I learned this morning that George Martin, the “fifth Beatle”, had passed away. His passing has left the classic rock world devoid of (yet another) master. In this case, a master producer – but also a man who guided the musical curiosity and experimentation of the Beatles into a cultural phenomenon that is still going strong some 50 years later. He was the perfect foil for the Beatles youthful energy, and the effects of this man’s work may well last forever.

Here is a nice article that quickly sums up the man’s impact on classic rock.

The following are just a few comments from the classic rock world on his passing:

“The world has lost a truly great man who left an indelible mark on my soul and the history of British music.”
– Paul McCartney –

“Always always positive, and deeply thoughtful and creative, the man was a gentle giant of popular music.”
– Brian May (of Queen) –

“I’m sad to hear about the death of George Martin. I’ve always felt he was much more than just the fifth Beatle…”
– Steve Hackett (of Genesis) –

“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 –

Here is a more in depth article on the life of George Martin and the response his passing has garnered from the world.