George Martin

Arguably one of the most important figures in 20th century popular music, George Martin ensured his immortality by producing the Beatles' studio albums, which in turn helped to shape the course and scope of music and culture from the early 1960s onward. As the "fifth Beatle," Martin served as a stabilizing force through which the raw genius of the four band members could filter their ideas; his background in classical composition helped them envision a musical aesthetic that not only bridged genres like pop, rock, country and experimental sounds, but created altogether new ones that influenced generations of performers and artists on such transformative LPs as Revolver, White Album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road. Martin's post-Beatles collaborations counted some of the biggest names in the field, including Elton John, Eric Clapton and Michael Jackson, and yielded 30 No. 1 albums and over 20 No. 1 singles worldwide, but it was his work with the Beatles that made him one of the most significant personalities in the music world.