The quiet Beatle, George Harrison, is dead, leaving the world with just two surviving members of the biggest pop culture phenomenon of the 20th century.
Harrison, the youngest Beatle, was arguably the finest musical technician of the Fab Four and the driving force behind the group's spriritual quests in their later years.
While Harrison's death from cancer did not shock the world as much as the dreadful murder of John Lennon 21 years ago, his passing has certainly saddened his legion of fans.
Never outrageous like Lennon, never as gosh gee cute as McCartney, never as goofy as Ringo, Harrison was the rock solid core of Liverpool's most famous export.
Harrison's mother gave him his first guitar at the age of 13. It was a gift he put to fine use.
Fourteen years later, as a young man of just 27, Harrison was an ex-Beatle.
Between 1960 and 1970, the Beatles recorded a number of songs and albums which to this day are hailed as the sounds which shaped rock'n'roll.
The life of a Beatle appeared glamourous, sexy and intoxicating to outsiders.
In reality, George Harrison wasn't in love with the over the top lifestyle of girls, drugs and stardom which surrounded rock bands in the '60s.
Like so many major international stars, Harrison just wanted to be left alone to live a peaceful and quiet life. A follower of the Hare Krishna movement, Harrison was a devotee of eastern mysticism for more than 30 years.
Harrison often said he had travelled the world, made "some money" and lived some wonderful experiences. But he, like so many of us, wondered if there was something more "on the other side".
It is to be sincerely hoped that when his death approached, Harrison's beliefs brought him solace and comfort as he prepared for his final journey.
For his family, there is great comfort to be had in the many loving messages and tributes which have come from his admirers around the world.
As the band approached the late 1960s, Harrison stepped out of the huge Lennon-McCartney shadow and matured as a songwriter.
From his days with the Beatles, "Something" - described by Frank Sinatra as the finest love song of the 20th century - was Harrison's standout contribution. His solo efforts in the 1970s proved George Harrison could hold his head high as a serious and worthwhile songwriter in his own right.
The music of the Beatles and Harrison is still incredibly popular and influential.
Harrison, like Lennon before him, has left a rare legacy. He truly owns a special place in the history of modern culture.