---
title: "'Fifth Beatle' George Martin dies at 90"
description: "Legendary British record producer George Martin, who turned the Beatles into the best-selling band in history, has died aged 90, his family said Wednesday, as tributes poured in for \"a giant of music\"."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "AFP"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2016-03-09-fifth-beatle-george-martin-dies-at-90/"
published: "2016-03-09T14:28:31"
updated: "2016-03-09T14:28:54"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 85
---

# 'Fifth Beatle' George Martin dies at 90

> Legendary British record producer George Martin, who turned the Beatles into the best-selling band in history, has died aged 90, his family said Wednesday, as tributes poured in for "a giant of music".

By AFP · Published 9 March 2016, 16:28 SAST · Updated 9 March 2016, 16:28 SAST

## Content

Beatles drummer Ringo Starr was the first to give the news, tweeting a picture of the "Fab Four" with Martin and saying: "God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family... George will be missed".

Paul McCartney -- the only other surviving member of the band signed up by Martin in 1962 -- penned a tribute, calling him "a true gentleman" and "a second father".

"If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle it was George," McCartney wrote on his website.