Beatles producer George Martin dies

The familiar pattern of waking up to sad music news in 2016 continues today, with word of the passing of legendary producer George Martin. in 1962 Martin saw what countless others had failed to miss when he signed four mop-top lads from Liverpool to his record label Parlophone, beginning what would prove to be one of the most successful partnerships between producer and musician in the twenty first century.

Martin famously replaced Pete Best with Ringo Starr, and produced all but one of The Beatles' 12 studio albums (1970 release Let It Be instead handled by Phil Spector), as well as contributing musical turns fleetingly (he contributed piano to Rubber Soul's 'In My life', above), and managed to remain friends with the band throughout their existence. His legacy is assured as one of the finest in modern popular music.