George Martin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Martin
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Martin backstage at the Beatles' Love show, Las Vegas, c. 2006
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George Henry Martin
3 January 1926 London, England
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| Died | 8 March 2016 (aged 90) Wiltshire, England
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| Alma mater | Guildhall School of Music and Drama |
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| Known for | Working with:
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| Children | 4, including Giles and Greg |
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| Years active | 1950–2006 |
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Sir George Henry Martin (3 January 1926 – 8 March 2016) was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, and musician. He was often called the "Fifth Beatle" because he worked so closely on almost all of the Beatles' original albums. AllMusic even called him the "world's most famous record producer." George Martin was great at music and loved trying new recording tricks. This was perfect for the Beatles, who were always looking for fresh sounds. He wrote or played most of the orchestral parts and instruments on their songs. He also played piano or keyboards on many of their records. Their teamwork led to many popular and amazing songs with new sounds, like the 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This was the first rock album to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
Martin's career lasted over sixty years in music, film, TV, and live shows. Before working with the Beatles and other pop stars, he produced funny songs and novelty records in the 1950s and early 1960s. He was in charge of EMI's Parlophone record label. He worked with famous comedians like Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan. His work with other bands from Liverpool in the 1960s helped make the Merseybeat sound popular. In 1965, he left EMI to start his own company, Associated Independent Recording.
During his career, Martin produced 30 number-one hit songs in the UK and 23 number-one hits in the US. He also won six Grammy Awards. He held important jobs at media companies and helped many charities, like The Prince's Trust. In 1996, he was made a Knight Bachelor for his amazing work in music.
Contents
- Early Life and Musical Journey
- Leading Parlophone Records
- Working with The Beatles
- Other Famous Artists
- Film Scores and Composing
- Books and Documentaries
- Personal Life
- Death
- Awards and Recognition
- Selected Non-Beatles Hit Records Produced
- Discography (as Composer/Performer)
- Selected Discography (as Producer)
- Coat of Arms
Early Life and Musical Journey
George Martin was born in Highbury, London, on 3 January 1926. His family lived simply. When he was six, his family got a piano, and he fell in love with music. At eight, he started piano lessons, but they didn't last long. Still, George kept learning piano by himself. He had a natural "perfect pitch," which helped him understand music theory.
He went to several Roman Catholic schools. During World War II, his family moved out of London. At Bromley Grammar School, George led a popular dance band called the Four Tune Tellers. He also acted in a group called the Quavers. With money from playing music, he took more piano lessons and learned musical notation.
Even though he loved music, George didn't plan to make it his career at first. He worked briefly as a surveyor and then for the government. In 1943, at age 17, Martin joined the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. The war ended before he saw any fighting, and he left the service in 1947. During his time in the Navy, he traveled to New York and Trinidad. He even played his own piano piece on BBC radio.
After the war, a pianist named Sidney Harrison encouraged him. Martin used his veteran's grant to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1947 to 1950. He focused on piano and oboe. He also studied music composition. After graduating, he worked for the BBC's classical music department and played oboe in local bands.
Leading Parlophone Records
In November 1950, Martin joined EMI as an assistant for the Parlophone label. Parlophone wasn't very important at EMI back then. Martin's early jobs included managing classical music records. He also became friends with composer Sidney Torch and signed Ron Goodwin. In 1953, Martin produced Goodwin's first hit, an instrumental song that reached number 3 in the UK.
In April 1955, 29-year-old Martin became the head of Parlophone. He quickly hired Ron Richards as his assistant. EMI wanted to move Parlophone's successful artists to bigger labels, but Martin fought to keep it. He found success with comedy records, like a 1957 show called At the Drop of a Hat. His hard work turned Parlophone into a very profitable label.
Comedy and Pop Hits
As head of Parlophone, Martin recorded classical music, jazz, and regional music. He signed singer Dick James, who later became the music publisher for the Beatles. Martin also signed the Vipers Skiffle Group in 1956, who had a top 10 hit. In 1957, he signed Jim Dale, hoping he would be a British rock and roll star. Dale had a hit with "Be My Girl" but later became a comedian.
