Limited Edition of Autographed "Yesterday" Scores to Raise Funds for Montserrat
By Bob Hieronimus, Ph. D.

Sir George Martin did not receive his knighthood simply for serving in the legitimate capacity of “the Fifth Beatle” or for producing all the Beatles hits. Almost as legendary are Sir George’s generous spirit and philanthropic nature. After the volcanic explosions of 1995 completely destroyed Martin’s home on Montserrat, along with over half of the rest of the island, he has been working ceaselessly to bring comfort and aid to the surviving community. In 1997 the world rallied to his cause of assisting the volcano-devastated island of Montserrat where Sir George’s AIR studios once recorded such luminaries as Paul McCartney, Sting, Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton by producing a “rock royalty” concert at the Royal Albert Hall featuring all these and many more. Hieronimus & Co. assisted with donations and by organizing a simultaneous memorabilia sale and fundraiser at our local Baltimore Hard Rock Cafe.

When we heard another fundraiser was being planned we asked Sir George for the details, and he supplied the following news which will excite all Beatlefans. Sir George Martin wrote the introduction to my book about the making of the film, The Beatles Yellow Submarine, which will be published by Krause Publications early next year. For more information on the Yellow Submarine book, please visit

http://www.21stCenturyRadio.com/yellowsubmarine.html

Dear Bob & Zoh,

“Thank you for your fax. You are kind to think of our fund raising efforts for Montserrat; I am sure you have done enough as it is. To raise the remainder needed to complete the Cultural Center which will be the focal point of the new town, I have cooked up a special scheme which I would like you to know about. I have organised an internet auction which takes place on June 14th 2001, in which Yahoo have collaborated and I persuaded Paul McCartney to work with me on the project.

“Quite simply, I have arranged to have a limited edition of 490 perfect reproductions made of the original score that I wrote for string quartet for “Yesterday” framed by the fine British designer Viscount David Linley (he is Princess Margaret's son, but don't hold that against him!) The result is a stunning objet d'art. Paul and I have signed them all again recently as authentication, and the number one score is to be auctioned first, beginning 14th June, which you probably know will be the 36th anniversary of the recording. Bids are assessed for a two week period, at the end of which the highest bid receives this special piece of memorabilia. A few days later we have the same process, but this time the remaining 489 copies are put up for sale and after another two weeks the top 489 bids win the last of the series. That's it folks! No more. It is a one-off. I hope and expect that we will raise a million dollars, and I have set up a special foundation for it.

“It happily runs along with the issue on July 3rd of retrospective collection of CDs of my productions over the past fifty years. Rather a bizarre lot as it includes a vast variety of works - over 150 titles ranging from classical folk, jazz and pop recordings, comedy, spoken word and even children's stuff. It is lovely for me, but I am not sure who will buy the six-pack set. Nevertheless, EMI are setting up a special web site for it and expect it to sell.

“God Bless! George”

© Bob Hieronimus, Ph.D., 2001

Hieronimus & Co., Inc., P.O. Box 648, Owings Mills, MD 21117 USA
Voice Mail: (410) 356-4852 Fax: (410) 356-6229