The real fifth Beatle - Sir George Martin turns 86 today

There are several people whose names are brought up as being the Fifth Beatle. It's really no contest. The title belongs to Sir George Martin.

 

On Jan. 3, 2012, Sir George celebrates his 86th birthday.

 

He produced a large cross section of artists during his long career. Cilla Black, Peter Sellers, Beyond the Fringe, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Cheap Trick and America are among the more well known. 

 

But there were many many others. Here's a partial list: Matt Monro, Peter Ustinov, Rolf Harris, Billy J. Kramer and the Dakotas, the Fourmost, Ella Fitzgerald (with a cover of "Can't Buy Me Love"), David and Jonathan (who recorded covers of "Michelle" and "She's Leaving Home"), Stan Getz, Seatrain, John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Webb, Neil Sedaka, Billy Preston, Gary Brooker, Paul McCartney ("Say Say Say", "Ebony and Ivory" and the original Wings' theme from the film "Live and Let Die") and Celine Dion. 

 

Martin produced the Vipers' "No Other Baby" that Paul McCartney later covered on "Run Devil Run." (Chad & Jeremy covered it, too.) His credits also include Madame Shirley Bassey's iconic "Goldfinger" theme.

 

Martin has always been the image of an English gentleman. His first impressions of the Beatles showed there may have been as much apprehension with him as there was with them.

 

"I was thinking 'Who is the lead singer? Is it John Lennon and the Beatles? Is it Paul McCartney and the Beatles? But suddenly it hit me. I had to take them as they were. I'd been thinking too conventionally. Then again, there really hadn't been anything like them before," he recalled in 2001.

 

Or probably ever will be again.  

 

So a very happy birthday, Sir George. The world can't thank you enough.   

 

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