Martin had his first UK number 1 hit in May 1961 with the Temperance Seven's "You're Driving Me Crazy". He also produced Charlie Drake's funny song, "My Boomerang Won't Come Back", which was a hit. In 1962, he worked with Maddalena Fagandini to create electronic singles. He also had top 10 hits with comedian Bernard Cribbins, including "The Hole in the Ground" and "Right Said Fred".
Martin often used comedy records to try out new recording tricks. For example, he would record magnetic tape at half-speed and play it back normally. This made the sound faster and higher. He used this trick on Beatles songs, like the piano solo in "In My Life". He learned a lot about using tape from working with comedians like Peter Sellers and Spike Milligan.
Working with Liverpool Bands
By late 1962, Martin had a good working relationship with Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager. Epstein also managed other bands from Liverpool. Martin visited Liverpool in December 1962 and encouraged Epstein to let EMI audition bands like Gerry and the Pacemakers and the Fourmost.
Gerry and the Pacemakers had their first number 1 hit in April 1963 with "How Do You Do It?". This song had been turned down by the Beatles. Their next two songs, "I Like It" and "You'll Never Walk Alone", also reached number 1. This made them the first British band to have their first three songs top the charts. Martin produced all of them.
Martin also produced Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas. Their first song was a cover of the Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret", which reached number 2. Kramer and Martin had two UK number 1 hits with "Bad To Me" and "Little Children".
Martin started working with the Fourmost in 1963. Their song "Hello Little Girl" reached number 9. He also signed Cilla Black. Her first song was "Love of the Loved". Martin and Black then had two number 1 hits in 1964: "Anyone Who Had a Heart" and "You're My World". Cilla Black's "Anyone Who Had a Heart" was the best-selling song by a female artist in the UK in the 1960s.
Between the Beatles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Billy J. Kramer, Martin-produced bands had number 1 songs for 37 weeks in 1963. This made Parlophone the top EMI label.
Leaving EMI
Martin had some disagreements with EMI about his pay. He wanted a percentage of record sales, which was common in the US but not at EMI. In June 1964, he told EMI he would not renew his contract. EMI tried to make him stay, but Martin insisted on getting a commission. He learned that EMI made a huge profit from his records that year, which made him even more determined to leave.
In August 1965, Martin left EMI. He brought several other EMI staff members with him, including his wife, Judy. He named his new company Associated Independent Recording (AIR). He wanted to share the company with his colleagues. Many artists joined AIR, including Adam Faith, Manfred Mann, Peter and Gordon, and the Hollies. Martin's decision to leave EMI and start his own company was big news in the music world.
Working with The Beatles
Signing The Beatles
In November 1961, the Beatles' manager, Brian Epstein, went to London to find a record deal for his band. He met with EMI and left a copy of a Beatles song. EMI wasn't interested at first. However, Martin later claimed he was contacted by someone from EMI's music publisher, who pushed for the Beatles.
Martin met with Epstein on 13 February 1962. Epstein played him a recording of the Beatles' audition for Decca Records, which they had failed. Martin wasn't very impressed with the "lousy tape" but liked George Harrison's guitar playing.
EMI managers eventually told Martin to sign the Beatles. So, on 9 May, Martin told Epstein he would give the Beatles a standard recording contract with Parlophone. They agreed to record at least six songs in the first year. The Beatles' first recording session was set for 6 June 1962.
Early Sessions and First Hits
On 6 June 1962, the Beatles recorded four songs. Martin arrived during "Love Me Do" and made some small changes to the song. He and his engineer, Norman Smith, weren't happy with Pete Best's drumming. Martin also thought their original songs weren't good enough. In the control room, Martin asked the Beatles if there was anything they didn't like. George Harrison joked, "I don't like your tie." This made Martin realize how witty and funny they were, and he decided to sign them for their personalities alone.
