George Martin, who produced much of the Beatles' classic catalog, has died. The cause of death has not yet been released. He was 90.
Over the decades, many people have claimed to be the "fifth Beatle." But the only person who can credibly hold that title was Martin. The producer not only signed the Beatles to their first record contract in 1962 but went on to work extensively with them on the vast majority of music they recorded over the next eight years, from "Love Me Do" to the majestic suite that wrapped up Abbey Road.
Martin was born January 3rd, 1926 in Highbury, London. He began playing piano at a young age, and in 1943 he joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. After World War II, he worked in the BBC's Classical Music Department and then moved on to EMI. Much of his time was spent producing records for British comedians like Peter Sellers, Dudley Moore and Bernard Cribbins.
Martin met the Beatles in early 1962. At the time, they had a cult following in parts of England, but little success in landing a recording deal. The group's manager, Brian Epstein, approached the producer, who worked for EMI records, and got him to agree to give their demo tape a listen.
He called the Beatles into Abbey Road Studios on June 6th, 1962 for a test session. The band was overjoyed to have a chance to record their material, which at the time already included "Love Me Do" and "P.S. I Love You." There was a clear cultural gap between the clean-cut, older Martin and the scruffy lads. When Martin asked the Beatles if they had any problems with the session, George Harrison shot back, "Well, there's your tie, for a start." But they nevertheless respected Martin. When he suggested that drummer Pete Best wasn't cutting it, they agreed to fire him.
Weeks later, Martin offered the Beatles their first recording contract. When they returned with new drummer Ringo Starr to cut "Love Me Do," Martin didn't feel like taking chances and insisted the new drummer play tambourine while session ace Andy White sat behind the kit. When it was clear Ringo was extremely hurt, he let him play on another take of the song. Both versions were eventually released.
Toward the end of 1966, the group played "Strawberry Fields Forever" as both a traditional rock tune and a lush, orchestral rendition with brass. Lennon couldn't pick between the two, so he suggested they somehow combine them, despite Martin telling him they were in different keys and in different tempos. "You can do something about it," Lennon said. "You can fix it." Martin took up the challenge, speeding up one version, slowing down the others and using a variable-control tape machine to combine them. The end result was one of his favorite Beatles recordings.
He did continue to work with the members of the group on their solo projects, producing McCartney's 1973 hit "Live and Let Die" and his early 1980's LPs Tug of War, Pipes of Peace and Give My Regards to Broad Street, as well as Ringo Starr's 1970 album Sentimental Journey. Martin also oversaw the soundtrack to the 1978 movie Sgt. Pepper Lonely Heart's Club Band, the Beatles' 1995 Anthology collection and, in 2006, the Beatles Las Vegas show, Love.
Although his name will always be closely connected to the Beatles, he also produced albums for Gerry and the Pacemakers, Kenny Rogers, Cheap Trick, Jeff Beck and Celine Dion. In 1997, he produced Elton John's new version of "Candle in the Wind" to honor the late Princess Diana. It became one of the best-selling singles of all time.
His work began slowing down considerably in the late 1990s as his hearing deteriorated. By that point, his son, Giles Martin, began assisting him. They worked closely on the Love project, mashing up Beatles songs and turning them into brand new works.