Sir Paul and Ringo honour ‘ Fifth Beatle’ George Martin
SIR Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr yesterday led a flood of tributes to the “Fifth Beatle” Sir George Martin, who has died aged 90.
The veteran record producer helped the Fab Four achieve global success with their early pop sound and later classic albums such as Revolver and Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Sir Paul said Sir George, who died at home on Tuesday, was a “true gentleman” and “like a second father to me” while Ringo praised his “love and kindness”. Sir Paul, 73, added: “If anyone earned the title of the Fifth Beatle, it was George.
Kindness
“The world has lost a great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music. God bless you George and all who sail in you.”
Sir Paul recalled how Sir George had persuaded him to include a string quartet on their huge hit Yesterday, saying: “His idea obviously worked – the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and Marvin Gaye.”
Ringo, 75, broke the news of the death on Twitter with a picture of the five of them and the caption: “Thank you for all your love and kindness George, peace and love.” A carpenter’s son from north London, Sir George studied at Guildhall School of Music and played the oboe professionally before joining the record industry. In the 1950s, he made comedy and novelty records and worked with Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.
He was head of the Parlophone record label when he first heard a demo tape by The Beatles in 1962. The band released their first single, Love Me Do, with the label in October that year. Their third single, From Me To You, went to No1 in 1963, the first of 17 chart- toppers.
Sir George collaborated with many big names including Gerry and the Pacemakers, Sting and Celine Dion. He produced two James Bond themes, Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger and Live And Let Die by Paul McCartney and Wings.
During his seven- decade career, won two Ivor Novello awards and Grammys and was knighted in 1996.
A year later, he produced Elton John’s rewrite of Candle In The Wind for Princess Diana’s funeral. It became the biggest- selling single of all time.
He is survived by his wife Judy Lockhart- Smith, and four children. he six