Martin was still unsure about their songs. He wanted them to record a cover of "How Do You Do It?" at a session on 4 September. The Beatles now had Ringo Starr on drums. The Beatles hated "How Do You Do It?" and wanted to record their own songs. Martin reluctantly agreed to release "Love Me Do" as their first single. (Later, in April 1963, Martin produced "How Do You Do It?" for Gerry and the Pacemakers, and it became a number 1 hit.)
Martin wasn't happy with Ringo Starr's drumming on 4 September. So, for the next session on 11 September 1962, he used a session drummer named Andy White. Ringo was asked to play tambourine and maracas, which he wasn't happy about. "Love Me Do" slowly climbed the charts, reaching number 17. Martin's doubts about their songwriting were gone. He told the band to re-record "Please Please Me" and make it their second single. He also suggested they record a full album, which was a very bold idea at the time.
Becoming Superstars: 1963–1964
1963: Please Please Me and More
Just as Martin predicted, "Please Please Me" hit number 1 in January 1963. "From that moment, we simply never stood still," Martin said. For their first album, also called Please Please Me, Martin had the band record 10 new songs in one long session on 11 February 1963. The album was a huge success, staying at number 1 for 30 weeks.
In these early days, Martin helped the Beatles make their songs sound great for radio. He taught them about the "hook"—the catchy part that grabs listeners' attention in the first ten seconds. He would suggest changes to their songs, and they would try them out.
On 1 July, the Beatles recorded "She Loves You". Martin liked the song but wasn't sure about the ending chord. The Beatles, however, were confident and insisted on keeping it. "She Loves You" became a massive hit in August, starting the "Beatlemania" craze in the UK. It was the best-selling UK single of the 1960s.
Martin and Brian Epstein agreed on a plan to record two Beatles albums and four singles each year. The Beatles started their second album, With the Beatles, in July. Martin played piano on several songs, like "Money (That's What I Want)". He also played Hammond organ on "I Wanna Be Your Man". With the Beatles came out in November 1963 and was number 1 for 21 weeks.
Their next single, "I Want to Hold Your Hand", was recorded on 17 October. This was their first time using four-track recording. Martin suggested adding handclaps and making John Lennon's guitar sound like an organ. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" became a huge seller, hitting number 1 in the UK and, in January 1964, their first number 1 in the US.
1964: A Hard Day's Night and World Tour
In January 1964, Martin and engineer Norman Smith went to Paris to record German versions of "She Loves You" and "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The Beatles didn't want to do it, but Martin convinced them. They also recorded "Can't Buy Me Love", which became another number 1 hit.
Martin traveled to New York with the Beatles in February for their first visit to America. They had famous performances on The Ed Sullivan Show.
In late February, the band started recording the music for their first movie, A Hard Day's Night. The film, album, and main song were all called "A Hard Day's Night." Martin and George Harrison played the song's guitar solo at half-speed, then played it back normally to create a unique sound. Martin also wrote instrumental music for the film. The film and album were very successful, both reaching number 1. Martin was even nominated for an Academy Award for the film's music.
When Ringo Starr got sick in June, Martin found a temporary drummer, Jimmie Nicol. Martin also joined the Beatles for part of their North American tour, recording their show at the Hollywood Bowl.
The Beatles started recording their next album, Beatles for Sale, in August. Martin noticed the band was tired. The album included six cover songs because Lennon and McCartney hadn't written enough new ones. This album had a US number 1 single, "Eight Days a Week". It also featured "I Feel Fine", which was one of the first pop songs to use audio feedback. Martin played piano on their cover of "Rock and Roll Music". Beatles for Sale reached number 1 in the UK.
