Many know him for his tremendous contributions to the Beatles’ career, but Sir George Martin touched many artists’ lives apart from the Fab Four. Throughout a career that spanned over six decades, George Martin worked in the fields of music, film, television, and live performance and got in the studio with many names in the music industry, such as the Police, Celine Dion, Jeff Beck, Cheap Trick, America, UFO, Ultravox, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Elton John.
- 1. Paul McCartney Saw Sir George Martin As A Second Father
- 2. George Harrison’s Sense Of Humour Made Martin Sign The Beatles
- 3. George Martin Worked With Pete Townshend On The Who Musical
- 4. Sir George Martin Was The Reason For Pete Best’s Dismissal
- 5. Martin Dreamt Of Launching A Mobile Recording Studio On A Boat
As the head of EMI’s Parlophone label, Sir George Martin helped the Beatles reach worldwide success with his excessive involvement in the band’s career and contribution to their orchestral arrangements and instrumentation. He later formed his own production company, Associated Independent Recording, and built a recording studio on the Caribbean island of Montserrat. This secluded island witnessed numerous rock icons record their albums, including the Rolling Stones, Rush, Black Sabbath, and Duran Duran.
Looking through George Martin’s career, it’s clear that he significantly influenced many artists over the years, mainly the Beatles. Sadly, he passed away and left the music world heartbroken in 2016. However, Martin’s legacy is still alive with the timeless hits showcasing his incredible producing and arranging talents. Here are five facts about the world’s famous record producer that might surprise you.
1. Paul McCartney Saw Sir George Martin As A Second Father
George Martin was like a father figure for the Fab Four from the day he decided to work with the Beatles until the band’s disbandment. However, there was a special bond between him and Paul McCarney since day one. Following George Martin’s passing, McCartney wrote a lengthy farewell essay to say goodbye to him. In this memorial essay, he described Martin as his second father and thanked him for his guidance and friendship.
Here is what Paul McCartney wrote about George Martin:
“I have so many wonderful memories of this great man that will be with me forever. He was a true gentleman and like a second father to me. He guided the Beatles’ career with such skill and good humor that he became a true friend to my family and me.
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.”
According to Paul McCartney, George Martin was the only person he could see as the Fifth Beatle. Even after the band’s disbandment, the two never lost touch and continued working together. So, losing someone that close to him was pretty heartbreaking for Macca.
2. George Harrison’s Sense Of Humour Made Martin Sign The Beatles
Back when the Beatles were desperate to get a recording contract, their manager Brian Epstein introduced them to George Martin. Martin wasn’t impressed with the band’s songs at first glance, though — he found them weak and needing improvement. However, he later saw the light in them and decided to give the Fab Four a chance.
Speaking to JazzWax, George Martin recalled the following:
“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.”
As it turns out, George Martin and the Beatles had something in common — their sense of humor. Martin produced comedy and novelty records in the 1950s and early 1960s, worked with members of ‘The Goon Show,’ and produced the satirical ‘Beyond the Fringe’ troupe. The Beatles were a fan of his work, but what made him think he would get along with the four was a joke George Harrison made.
During their first audition for George Martin, the producer asked each Beatle whether there was something they personally didn’t like. Upon hearing this, George Harrison quickly said that he didn’t like Martin’s tie. This response broke the ice in the studio, and John Lennon and Paul McCartney joined in with their jokes. Instead of offending Martin, the Beatles won his heart with their wit and sense of humor.
3. George Martin Worked With Pete Townshend On The Who Musical
George Martin saw what others didn’t and came up with innovative ideas to fill in the gaps. Besides the Beatles, he also gave his magic touch to Pete Townshend. Following the release of the rock opera ‘Tommy,’ Pete Townshend decided to turn the album’s concept into a rock musical. In 1992, he partnered with George Martin and Des McAnuff to create ‘The Who’s Tommy.’
Martin produced the original cast recording of ‘Tommy,’ while McAnuff served as the director of the musical. ‘The Who’s Tommy’ opened on Broadway in 1993, while the original cast album hit the record stores that summer. The same year, George Martin won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album as ‘Tommy’s producer, while Pete Townshend received the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
4. Sir George Martin Was The Reason For Pete Best’s Dismissal
When the Beatles rang George Martin’s doorbell, their drummer was Pete Best. During their recording session at EMI’s studio two, Martin arrived and saw the band perform for the first time. As the Beatles were playing ‘Love Me Do,’ Martin and his assistant Ron Richards felt Best’s drumming couldn’t support the band’s sound. He then went to talk with Brian Epstein about this issue, asking him to find another drummer as the fourth member.
Brian Epstein didn’t want to fire Pete Best because fans had a soft spot for him. In the end, Epstein shared this with the band, and they decided their commercial success was far more critical than having a good stage presence. EMI signed the Beatles after the session, but Brian didn’t inform Best about the news. Instead, he invited the drummer to his office and asked him to leave privately. Looking back at Pete’s dismissal, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney felt regret for not handling the matter properly.
5. Martin Dreamt Of Launching A Mobile Recording Studio On A Boat
The most interesting fact about George Martin is that he wanted to build his dream studio on a boat. When he left EMI to form his own production company Associated Independent Recording, Martin dreamt of creating a unique atmosphere for every artist he worked with — he wanted them to be able to record their music freely, traveling to different parts of the world any time they wanted.
However, Martin eventually saw that his plan wouldn’t work out due to the possible difficulties — it would be too noisy and rocky to record on a sailing boat. So, he came up with a better idea — an island disconnected from the rest of the world. Martin then built the recording studio of his dreams on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, in the town of Salem. The first album recorded at the studio was Climax Blues Band’s 1979 album ‘Real To Reel.’
Over the years, many rock icons visited the island to record there. Elton John recorded three albums in the Montserrat studio, and Dire Straits went there to record their successful album’ Brothers In Arms.’ In 1989, not long after Rolling Stones recorded their ‘Steel Wheels’ album at Martin’s AIR Montserrat, Hurricane Hugo devastated the island. The studio had minor damage, but it wasn’t reopened again. In 2021, a documentary about the iconic hit factory, ‘Under The Volcano,’ was released.
