LOS ANGELES – Sir George Martin, the legendary
music producer who shaped the Beatles into the world’s most important pop music
force, has died at the age of 90.

Martin was referred to as the “fifth
Beatle” and served as producer, collaborator and mentor to John Lennon,
Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr.

A
Universal Music Group spokesman in Los Angeles confirmed Martin’s death but
said details were not immediately known.

“God bless George Martin peace and love to
Judy and his family,” Ringo Starr, the Beatles’ drummer, said on tweeted.

Starr followed the message by posting a photo of
the Fab Four with Martin, saying “Thank you for all your love and kindness
George.”

During Martin’s six-decade career in the music
industry, he produced almost all of the Beatles’ recordings and also worked
with Gerry & the Pacemakers, Jeff Beck, America, Cheap Trick and other
acts.

He produced jazz, comedy and classical albums
before signing the Beatles in 1962. The young band members were rough around
the edges, but Martin saw their commercial promise.

Over the coming years, he helped score, arrange,
and produce many of the band’s biggest hits, including “Yesterday”
and “Love Me Do.” His 1979 autobiography, “All You Need Is
Ears,” chronicles his discovery of the Beatles and their creative process.

Martin was knighted in 1996. In 2006, working with
his son, Giles Martin, he helped develop the Beatles-inspired Cirque du Soleil
show “Love” in Las Vegas, which went on to reap his two most recent
Grammys.

Martin was named by Guinness World Records as the
most successful producer ever, with more than 50 No. 1 hit records over five
decades in the United States and United Kingdom alone.

– Reuters