Sir George Martin, ‘Fifth Beatle,’ Dies at 90

Former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr has announced the death of the so-called "fifth Beatle," producer Sir George Martin, at age 90.

Starr posted the news on Twitter Wednesday, with a photograph of Martin with the Beatles captioned "Thank you for all your love and kindness George."

Universal Music Group has confirmed the death, but details have not been released.

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted a tribute early Wednesday, calling Martin "a giant of music."

Martin, a classically trained musician, signed the four young Beatles to a music contract in 1962. He was considered essential to their success, helping them arrange, and produce many of their biggest hits, starting with one of their first: 1962's "Love Me Do."

​​In some cases, Martin's classical music training filled in gaps for band members John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Starr, who entered the industry with only a basic knowledge of reading and writing music. Martin is credited with scoring now-iconic trumpet solos, string quartet interludes, and piano breaks in some of the Beatles' most memorable songs.

After the breakup of the Beatles in 1970, Martin went on to work with other artists such as Elton John, Bob Dylan, and Sting. He was knighted by the British monarchy in 1996.

Martin continued working on Beatles-related projects, recording two solo albums for Paul McCartney and, in 2006, developing a Beatles-based Cirque de Soleil show called "Love" that has won two Grammy awards for its soundtrack.

Guinness World Records has named Martin as the most successful music producer ever, with more than 50 number-one hit records in Britain and the United States alone, over a career that lasted six decades.

Martin Milner, Star of TV's Adam 12, Route 66 Dies at 83

American actor Martin Milner, who starred in two hit television series reflecting America's love affairs with cars, has died at 83.

Friends and family confirmed Milner's death, but gave no details.

A child actor born in Detroit, Milner made numerous early film and TV appearances before starring in the 1960 series Route 66, named for the iconic U.S. highway.

Milner and co-star George Maharis traveled the country in a Chevrolet, finding themselves involved in the lives and problems of people they met in the large cities and small towns.

Route 66 went off the air in 1964 and Milner soon found himself behind the wheel of another vehicle — a Los Angeles police patrol car in the hit series, Adam 12. Unlike the glamorous and exciting lives of TV private eyes, Adam 12 showed that most police cases are mundane and the work routine, but still compelling.

The series ran from 1968 until 1975 and like Route 66, still remains popular.

Final Exits, 1-7 June 2011

Obituaries for 1-7 June 2011

Photo: Martin Rushent on 17 February 2011. (Photographer: Mattgirling)

1
* Munir Dar, 76, Pakistani Olympic gold medal-winning (1960) field hockey player.
* Matt Fong, 57, American politician, California State Treasurer (1995–1999), skin cancer.
* Giorgos Kosmopoulos, 74, Greek politician, Mayor of Olympia (1991–1994). (Greek)
* Manolo Otero, 63, Spanish singer and actor, liver cancer. (Portuguese)
* Frank Ponta, 75, Australian paralympian, after long illness.
* Haleh Sahabi, 54, Iranian humanitarian, daughter of Ezzatollah Sahabi, cardiac arrest.

2
* Ray Bryant, 79, American jazz pianist, after long illness.
* Willem Duys, 82, Dutch radio and television presenter and record producer, infection. (Dutch)
* Josephine Hart, 69, Irish-born British novelist and poetry promoter, ovarian cancer.
* Philip Holland, 94, British politician, MP for Acton (1959–1964); Carlton (1966–1983) and Gedling (1983–1987).
* Walter R. Peterson, Jr., 88, American politician, Governor of New Hampshire (1969–1973), lung cancer.
* Geronimo Pratt, 63, American political leader (Black Panther Party).
* Joel Rosenberg, 57, American science fiction author, heart attack.
* Albertina Sisulu, 92, South African anti-apartheid activist.
* Philip Rahtz, 90, British archaeologist.
* Lavina Washines, 71, American tribal leader, first female leader of the Yakima Nation (2006–2008).

