Man Behind The Music — George Martin

["If I Fell" by The Beatles]

Narrator: That's the sound that's rocked the music world, and, in that world, music or jukeboxes which are equipped to accept coins in return for recorded Beatle entertainment, feel the metallic waterfall of dimes, quarters, shillings, marks, pesos, francs, lyra, yen, and other forms of national coin. And from the back of burro-driven ox-carts in remote sections of Latin America, to plush, air-conditioned, ultra-modern record emporiums of the continent, eager hands reach for each new Beatle record. Worldwide record sales reportedly have already exceeded the 30-million mark. Why? Why, indeed. Certainly a key factor is Beatle manager Brian Epstein, who found the long-haired version of Aladdin's lamp in a Liverpool cellar. But there's still one more man who's played a key role in this amazing Beatles story. He certainly doesn't look like a genie. But, on the other hand, he doesn't necessarily look like an oboe player who once conducted classical music, either. But he was just that. His name: George Martin. He selects the music; the material. And the success of The Beatles is a commentary on George Martin's ability. While the formula for Beatlemania was being sampled on the continent, America's first exposure to The Beatles came in short bursts from small record companies unable to marshal the promotional kickoff needed to properly introduce the young singers to America. That's when Capitol Records decided to take over distribution and planned a full-scale, coast-to-coast masterplan, and The Beatles then had the winning combination to meet America...