Beatles engineer Norman Smith dead at 85

LONDON, March 7 (UPI) -- Norman Smith, the British recording engineer who helped create The Beatles' early sound, has died at the age of 85.

The BBC said the man nicknamed "Normal Norman" worked on every studio recording The Beatles made between 1962 and 1965, as well as produced Pink Floyd's early albums and also recorded several popular singles himself under the name Hurricane Smith.

His record label EMI called Smith "a legendary figure in the history of EMI and British music."

"We were very saddened to hear of his passing away, and our thoughts and condolences go out to his family at this time," the label said in a statement.