When was George Martin born and where did he grow up?
George Henry Martin entered the world on the 3rd of January 1926 in North London. His family lived modestly in Highbury and later Drayton Park before moving to Aubert Park in 1931.
Questions about George Martin
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What role did George Martin play during World War II?
George Martin volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in 1943 and trained at HMS St Vincent in Gosport but never saw combat as the war ended before his deployment. He appeared on BBC Radio during a Royal Navy variety show on the 26th of July 1945 playing a self-composed piano piece.
How did George Martin transform Parlophone Records into a profitable business?
George Martin took over the label when Oscar Preuss retired in April 1955 and fought corporate pressure to move successful artists elsewhere. His work boosted Parlophone's profile through comedy records like the 1957 recording of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann's show At the Drop of a Hat which transformed the company into a highly profitable business.
When did George Martin sign The Beatles to EMI Studios?
Brian Epstein approached EMI in November 1961 seeking a recording contract for his band and Martin arranged a meeting on the 13th of February 1962 where Epstein played a recording of the Beatles' failed January audition for Decca Records. On the 9th of May at EMI Studios in London Martin informed Epstein he would give the Beatles a standard recording contract.
Why did George Martin leave EMI in August 1965?
Martin left EMI after repeated clashes over salary terms with management and an offer from managing director Len Wood that included a 3% commission minus overhead costs. He recruited other EMI staffers including Norman Newell Ron Richards John Burgess his wife Judy and Decca's Peter Sullivan to form Associated Independent Recording.
How did George Martin die and what health issues affected him later in life?
George Martin died at his home in Coleshill Oxfordshire on the 8th of March 2016 aged 90 due to complications from stomach cancer according to biographer Kenneth Womack. His hearing started to decline in the mid-1970s when he could not detect high frequencies used by engineers to evaluate tonality and by 2014 he relied on hearing aids and lip-reading to communicate.