Studio Experiments: 1965–1966
1965: Help! and Rubber Soul
In February 1965, Martin and the Beatles began recording music for their second film, Help!. The Beatles started using new studio tricks, like adding vocals and other sounds over a main rhythm track. Martin encouraged them to try new ideas, like the faster ending on "Ticket to Ride" (a number 1 hit). Martin also suggested adding a string quartet to "Yesterday", even though McCartney wasn't sure at first. "Yesterday" became a US number 1 and one of the most covered songs ever. The Help! album and song also topped the charts.
The group recorded another album, Rubber Soul, in October and November. This album continued their experiments with new sounds. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)" featured George Harrison playing the sitar, an Indian instrument. Martin had used a sitar before on a Peter Sellers comedy record. Martin himself played a Baroque-style piano solo on "In My Life." He recorded it at half-speed and played it back normally, making the piano sound like a harpsichord. Martin also wrote the notes for the guitar solo Harrison played on "Michelle", which won a Grammy Award.
The Rubber Soul sessions also produced the double A-sided single "Day Tripper"/"We Can Work It Out". This was the first time a British record had two main songs. Both reached number 1 in the UK, and "We Can Work It Out" topped the charts in the US. Rubber Soul also hit number 1 in both countries. Critics loved Rubber Soul, and it influenced many other bands.
1966: Revolver and New Sounds
In April 1966, the Beatles and Martin started working on the Revolver album. They began with a very experimental song, "Tomorrow Never Knows". This song had many new ideas for pop music, like a constant drone sound, a backwards guitar solo, and strange sound effects made with tape loops. Martin worked closely with engineers Geoff Emerick and Ken Townsend to create these sounds.
Other songs on Revolver also had new musical ideas. For Paul McCartney's "Eleanor Rigby", Martin wrote and conducted a string-only arrangement, inspired by a movie score. George Harrison's "Love You To" used Indian instruments like the sitar and tabla. "I'm Only Sleeping" was recorded fast and then slowed down to sound dreamy. "Got to Get You Into My Life" was the first Beatles song with a brass section. "For No One" featured a French horn solo written by Martin. "Yellow Submarine" used fun sound effects from EMI's library.
The first single from the Revolver sessions was "Paperback Writer"/"Rain". This song had a stronger bass sound than earlier Beatles records. "Paperback Writer" reached number 1 in the US and UK. "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine" were released as a double A-sided single with the album, both topping the charts in the UK.
Revolver was released in August and received great reviews. Many critics now call it one of the best pop albums ever made.
Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour: 1966–1967
"Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Penny Lane"
By November 1966, the Beatles decided to stop touring and focus only on making music in the studio. Martin said, "the time had come for experiment." They started with John Lennon's "Strawberry Fields Forever". They tried many different arrangements, adding cellos, brass, and percussion. Lennon asked Martin to combine two different recordings of the song, even though they were in different keys and tempos. Martin and his engineers managed to do this by carefully speeding up one part and slowing down the other.
Soon after, they worked on Paul McCartney's "Penny Lane". This song featured a piccolo trumpet solo that McCartney requested after hearing it on TV. Martin wrote the music for the trumpeter.
In February 1967, "Strawberry Fields Forever"/"Penny Lane" was released as a double A-side single. Critics loved its new sounds. "Penny Lane" reached number 1 in the US. However, both songs reached only number 2 in the UK because they competed for radio play. Martin called this "the biggest mistake of my professional life."
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
The Beatles' sessions continued into April 1967, creating Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This album showed how much the Beatles and Martin could use the studio to create amazing new sounds. Martin arranged many parts of the album, like the clarinet section on "When I'm Sixty-Four".
Martin wrote the brass parts for the album's title track and "Good Morning Good Morning". He also had the idea to link the chicken sound at the end of "Good Morning Good Morning" to the guitar at the start of the "Sgt. Pepper" reprise. For "Within You Without You", Martin arranged a mix of Indian and Western classical music. He used special editing to change the speed of vocals on several songs, like "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds". He and Geoff Emerick added crowd noises to the title track to make it sound like a live show.
