SIR GEORGE MARTIN CBE
(January 1926 to March 2016)
Many tributes have been paid to Sir George Martin since his sad passing on 8th March. Having had the great privilege of working with him on many occasions during my time working at EMI's Abbey Road Studios - and because this website was only created as a result of the brilliantly produced Abbey Road album - I'd like to add these few words from personal memories and recollections of him.
Stan Getz, Matt Monro, Cilla Black and The Beatles were some of the artists that Sir George was producing when I was fortunate to be one of the recording engineers working alongside him. You could not have met anyone more charming. He was an absolute gentleman who had the respect of everyone that worked with him and he in return showed the same respect for all those around him. He treated everybody - the assistants, the engineers, the musicians - with the same sense of calm politeness and gratitude that he showed to the world famous artists he was producing.
When he opened his own AIR Studios at Oxford Circus in London I was flattered that he offered me a job to go and work there as an engineer. I only declined his offer because I had just been offered a position to work as a producer for EMI. However, the experience I had gained from working with him proved to be invaluable, his patience and calmness always something that I tried to emulate. His incredible talent and ability to produce so many successful recordings across such a wide range of genres is legendary and I'd recommend anyone who hasn't yet done so to read through his discography. It is quite staggering.
That he is no longer with us is of course very sad, but the pleasure that his creations have given to millions of people around the world is something that cannot be measured and leaves a legacy that will always be remembered - and a life to be celebrated.
JEFF JARRATT - MARCH 2016
..and just a couple of relevant photographs you may find interesting
SIR GEORGE AND GEOFF EMERICK WORKING ON THE BEATLES 'ANTHOLOGY' ALBUMS IN ABBEY ROAD's PENTHOUSE STUDIO. THE MIXING DESK IS AN EMI TG SERIES CONSOLE WHICH I HAD PURCHASED FROM EMI IN THE 1980's AND HAD BEEN USING IN MY OWN HOME STUDIO. IT WAS A SURPRISE WHEN THE STUDIO MANAGER CALLED ME SO MANY YEARS LATER TO ASK IF THEY COULD BORROW IT BACK.
SEPTEMBER 1994
SOME OF THE ENGINEERS WHO HAD WORKED WITH SIR GEORGE ON THE RECORDING OF THE 'ABBEY ROAD' ALBUM CELEBRATING THE 25th ANNIVERSAY OF ITS' RELEASE