Longtime Beatles producer George Martin was the head of Parlophone Records -  a division of EMI based in London which specialized in comedy records. George  agreed to an audition with Brian Epstein after the Beatles had been rejected  from Decca and several other labels.  
George Martin is responsible for the firing of original drummer Pete Best,  whom he described as "not good".  
After cutting "Please Please Me", Martin told the band that they had just  recorded their first number one. He was right - the song was a huge hit in  England.  
Martin was also responsible for writing the string and orchestral  arrangements to many Beatles songs - notable "I Am The Walrus" and "Strawberry Fields Forever".  
Recently, George Martin was knighted by the Queen of England. He worked  extensively on the Live At The  BBC and Anthology projects.