Beatles Producer Sir George Martin Dead at 90

Beatles producer Sir George Martin has passed away at the age of 90.

The band's drummer, Ringo Starr, broke the news of his death on Twitter, saying, "Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love xx.”

Beatle Paul McCartney added in a statement, "If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George. From the day that he gave The Beatles our first recording contract, to the last time I saw him, he was the most generous, intelligent and musical person I've ever had the pleasure to know."

Martin reportedly died “peacefully at home” in England. His manager Adam Sharper said in a statement, "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.”

Martin was most known for signing the Beatles in 1962 to Parlophone Records after they were turned down by other major record labels. He told JazzWax, "When I first met the Beatles in 1962, I didn't think much of their songs at all. But they learned so quickly how to write a hit. They were like plants in a hothouse. They grew incredibly fast.”

He also had a major impact on the Beatles' sound, including the suggestion to speed up the tempo on their hit song “Please Please Me.” He also contributed to the arrangement of hits like “Yesterday."

Aside from his work with the Beatles, Martin had worked with Céline Dion, Shirley Bassey, and Jeff Beck.