Martin played instruments on several songs, including piano on "Lovely Rita" and harpsichord on "Fixing a Hole". He played many instruments on "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!", like a harmonium and glockenspiel. For the song's circus sounds, he cut tapes of carnival music into tiny pieces and put them back together randomly.
The only Beatles song Martin didn't arrange was "She's Leaving Home". He was busy producing a Cilla Black session, so McCartney hired another arranger. Martin said this was "one of the biggest hurts of my life," but he still produced the recording and conducted the orchestra.
Martin added a strong echo to John Lennon's voice in "A Day in the Life". He worked with McCartney to create the huge orchestral sounds in the middle and end of the song. He told a 45-person orchestra to play from their lowest note to their highest. The song ended with a long piano fadeout, a dog's whistle, and a sped-up tape of the Beatles talking nonsense. Critics call this song one of the Beatles' best and a groundbreaking pop record.
Sgt. Pepper cost a lot to make, much more than any previous Beatles record. Martin sometimes worried if the public would like its unusual sounds. But when it was released in June 1967, critics loved it. It reached number 1 in the US and UK and was the best-selling album in the UK for the entire 1960s. In 1968, it became the first rock album to win a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
"All You Need Is Love"
In May 1967, Brian Epstein agreed for the Beatles to record a song live on the world's first global TV broadcast, Our World, on 25 June. The band chose "All You Need is Love". Martin thought it was too risky to record the whole song live. So, he had the Beatles record the basic music beforehand. Martin also wrote an orchestral score for the song, including parts of "La Marseillaise" and other famous tunes.
During the live broadcast, Martin and his engineers were shown in the control room. Despite some technical issues, the Beatles, the orchestra, and their friends recorded a perfect live version of "All You Need Is Love" for millions of viewers. The song was quickly released as a single and reached number 1 in many countries. This was the first Beatles single where Martin received a written credit as producer.
Magical Mystery Tour
Even before Sgt. Pepper was released, the Beatles recorded more songs in April–June 1967. These included "Magical Mystery Tour" and "Baby You're a Rich Man". Martin felt these sessions lacked the strong focus of Sgt. Pepper.
On 27 August, Brian Epstein died, which was very sad for the band and Martin. McCartney urged the group to focus on the Magical Mystery Tour film. They resumed recording with Lennon's "I Am the Walrus". Martin created a unique arrangement for this song, using brass, violins, cellos, and a choir singing nonsense. He also fed a live BBC radio recording of William Shakespeare's King Lear into the song's ending.
Magical Mystery Tour was released as an EP in the UK and an LP in the US. It reached number 1 in the US. McCartney's "Hello, Goodbye", with Martin's orchestral additions, was a single that reached number 1 in both the US and UK.
Later Beatles Albums: 1967–1970
Yellow Submarine and The White Album
In early 1967, the Beatles agreed to provide four songs for an animated film, Yellow Submarine. The Beatles didn't take the project very seriously at first. Martin composed the film's orchestral music while the Beatles were in India. He said he was inspired by Maurice Ravel.
The Yellow Submarine film came out in July 1968 and was well-received. Martin chose to re-record the album's music, delaying the soundtrack's release until January 1969. The Yellow Submarine album reached number 2 in the US and number 3 in the UK.
The Beatles started recording The White Album in mid-1968. During these sessions, the band's relationships became strained. Martin often stayed in the background, waiting for his help to be needed.
Martin scored a fiddle arrangement on Ringo Starr's first song, "Don't Pass Me By". He also wrote brass arrangements for several other songs. Martin played celesta on "Good Night" and harmonium on "Cry Baby Cry".
Martin suggested the Beatles choose the 14 best songs for a single album. But the band decided to release a double album. The album was released in November and was a huge success, reaching number 1 in the UK and US. The White Album sessions also produced a number 1 single, "Hey Jude", for which Martin arranged a 36-piece orchestra.
Get Back/Let It Be and Abbey Road
In early 1969, the Beatles gathered to record new music for a live album. They wanted a raw, unedited sound. The band's working relationships were difficult during these sessions. Martin often chose not to attend these tense sessions, leaving engineer Glyn Johns to act as producer.
