Stuart Fergusson Victor Sutcliffe, artist, musician, and the original bassist of the Beatles, died suddenly on April 10th, 1962 at the age of 21. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on June 23rd, 1940 and grew up in Liverpool, England. Stuart was an early member of the Beatles, joining the band in 1960 when he was 19. During his time with the Beatles he was a driving force in the band’s direction. He was also close friends with fellow bandmate John Lennon, who later said that Stuart was “the most important part of the group.” In 1961 Stuart left the band to pursue his life’s passion - art. He moved to Germany and studied at the Hamburg School of Art. In 1962 he was planning to exhibit his work when he was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm and died suddenly a few weeks later. Stuart leaves behind a legacy in music and art. He was a brilliant artist and a beloved friend to all whose lives he touched. He will be deeply missed.