Beatles producer George Martin dies

London, March 9

George Martin, record producer of the Beatles, has died. He was 90.

The cause of death of Martin, who was also known as the "fifth Beatle", has not yet been released, reported The Guardian.

The news of the death first emerged in a tweet from Ringo Starr, the Beatles drummer.

"God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara George will be missed," Starr posted on Twitter.

Martin not only signed the Beatles to their first record contract in 1962 but went on to work extensively with them on the vast majority of music they recorded over the next eight years, from "Love Me Do" to the majestic suite that wrapped up Abbey Road.

A carpenter's son from Holloway in north London, Martin helped the Beatles achieve global success as the head of the Parlophone record label after hearing their demo tape in 1962.

He took them from their mop-top recordings in the early 1960s to the psychedelia of Sergeant Pepper.

In his lifetime, he won six Grammy awards and an Academy Award for the score to "A Hard Day's Night".

He was knighted in 1996, a year before Paul McCartney. In 1999, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

British Prime Minister condoled Martin's death on twitter, "Sir George Martin was a giant of music - working with the Fab Four to create the world's most enduring pop music."

Sean Ono Lennon, son of Beatle John Lennon, tweeted: "RIP George Martin. I'm so gutted I don't have many words." 

Liam Gallagher, lead singer of rock band Oasis who modelled themselves on the Beatles, said on Twitter: "Sir George Martin RIP LG X." — PTI