George Martin, the Beatles’ producer, who guided the band to a quick ascension to fame has died at the age of 90. Martin is credited from moving the Beatles from their early albums to albums which are considered more of an art form, such as “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Revolver,” “Rubber Soul.” “Abbey Road”.
Paul McCartney said that Martin was a true gentleman and was like a second father to him. He also made the following statement:
“If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave the Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.”
Ringo Starr tweeted:
“God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara. George will be missed.”]
Martin was a very modest man and the title of being the Fifth Beatle embarrassed him, but those who knew him and saw him work will tell you that the Beatles became sensations on their own but they became legends thanks to Martin. In an interview with the Associated Press in 2002, Martin said:
“Once we got beyond the bubblegum stage, the early recordings, and they wanted to do something more adventurous, they were saying, ‘What can you give us?’ And I said, ‘I can give you anything you like.’”
When they first met, Martin rattled off all the things that he didn’t like and then asked the young musicians if there was anything they didn’t like. George Harrison said, “I don’t like your tie.” That set the stage for the relationship between the band and their producer that lasted throughout their partnership. Lennon and McCartney wanted to do “Please, Please Me” as their first song. Martin said okay but the tempo had to be sped up. It was originally written as a slow ballad. When they were done , he turned to the band and congratulated them telling them they had just recorded their first hit.
Martin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.