Sir George Martin, CBE, the music-industry legend whose collaboration and production work with the Beatles served as a foundation for modern popular music, has passed away peacefully at home in England at the age of 90. Often called the Fifth Beatle, Martin’s roughly 70-year career included work with many of the world’s most influential artists.
After completing his degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1950, the classically trained George Martin began his career with the BBC, joining EMI as an assistant to Oscar Preuss, who headed Parlophone Records. Over the next 12 years, Martin helped to redefine Parlophone into a profitable business, recording and producing comedy and novelty albums for Peter Sellers, Charlie Drake, Bernard Cribbins, and many others.
George Martin’s relationship with the Beatles began early in 1962, when a mutual friend put him in contact with Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein. Martin not only took on the still relatively obscure band but was instrumental in their ultimate formation. His work with the Beatles continued throughout their career, both as a producer and as an arranger, and his musical influence is highly visible throughout the band’s catalog.
As an arranger and musician, Martin played an important role behind the scenes with the Beatles. He orchestrated components of songs such as “Eleanor Rigby” and “I Am the Walrus,” transcribed countless melodies underscoring hit songs like “Penny Lane,” and often played keyboard parts in the final recording process. He is remembered fondly by surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr.
Martin’s other noteworthy work includes recording and production for artists including Cheap Trick, Kenny Rogers, and Celine Dion, and he produced Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997,” shortly after having been awarded the status of CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II. He was also involved with film and composing work and was the founder of Associated Independent Recording (AIR), which is still heralded as one of the world’s preeminent recording studios.