Really sad to lose George Martin, a brilliantly creative musical maestro who explored and expanded what music was and could be.
He was one of the giants that turned the job of recording from a science into an art.The marriage of his experience, musicality and orchestral background with the furnace of creativity that was The Beatles, produced startlingly new music that inspired a generation and was one of the things that made me want to become a musician. The experimental edge to my work was inspired by his.
The first of many of his productions that I bought was a Peter Sellers record and that gentle anarchic humour in that and the Goons was also a key to how he connected with people.
One of my personal highlights was to have been presented the APRS Fellowship Award by the great man, who was very generous and encouraging as always.
I only worked once with him, by remote, singing Summertime for Larry Adler’s last record.
It was never about him, only about making great music.
He was a warm and nourishing treasure, who often reminded me of my dad, in a self-centred and ego driven world.
I will miss you.
– pg
P.S. Check out the Radio 1 theme that he wrote, it’s a great melody. Also there’s a Van der Graaf Generator version here.
