Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney, the two surviving Beatles, both offered tributes to producer Sir George Martin, who died at age 90. The death of Martin, often called the “fifth” Beatle, means McCartney and Starr are the sole remaining witnesses to the creative magic of the Beatles, whose output between 1962 and 1969 is among the most condensed, intense, wide-ranging, influential and popular artistic acts in history. Martin gave the Beatles their first recording contract and in the studio helped create the Beatles sound — indeed their many sounds — that utterly changed popular music.
Paul McCartney said that Martin had earned the title “fifth Beatle” and that he’d been like a “second father” to him. Ringo Starr said “thank you for all the love and kindness George.” What more to say? After all, the Beatles sang convincingly that love is all you need. In a 2002 interview Martin told the AP that the Beatles were hungry to get beyond the “bubblegum stage” of their early recordings and asked him what he could give them. “I can give you anything you like,” he replied. And with that pop culture changed forever.
Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love xx?✌️?? pic.twitter.com/um2hRFB7qF
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 9, 2016
“The world has lost a truly great man…” Paul McCartney on George Martin: https://t.co/M2ySCKfisO pic.twitter.com/dDE5cm2F0a
— Paul McCartney (@PaulMcCartney) March 9, 2016