In January 1970, Martin supervised the final Beatles recording session (without Lennon) for the song "I Me Mine". In March 1970, "Let It Be" was released and reached number 1 in the US.
Later, Phil Spector remixed the album, now called Let It Be, and added orchestral and choral parts. Martin and McCartney were critical of these changes. Martin joked, "I produced the original, and what you should do is have a credit saying 'Produced by George Martin, over-produced by Phil Spector'."
The Beatles asked Martin to produce their next album, Abbey Road. Martin agreed, but only if he could produce it "the way we used to." Lennon and McCartney also convinced Geoff Emerick to return as engineer. Martin helped the band create the second side of the album as a "medley" of songs, like a rock opera. He used his knowledge of classical music to make the songs flow together. Martin played an electric harpsichord on "Because" and wrote orchestral arrangements for four songs.
Abbey Road was released on 26 September 1969, topping the charts in both the US and UK. Martin was very proud of the symphonic medley on side two. The album's double A-sided single, "Something"/"Come Together", reached number 1 in the US.
Beatles Solo Work and Anthologies
Martin produced the first solo album by a Beatle after the group broke up: Ringo Starr's Sentimental Journey in March 1970.
He later worked with Paul McCartney on his 1971 album Ram. Martin then teamed up with McCartney and his band, Wings, to produce the "Live and Let Die" theme song for the 1973 James Bond film. Martin arranged the orchestra for the song, which was a big hit. He won a Grammy Award for his work on it.
Martin and McCartney reunited in the early 1980s to record songs for a cartoon film. They also worked on McCartney's 1982 album Tug of War, which was a critical and commercial success. It topped the charts in the US and UK. The album's most famous song was "Ebony and Ivory", a duet with Stevie Wonder, which hit number 1 in both countries.
McCartney and Martin used leftover songs to create the 1983 album Pipes of Peace. The main single, "Say Say Say", was a duet between McCartney and Michael Jackson, which reached number 1 in the US.
Martin also produced the soundtrack for McCartney's 1984 film, Give My Regards to Broad Street.
In 1998, Martin arranged an orchestral version of an old John Lennon song, "Grow Old with Me", for the John Lennon Anthology. His son, Giles, played bass on it.
The Beatles Anthology
Martin oversaw the making of The Beatles Anthology in 1994 and 1995. This project involved mixing old Beatles recordings. He decided to use an old 8-track mixing console because it created a unique sound that modern equipment couldn't copy. He found it strange to listen to himself and the Beatles chatting in the studio from 25–30 years ago. All three Anthology albums reached number 1 in the US.
Martin was not involved in producing the two new songs that reunited McCartney, Harrison, and Starr ("Free as a Bird" and "Real Love"). This was partly due to his hearing loss, but also because the band chose another producer.
Cirque du Soleil and Love
In 2006, Martin and his son, Giles Martin, remixed 80 minutes of Beatles music for the Las Vegas show Love. A soundtrack album was released that year. Martin arranged an orchestral score for a demo of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". This was his final orchestral production. The Love album reached number 3 in the UK and number 4 in the US. Martin won two Grammy Awards for it in 2008.
"Fifth Beatle" Status
Many people called George Martin the "fifth Beatle" because of his important contributions to their music. In 2016, Paul McCartney wrote that "If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George." Julian Lennon also called Martin "the fifth Beatle, without question."
After the Beatles broke up, John Lennon sometimes downplayed Martin's role. But in 1971, Lennon said, "George Martin made us what we were in the studio. He helped us develop a language to talk to other musicians."
Other Famous Artists
Independent Production Work
After starting his company, AIR, Martin produced Cilla Black's song "Alfie", which was a UK hit. He also worked with the Action and David and Jonathan. Martin reunited with other artists from his Parlophone days, like Matt Monro and Rolf Harris.
