Beatles, stars pay tribute to producer George Martin
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and other celebrities paid tribute to the music producer George Martin, who died at 90 on Tuesday evening.
Martin guided the Beatles transformation from rowdy club act to musical and cultural revolutionaries; former Beatle Paul McCartney said on his website that Martin had been "a true gentleman and like a second father to me."
"If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George," McCartney wrote. "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."
McCartney said that one of his favorite memories of Martin was of the changes he suggested on the song "Yesterday." Martin asked McCartney to try using a string quartet on the record, though McCartney pushed back.
"When we recorded the string quartet at Abbey Road, it was so thrilling to know his idea was so correct that I went round telling people about it for weeks," said McCartney. "His idea obviously worked because the song subsequently became one of the most recorded songs ever with versions by Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and thousands more.
Beatles drummer Ringo Starr tweeted, "God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara George will be missed xxx," and "Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love xx."
The estates of late Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison also paid tribute to the producer, as did other prominent musicians ranging from Lenny Kravitz to Flea. Mega producers Quincy Jones and Mark Ronson also memorialized Martin; Jones called him a "musical brother," and Ronson called him "the greatest British record producer of all time."
"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
Thank you for all your love and kindness George peace and love xx😎✌️🌟💖 pic.twitter.com/um2hRFB7qF
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 9, 2016
George Martin was a gentleman above all. May he rest in peace. Our thoughts are with Judy & the family at this sad time. -Olivia and Dhani
— George Harrison (@GeorgeHarrison) March 9, 2016
George Martin RIP pic.twitter.com/cOykiWPCI5
— John Lennon (@johnlennon) March 9, 2016
The legends are really going home! Visionary producer of #TheBeatles, George Martin (1926-2016). pic.twitter.com/X8sVf9iNQ7
— Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) March 9, 2016
RIP to my musical brother George Martin. We were friends since 1964, & I am so thankful 4 that gift. Bless u & your precious posse 4ever.❤️Q
— Quincy Jones (@QuincyDJones) March 9, 2016
Thank you Sir George Martin: the greatest British record producer of all time. We will never stop living in the world you helped create.
— Mark Ronson (@MarkRonson) March 9, 2016
Every time I record at abbey road I geek out and play with the mics sir George Martin used. What an ear, what a life, what a legacy.
— josh groban (@joshgroban) March 9, 2016
George martin. Wow. People made records that were that good.
— Flea (@flea333) March 9, 2016
Goodbye George Martin, thanks for producing the music that changed my world and everyone else's.... https://t.co/So1VjRkWNv
— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) March 9, 2016
We mourn the death of Sir George Martin. Thank you for the music. #5thBeatle pic.twitter.com/JA4MTvlPcO
— Nickelback (@Nickelback) March 9, 2016
https://t.co/aAkFWDVF4W ...just one of many, many reasons why George Martin was brilliant and so wonderfully influential.
— BASTILLE (@bastilledan) March 9, 2016
Sad to hear about the passing of George Martin. Not many others have done so much for music. pic.twitter.com/gPfFDwDPsm
— James Bay (@JamesBayMusic) March 9, 2016
Martin's son, Giles, also wrote a tweet for his father, saying, "RIP dad. I love you. I'm so proud to have been your son. I'll miss you more than words can say. Thank you for the all times we had together," while Sean Lennon, John Lennon's son, said he was "gutted." Stella McCartney, Paul McCartney's daughter, said Martin will be missed.
RIP dad. I love you. I'm so proud to have been your son. I'll miss you more than words can say. Thank you for the all times we had together.
— Giles Martin (@mashupmartin) March 9, 2016
R.I.P. George Martin. I'm so gutted I don't have many words. Thinking of Judy and Giles and... https://t.co/3Nc8sCgRpN
— Sean Ono Lennon (@seanonolennon) March 9, 2016
George you inspired so many and I feel so blessed to have had you in my life. You are missed by us all. X Stella pic.twitter.com/FXk8feMLCR
— Stella McCartney (@StellaMcCartney) March 9, 2016