In Memorium: George Martin

He saw something in them. No, it wasn't their musical abilities, although, he conceded that they had some. What he saw was the humor. Maybe, he saw the comic possibilities in them because he had produced many comedy albums in his duties working for EMI. These boys had CHARISMA, a rare thing in young pop musicians. Most rockers had the sullen demeanor of Elvis---inarticulate, barely able to put a sentence together. The four young men standing in front of George Martin were different. Well, three of them were. The drummer, the best looking in the group, had that Elvis drawl to him. But, he stayed mostly silently in the background. The other three were what George noticed. If he took them on, he decided, it would be because of this charisma, not because they were talented. What sealed the deal, what made Martin think he was on to something, was what one of the members said to him as he led them around the recording studio. After all of the equipment had been explained, George Martin asked the boys, ''Is there anything you do not like?'' There was silence for a few moments. Then, the youngest member of the group, the baby-faced guitarist replied, ''Well, for starters, I don't like your tie!'' There was another uneasy silence. And, then, seeing the sharp-edged humor for what it was, the producer laughed. And, so did the other band members. This broke the ice between band and producer. A bond was starting to form. This bond would lead the music world into directions it could never have conceived before. Barriers would be broken, legendary sounds would be created, the greatest music of the 20th Century was about to happen........ George Martin, legendary producer to the Beatles, is dead at the age of 90. He died peacefully at home, according to his family. So far, a cause of death has not been released. George had been in retirement for years, the irony being that this pioneering music man had lost most of his hearing in later years. But his legacy and influence will forever remain. By all accounts, George was a modest man, a dignified being who did his job spectacularly well without indulging in all of the bombast and drama that the music industry is associated with. His professional life will forever be tied into the history of four young men from Liverpool, England. But, George earned his stripes before them. Trained as a classical pianist and oboe player, George studied for years at the Guildhall School Of Music in London. He served his country well in World War 2 in the Royal Navy. In 1950, Martin joined EMI, a music company that was the English division of Capital Records in America. EMI was way down in the food chain in terms of success in music. But, it did well with comedy albums. This was the division the classically trained Martin joined. Surprisingly, he made a go of it, recording the likes of the young Peter Sellers and his fellow ''Goons'' [which was the 1950's version of Monty Python].  to moderate success. George dabbled occasionally in real music but without much success. In fact, EMI was considered mostly a forgotten joke in the music industry, nothing really substantial came from them. If someone recorded on EMI, the theory went, they must not be very good....... George Martin would meet Brian Epstein in February, 1962 after a friend of George's recommended that Martin listen to an audition tape that Epstein had been hawking around. Epstein was trying to get his ''boys'' a record deal but he had been turned down all around London.  Brian and George met, liked each other, and George agreed to audition this Liverpool group. A few months went by before this tryout happened. And, on a beautiful June day in 1962, George Martin welcomed John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and their ''moody'' drummer, Pete Best, into Abbey Road studios in London. This was the day when Martin first heard them live. He was not very impressed, he later stated. He liked John and Paul's harmonies. However, their original songs left Martin less than assured. Martin also did not like the drumming of Pete Best. When you add it all up, the Beatles were lucky that their personalities sold them to George. Otherwise, he may have dismissed them like all of the other record labels that they had auditioned for had done........ George Martin and EMI signed the ''boys'' to a contract. albeit, a very poor and stingy deal. And, when the Beatles showed up for their first proper recording session in September of 1962, they introduced the newly hired drummer for them, a fellow named Ringo. George Martin was not aware of the drumming change and had a session drummer, Andy White, ready to do the duties. Ringo was not happy, to say the least. But, George stuck to his guns and when the Beatles did their first takes of the record, ''Love Me Do'', Ringo was not on it. Finally, afters seeing how glum Ringo was for not being included, Martin gave him a tambourine to play....... The rest, of course, was history. Not only pop music history, but human history. For the next seven years, the Beatles and George Martin worked hip-to haunch, creating a wall monument of great music. The recording of records, so ordinary and sterile, grew in pace with human invention and a willingness to try new things and sounds. The Abbey Road sessions between band and producer became legendary for creativity. Along with the growing songwriting genius of Lennon and McCartney came a ''lets try something new that no one ever tried before'' feeling. Backwards tapes, voice distortion, putting instruments into different speakers and consoles, merging orchestras with rock music, record fade-outs and fade-ins, avant-garde mixed with traditional, gorgeous harmonies overdubbed on top of each, sound tapes slowed down and sped up, all combined with extraordinary synergy between five men in Abbey Road studios. It was the Big Bang Of Pop, with revolutionary ideas flowing from all directions, coming together in a single recording of a song. Music has never seen stunning achievements..........After the Beatles broke up in 1970, George Martin could have sat on his laurels and collected a nice pension. He was truly the ''Fifth Beatle.'' But he kept going. Always on the lookout for new talent, he produced the groups, ''America'', ''Little River Band'', ''Cheap Trick'', and ''UFO''. Balancing these new artists with established stars like Jeff Beck and Neil Sadaka [ And, his old friend, Paul McCartney] George Martin melded a new body of work with his monumental achievements from the Beatle years. He became a patron saint for young producers coming up, they all aspired to be the ''Next George Martin''. George gave sage advice to these proteges, always encouraging them and always supporting them. He remained the same quiet, dignified man with the sly sense of humor that he always was. Naturally, he was always involved in Beatles projects, like ''The Beatles Anthology'' and the ''Circus Soleil 'Love' '' George Martin never denied his past. He was proud of them. And, rightfully so........ Honors found him. He was knighted by the Queen, received numerous Lifetime Achievement Awards for his work in music, and did several charity events tied into helping those in need, such as ''The Concert For Montserrat'', which benefited victims of a volcano disaster. He wrote acclaimed books on the music business and his life...... George Martin married twice, having children with both wives. His marriage to his second and last wife, Judy, lasted  50 years. The last years of his fruitful life were taking it easy, enjoying his grandchildren and relaxing......... When an artist dies, I like to think that they are now part of the artistic landscape that makes up Heaven. Many musicians have gone on to this world--- sadly, many this year. They have another type of creativity going. It is the soundtrack of what life was and what eternity is going to be. Music has always soothed the soul of the living. Now, it flows through the souls of the sainted...... There is a great band up in Heaven. All of the past legends are there. George Martin has just joined this band, to record them and to guide them. And, a splendid time is guaranteed for all.......