He continued to produce comedy music, such as for the Scaffold, a group that included Paul McCartney's brother, Mike McGear. In October 1970, Martin and his AIR partners opened their first studio in London.
Martin worked with many other artists, including Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers, Jeff Beck, and the band America. He produced four albums for America, which included hits like "Tin Man" and "Sister Golden Hair."
In 1979, Martin opened AIR Montserrat, a studio on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. This studio was sadly destroyed by Hurricane Hugo ten years later.
Later Work
In 1991, Martin arranged the string section for the song "Ticket To Heaven" on the last Dire Straits album. In 1992, he worked on the musical stage show The Who's Tommy, winning a Grammy Award for the cast album.
In 1995, he arranged the horn and string parts for a song on the Elton John album Made in England. He also produced "Candle in the Wind 1997", Elton John's tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. This song became the best-selling British single of all time and was Martin's final production of a single.
In 1997, Martin organized a benefit concert called Music for Montserrat to help the island after a volcano eruption. Famous artists like Paul McCartney, Elton John, and Eric Clapton performed.
In 2010, Martin was the executive producer for Arms of the Sun, a hard rock project.
Film Scores and Composing
Martin started writing and publishing music in the late 1950s to earn more money. His early compositions were for Peter Sellers's comedy records. In 1966, he signed a deal to write instrumental music for United Artists.
He composed and produced film scores starting in the early 1960s. These included the music for A Hard Day's Night (1964), Ferry Cross the Mersey (1965), Yellow Submarine (1968), and Live and Let Die (1973). He was nominated for an Academy Award for A Hard Day's Night.
Martin also wrote an official theme song for BBC Radio 1's launch in September 1967, called "Theme One". It was the first music heard on the station.
In 2017, an album called George Martin – Film Scores and Original Orchestral Music was released. It collected many of his compositions, including some that had never been heard before.
Music for James Bond Films
Martin contributed to the main themes of three James Bond films. He produced two of the most famous James Bond themes: "Goldfinger" by Shirley Bassey in 1964, and "Live and Let Die" by Paul McCartney and Wings in 1973. He also composed and produced the entire film score for Live and Let Die.
Books and Documentaries
In 1979, Martin published a book called All You Need is Ears, which talked about his work with the Beatles and other artists. In 1993, he published Summer of Love: The Making of Sgt Pepper, which discussed the famous album. He also edited a 1983 book called Making Music: The Guide to Writing, Performing and Recording.
In 2001, Martin released Produced by George Martin: 50 Years in Recording, a six-CD collection of his entire career. In 2002, he launched Playback, his illustrated autobiography.
In 1997–98, Martin hosted a BBC documentary series called The Rhythm of Life, where he talked about musical composition with famous musicians like Brian Wilson and Celine Dion.
In 2011, a 90-minute documentary film called Produced by George Martin aired in the UK. It showed rare old videos and new interviews with Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and others, telling the story of his life.
Soundbreaking: Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music was a documentary series produced with Sir George Martin. It explored a century of music innovation. Soundbreaking was one of George Martin's last projects before he passed away.
Personal Life
In 1946, George met Jean ("Sheena") Chisholm in the Royal Navy choir. They shared a love for music and married in 1948. They had two children, Alexis and Gregory Paul Martin. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1965.
Martin met Judy Lockhart Smith in 1950 when she was a secretary at EMI. They started a relationship in the late 1950s. They married on 24 June 1966. They had two children, Lucie and Giles Martin.
George spent his later years with Judy at their home in Coleshill, Oxfordshire.
Death
George Martin died peacefully in his sleep on 8 March 2016, at his home in Wiltshire, England. He was 90 years old. Ringo Starr announced his death on Twitter. His funeral was held on 14 March, and he was buried nearby. A memorial service was held in May, attended by Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono, and other famous friends.
