Sir George Martin – the legendary music producer whose work with rock’s most iconic band earned him the title “the Fifth Beatle” – has passed away at the age of 90.
According to a statement from his manager, Adam Sharp, Martin “passed away peacefully at home” last night.
“In a career that spanned seven decades he was recognized globally as one of music’s most creative talents and a gentleman to the end. The family ask that their privacy be respected at this time,” Sharp says.
Though he worked with such beloved acts as America, Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck, and Celine Dion during his nearly 6-decade career, it’s the contributions he made in the studio during his seven years with the Beatles for which Martin is best remembered.
Far more than just a casual advisor, Martin was directly involved in the songwriting and recording process for some of the group’s most famous songs.
It was Martin’s idea to put a string arrangement on Paul McCartney’s “Yesterday,” even though McCartney himself staunchly opposed the idea.
He scored and conducted the string arrangement for “Eleanor Rigby,” revealing during a recent speaking tour that it was inspired by the iconic soundtrack for the Alfred Hitchcock film Psycho.
Martin even played the quirky piano solo on the band’s beloved tear-jerker “In My Life.”
Personal anecdotes and testaments to his musical brilliance have been pouring in on social media, most notably from those Martin worked with in the recording booth.
“God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara,” Ringo Starr tweeted moments ago. “George will be missed.”
