Martin Sandberg, known professionally as Max Martin, is a Swedish music producer and songwriter. He rose to prominence in the mid-1990s after crafting a string of major hits for artists such as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears and 'N Sync. Some of his earlier hits include "I Want It That Way", "...Baby One More Time" and "It's My Life". His trademark during the second half of the 1990s and the early 2000s was a danceable, keyboard-laden pop sound that blended music styles such as funk, heavy metal and europop. However, with Kelly Clarkson's songs "Since U Been Gone" and "Behind These Hazel Eyes", Martin stepped back into the spotlight after reinventing himself with a heavier, rock-tinged sound. Since 1999, he has written and co-written 18 Billboard number-one hits, including "So What" by Pink; "I Kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry, Hold It Against Me" by Britney Spears"; and "One More Night" by Maroon 5. He has written 58 top ten hits in the UK and 51 in USA. 

February 26th, 1971 in Stockholm (Age 53)