On August 1, 1971, George Harrison organized a historic concert event at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Known as The Concert for Bangladesh, it was a pioneering benefit concert which aimed to raise international awareness and fund relief efforts for refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) who were affected by the Bangladesh Liberation War and the 1970 Bhola cyclone.
The concert featured an impressive lineup of musicians. Alongside George Harrison, the event included performances by Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Ravi Shankar. Shankar, a renowned sitar player and a close friend of Harrison, played a critical role in inspiring and mobilizing the event through his dedication to the cause.
The concert was held twice on the same day, once in the afternoon and once in the evening, attracting approximately 40,000 attendees. The event was filmed and recorded, leading to the release of a concert album and a concert film, which further amplified its reach and financial impact. The proceeds, which were substantial, were initially donated to UNICEF to further aid in the relief efforts for Bangladesh.
The Concert for Bangladesh is widely recognized as the first major music event to address a humanitarian cause on such a large scale. It served as an inspiration for future benefit events and is often cited in discussions about music's role in activism. The concert album later won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, further cementing its place in music and humanitarian history.
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