Awards and Recognition
- Grammy Award 1967 – Best Contemporary Album (for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)
- Grammy Award 1967 – Album of the Year (for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band)
- Grammy Award 1973 – Best Arrangement, Accompanying Vocalist(s) (for "Live and Let Die")
- BRIT Awards 1977 – Best British Producer (of the past 25 years)
- BRIT Awards 1984 – Outstanding Contribution To Music
- Grammy Award 1993 – Best Musical Show Album (for The Who's Tommy)
- Grammy Award 2007 – Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media (for The Beatles album Love, with Giles Martin)
- Grammy Award 2007 – Best Surround Sound Album (for The Beatles album Love, with Giles Martin)
- In 1965, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Scoring Music (for A Hard Day's Night).
- He received many honorary degrees from universities, including Berklee College of Music and the University of Oxford.
- He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006.
- In 2002, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in film.
- He was given his own coat of arms in 2004. His shield features three beetles, a house martin holding a recorder, and the Latin motto Amore Solum Opus Est ("All You Need Is Love").
Martin was one of the few producers to have number one records in four different decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s).
Selected Non-Beatles Hit Records Produced
During his career, George Martin produced 30 number-one singles and 16 number-one albums in the UK. He also produced 23 number-one singles and 19 number-one albums in the US.
- "You're Driving Me Crazy", The Temperance Seven (1961, no. 1 UK)
- "My Boomerang Won't Come Back", Charlie Drake (1961, no. 14 UK)
- "How Do You Do It?", Gerry & the Pacemakers (1963, no. 1 UK)
- "Bad to Me", Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas (1963, no. 1 UK)
- "Little Children", Billy J. Kramer with the Dakotas (1964, no. 1 UK)
- "You're My World", Cilla Black (1964, no. 1 UK)
- "Goldfinger", Shirley Bassey (1965, no. 8 UK)
- "Live and Let Die", Paul McCartney & Wings (1973, no. 2 US)
- "Sister Golden Hair", America (1975, no. 1 US)
- "Ebony and Ivory", Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder (1982, no. 1 UK and US)
- "Say Say Say", Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (1983, no. 1 US)
- "Candle in the Wind 1997", Elton John (1997, no. 1 UK and US)
Discography (as Composer/Performer)
- Off the Beatle Track (1964)
- A Hard Day's Night: Instrumental Versions of the Motion Picture Score (1965)
- Help! (1965)
- The Family Way (1967)
- Yellow Submarine (side two: The George Martin Orchestra, 1969)
- Live and Let Die (composer of musical score, 1973)
- In My Life (1998)
Selected Discography (as Producer)
- Peter Ustinov – "Mock Mozart" (1952)
- Mandy Miller – "Nellie the Elephant" (1956)
- Peter Sellers – The Best of Sellers (1958)
- Peter Sellers and Sophia Loren – "Goodness Gracious Me" (1960)
- Beyond the Fringe (Original Cast Recording) (1961)
- Bernard Cribbins – "Right Said Fred" (1962); "Hole in the Ground" (1962)
- The Beatles – All original albums from Please Please Me (1963) to Abbey Road (1969), except for Let It Be (final production by Phil Spector).
- Ringo Starr – Sentimental Journey (1970)
- Jeff Beck – Blow by Blow (1975)
- America – Holiday (1974); Hearts (1975); Hideaway (1976); Harbor (1977); Silent Letter (1979)
- Cheap Trick – All Shook Up (1980)
- Paul McCartney – Tug of War (1982); Pipes of Peace (1983); Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984)
- Kenny Rogers – The Heart of the Matter (1985)
- Tommy (Original Cast Recording) (1993)
- Celine Dion – "The Reason" (1997)
- The Beatles – Love (2006)
Coat of Arms
Sir George was given a coat of arms in 2004. Its Latin motto, "Amore Solum Opus Est," means "All you need is love." The design cleverly includes visual puns: a Martin (a type of bird), a recorder (a musical instrument), and three beetles. It also features a zebra holding an abbot's staff, representing Abbey Road Studios and the Beatles' famous album cover with the zebra crossing.
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