can be seen there on a mosaic with the word, Imagine.
With Harrison's passing, only two members of the band - Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr - survive.
"He was a very big part of my life," said Steve Yalof, who paused during a morning jog to pay his respects.
"Both me and my guitar are gently weeping."
It was a reference to Harrison's song, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps".
Joe Canning, 42, a Beatles fans for 30 years, said Harrison's death was meaningful to his generation.
"We're all getting older, we're all getting up to that age. Nothing lasts forever; all good things come to an end," he said.
Pete Degan, 42, said he had learned of Harrison's death on the internet.
"It's a sad day for rock'n'roll," Mr Degan said.
Strawberry Fields plays host to a vigil every 8 December commemorating Lennon's killing across the street.