Mr. Martin, who signed the band to a recording contract in 1962 after every other British label refused to, helped redefine a producer’s role in pop music.
Source: George Martin, Redefining Producer Who Guided the Beatles, Dies at 90 – The New York Times
Alas, my wee years were spent listening to my big sister’s 78 rpm Beatles singles and remembering every little stylistic element in their tunes. I had long thought that I was primarily drawn as a vocalist to their melodic lines and harmonizations, but only after listening to recent tributes to George Martin did I realize that I was also drawn to the Beatles due to the pop-classical fusion they achieved thanks in large part to the famous producer. Later it would be, say, Steely Dan with their pop-jazz fusion that captivated me. Popular music can so readily conjure a roll of the eyes, but it’s the music of many by definition, and producers such as George Martin—yes, his bands had something to do with it as well—kept me interested in pop as, at best, a hybrid form incorporating a wide range of more serious musical styles.
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