beatles, john lennon
Source: New York Daily News and Vincent/Getty

A close friend and former road manager of the Beatles, Neil Aspinall, has died today. Aspinall was so close thathe was sometimes referred to as the fifth member of The Beatles. Aspinall died of lung cancer in New York. Hewas 66.

After going to school in Liverpool with both Paul McCartney and George Harrison, Aspinall became a road manager and personal assistant for the Beatles. He is said to have been a longtime friend, confidant and overseer of The Beatles' business empire, Apple Corps Ltd., for 40 years. Aspinall was the behind the scenes man for The Beatles. He sang back up vocals as part of the chorus in the 1966 hit "Yellow Submarine". Working with the Beatles also lead to meeting his wife. Aspinall met his wife Suzy Ornstein during the making of The Beatles movie "A Hard Day's Night".

"All his friends and loved ones will greatly miss him, but will always retain the fondest memories of a great man,"McCartney, Ringo Starr and the widows of John Lennon and Harrison said in a statement released by Aspinall's family.