This year is rapidly turning into the year that we say goodbye to some of music's biggest legends, with the latest to go being 'Fifth Beatle' and record producer Sir George Martin who passed away at his home at the age of 90 yesterday (March 8th 2016).

George MartinRIP George Martin

The news seems to have been first announced by Beatles drummer Ringo Starr via Twitter, as he posted to his followers: 'God bless George Martin peace and love to Judy and his family love Ringo and Barbara. George will be missed.'

Later, Martin's management company C A Management confirmed the sad announcement in a statement. 'We can confirm that Sir George Martin passed away peacefully at home yesterday evening, Tuesday March 8th. The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and messages of support', it read. 'The family ask that their privacy be respected at this time.'

While Martin was commonly referred to as the 'fifth Beatle', he was not a member of the band per se. However, his extensive involvement in their album production as part of EMI's Parlophone label was undeniable, so much so that he is largely thought to have been the creator of The Beatles, signing them even when they'd been rejected before. He won a number of Grammys and other awards for his contributions, and was finally knighted at Buckingham Palace in 1996.

More: 'Come Together' becomes the most popular Beatles song on Spotify

Following Martin's death, there has been a huge outpouring of tributes from friends and fellow musicians on social media. 'R.I.P. George Martin. I'm so gutted I don't have many words. Thinking of Judy and Giles and family. Love Always, Sean', Sean Ono Lennon, the son of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, said on Instagram. 

There has also been much confusion from 'Game Of Thrones' fans, many of whom misunderstand the headlines and believed that it was their beloved author George RR Martin who had died. We can confirm categorically that the writer is alive and well.