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Esiquiel L. Arias, known as Zeke, was born on October 19, 1915
to Pablo and Maria Arias in Los Angeles, California. He met and married Mary Louise Negrete (born on March 2, 1920). Their parents
moved from Mexico before they were born during the wake of the Mexican Revolution. Zeke worked on the railroads
while camping in the rundown labor camp, La Seccion de Santa Fe until the family settled in Hawthorne, California with Zeke
working as a dry cleaner and Mary Louise as a seamstress. Zeke used to sing and play guitar with his brothers around 1938.
Later, when visiting Friar Park, his son-in-law George Harrison, recorded a few songs sung by Zeke and Mary Louise; he also
recorded duets with Olivia- however they will forever be in the vault. They had Ronald E. (born March 1942), Olivia, Linda
Louise (born July 1950), Gilbert Louis (born September 1951) and Christina M. (born December 1959).
Olivia Trinidad Arias was born on May 18, 1948 in Los Angeles, California. She was named after actress Olivia de Havilland
and her maternal grandmother, Maria Trinidad Santa Negrete, who died in 1943. She attended Hawthorne High School in 1961
and graduated in 1965, same school as the Beach Boys. Olivia started working as a secretary after getting recognition for
her typing and shorthand skills. Olivia saw the Beatles twice in concert- at the Hollywood Bowl on August 29, 1965 and
at Dodger Stadium on August 28, 1966. In 1971, Olivia took a break to travel in Europe and by 1973, she was working at
A&M Records. In 1974, A&M Records won the bid to distribute George Harrison's Dark Horse solo records worldwide. During
negotiations, George and Olivia spoke on the phone many times. George became curious about the woman on the other side of
the phone and sent friends to check her out. Later that year, George flew to Los Angeles from England to start preparations
for his first solo tour with Ravi Shankar since breaking up with the Beatles. George and Olivia met face to face at a party
and became inseparable. Olivia accompanied George on his North American tour in November.
George was separated from his wife Pattie Boyd Harrison (married on January 21, 1966) since June of 1974. She was already
involved with George's good friend Eric Clapton. After George's tour wrapped up, Olivia moved into his Friar Park mansion
home in Henley-on-Thames, England. At first, it was difficult for Olivia being isolated and being considered as 'exotic’
for being a Mexican. George's divorce from Pattie came final in June of 1977. By early 1978, Olivia discovered she was pregnant.
George and Olivia originally planned to get married in May but the wedding was postponed after George's father, Harold Harrison,
died. On August 1, 1978, Olivia gave birth to Dhani at Princess Christian Nursing Home in Windsor; he weighed 5 lbs. Soon
after the birth, George took Olivia on a short vacation for her to recuperate. On the following month, September 2, 1978,
George and Olivia were married at Henley Registry Office with Zeke and Mary Louise (who were staying at Friar Park for several
weeks), Phil Spector, Eric Idle, Jackie Stewart and Ronnie Peterson in attendance. John Lennon and Ringo Starr sent congratulatory
flowers while Paul McCartney sent velveteen baby slacks for Dhani. George and Olivia traveled to Tunisia to oversee the filming
of Monty Python's 'Life of Brian' that George financed by taking out a mortgage from his Friar Park home.
On December 9, 1980, Olivia was woken up by a phone call from George's sister Louise with news about John’s death in
New York City. Olivia woke George up to inform him the news- he cancelled recording sessions to mourn his friend. George,
Olivia and Dhani settled as a close-knit family, often traveling between their other homes in California, Hawaii and Australia
and any business trips for George to take on. Despite George's fame, he and Olivia raised Dhani privately and away from the
public eye as much possible. George and Olivia were strict parents but George quietly let Dhani slide and hide in the garden
so Olivia wouldn't find out. Although Dhani had a nanny, Olivia was a hands-on mother. She spent several hours playing with
Dhani. She was also a demanding mother- she made sure he kept his room tidy, done his homework, do not interrupt a conversation.
At first, Dhani thought George was a gardener that pushes buttons in the recording studio. He eventually learned that George
was once in the Beatles after being teased at school. Olivia was contented on being a devoted wife and helped look after Friar
Park and their other homes- she found housework therapeutic.
Olivia have been involved with charity work; in 1986, she teamed up with Mary Hopkins to protest against plans of turning
the only local cinema in Henley into a supermarket. In 1989, Olivia and Barbara Bach joined Parents for Safe Food. In 1990,
Olivia read the newspapers about troubles in Romania. She traveled to see what she could do to help and was horrified by the
living conditions. Olivia formed the Romanian Angel Appeal with support from Barbara, Linda McCartney, Yoko Ono and Elton
John to help abandoned and orphaned children. George and Ringo Starr lend their support and released a compilation album 'Nobody’s
Child' to raise funds. The funds were used for food, medical supplies, plumbing and clothing as well as buildings (schools,
hospitals).
In 1998, George was diagnosed with throat cancer and had surgery to remove it. On October 24, 1998, Zeke died. George was
soon diagnosed with lung cancer and got treated while continuing his music and gardening. Dhani started college at Brown University
in Rhode Island. On December 30, 1999, Olivia woke up by a sound of glass breaking. Thinking it was a chandelier, she asked
George to investigate. Moments later, the intruder attacked George and stabbed him in the chest with a knife. Olivia was also
attacked but managed to knock the intruder out with a lamp. Dhani, who was visiting during the Winter holidays and was residing
in a cottage on the estate, rushed to their side. George and Olivia were admitted in the hospital; Olivia was soon released
with minor injuries. In 2001, George's lung cancer spread to his brain. Olivia searched for treatments online and they traveled
between England, America, Italy and Switzerland. In June, they attended Dhani's graduation in Rhode Island. In October, George
got weak and could barely walk. Olivia was constantly at his side, sleeping on a makeshift bed. On occasion, friends would
take Olivia to a local hotel to get a proper rest. In November, George, Olivia and Dhani traveled to Los Angeles, staying
at Gavin De Becker's home where George died on November 29, 2001. Right after his death, George was cremated while Olivia
and Dhani stayed with her family, having a private memorial service. After receiving George's ashes, Olivia and Dhani traveled
to India to scatter his ashes in the Ganges and Yamuna Rivers as news of George's death went public.
In 2002, Olivia sued her former brother in law, Carl Roles, for selling her late husband's possessions. Meanwhile, Dhani
and Jeff Lynne completed and released George's album ‘Brainwashed’. Olivia inherited George's unfinished projects
and on board with the Beatles company Apple. She helped organize a tribute concert for George on the first anniversary of
his death with Eric, 'A Concert for George’, oversaw The Beatles LOVE Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, re-released 'A
Concert for Bangladesh’ on DVD and re-released George's solo music updated in the latest available technology. In 2011,
she teamed up with Martin Scorsese a documentary 'Living in the Material World’. On June 2, 2012, Dhani married Solveig
'Sola’ Karadottir in Friar Park. Olivia continues to be involved in charity work, overseeing George's Material World
Charitable Foundation and regularly donates to UNICEF.
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