3
* James Arness, 88, American actor (Gunsmoke), natural causes.
* Harry Bernstein, 101, British-born American author.
* Wally Boag, 90, American performer (Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue).
* Papa Joe Chevalier, 62, American sports talk radio host, stroke.
* Bruce Crozier, 72, Canadian politician, Ontario MPP for Essex South (1993–1999) and Essex (since 1999), aortic aneurysm.
* Andrew Gold, 59, American singer-songwriter ("Lonely Boy", "Thank You for Being a Friend"), heart attack.
* John Henry Johnson, 81, American Hall of Fame football player (49ers, Lions, Steelers, Oilers).
* Miriam Karlin, 85, British actress and activist, cancer.
* Jack Kevorkian, 83, American right to die activist, pulmonary thrombosis.
* Bhajan Lal, 80, Indian politician, Chief Minister of Haryana (1979–1985; 1991–1996), cardiac arrest.
* Peter Murphy, 88, Irish television presenter (RTE).
* Sammy Ofer, 89, Israeli businessman, after long illness.
* Benny Spellman, 79, American R&B singer, respiratory failure.
* Jan van Roessel, 86, Dutch footballer (Willem II Tilburg).
* Wang Haifang, 47, Chinese football coach, car accident. (Chinese)

4
* Dimi Mint Abba, 52, Mauritanian singer, brain hemorrhage.
* Lilian Jackson Braun, 97, American author (Cat Who series), natural causes.
* Claudio Bravo, 74, Chilean painter, epilepsy.
* Tommy Brent, 88, American theatrical producer.
* Lindsey Durlacher, 36, American Greco-Roman wrestler.
* Lawrence Eagleburger, 80, American diplomat and politician, Secretary of State (1992–1993).
* Curth Flatow, 91, German dramatist and screenwriter, natural causes. (German)
* Maurice Garrel, 88, French actor. (French)
* Donald Hewlett, 90, English actor.
* Ilyas Kashmiri, 47, Pakistani leader of Harkatul Jihad al-Islami, drone strike.
* Andreas P. Nielsen, 58, Danish author and composer, cancer. (Danish)
* Martin Rushent, 63, English record producer (Buzzcocks, Human League, The Stranglers).
* Kiyoshi Sasamori, 70, Japanese cabinet advisor and labor union leader (RENGO), pneumonia.
* Betty Taylor, 91, American performer (Disneyland's Golden Horseshoe Revue).
* Frankie Toler, 59, American drummer (The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman Band, Marshall Tucker Band), long illness following liver transplant.

5
* Mark H. Beaubien, Jr., 68, American politician, member of the Illinois House of Representatives (since 1997).
* Leon Botha, 26, South African artist and musical performer, progeria-related heart failure. (Afrikaans)
* Calvin Hannah, 81, American photographer.
* Azam Khan, 61, Bangladeshi pop singer, cancer.
* Gordon Lorenz, 61, British songwriter.

6
* John R. Alison, 98, American World War II combat flying ace.
* Derek Brien, 34, Irish motorcycle racer, race crash.
* Declan Costello, 84, Irish politician, TD for Dublin North West (1951–1969); Dublin South West (1973–1977), Attorney General (1973–1977) and High Court judge.
* Nils-Bertil Dahlander, 83, Swedish jazz drummer. (Swedish)
* Dulce Figueiredo, 83, Brazilian First Lady (1979–1985), widow of João Figueiredo. (Portuguese)
* Stefan Kurylowicz, 62, Polish architect, plane crash.
* Shrek, 16, New Zealand sheep known for its unshorn fleece, euthanised.
* Tillmann Uhrmacher, 44, German DJ, music producer and radio host. (German)

7
* Thomas Emma, 49, American basketball player (Duke University), fall.
* Buddy Gask, 64, British rock and roll singer (Showaddywaddy), after long illness.
* Walid Gholmieh, 73, Lebanese musician, director of Conservatoire Libanais.
* Genaro Hernández, 45, American boxer, cancer.
* José Pagán, 76, Puerto Rican baseball player (San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates).
* Nataraja Ramakrishna, 88, Indian dance guru, after long illness.
* Jorge Semprún, 87, Spanish writer and politician. (Spanish)
* Leonard B. Stern, 87, American television director, producer and writer (Get Smart, McMillan & Wife, The Governor & J.J.), creator of The Honeymooners.
* Edgar Tekere, 74, Zimbabwean politician, cancer.