RIP JIM MARSHALL Aged 88
Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:41 am
God bless you Jim
1923 - 2012
Dr Jim Marshall OBE, founder of Marshall Amplification, has died aged 88.
Since the company was founded 50 years ago, Marshall has become one of the most recognisable and iconic names in rock guitar, with the company's unmistakable livery gracing stages across the globe.
Jim Marshall started out as a drum kit retailer but began building amplifiers in the early 1960s, setting out to create a new valve guitar amplifier, using the Fender Bassman circuit as a model. With the sixth prototype, he hit upon 'the Marshall sound'. The rest is history.
By the late '60s, rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix could be seen playing against a backdrop of Marshall stacks. The mid-'70s saw the launch of the first master volume Marshalls and in 1982, the company introduced its now-classic JCM800 model.
Marshall was awarded The Queen's Award For Export in 1984, while 2012 sees the company celebrating 50 years in the business.
Jim Marshall will be remembered alongside the likes of Leo Fender and Les Paul as one of the founding fathers of the modern electric guitar sound and indeed the sound of rock music itself.
In an obituary posted on the company's website, Marshall Amps note: "in addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes."
It goes without saying that our thoughts are with Jim's family, friends and colleagues.
There has been an official announcement posted on Jim’s website, which can be read below:
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.
Jim’s ascent into the history books as ‘the Father of Loud’ and the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock’ is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tubercular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also includes the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock.
In addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes.
While the entire Marshall Amplification family mourns Jim’s passing and will miss him tremendously, we all feel richer for having known him and are happy in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place which has just got a whole lot louder!
Rest in Peace & thank you Jim.
Your memory; the music and joy your amps have brought to countless millions for the past five decades; and that world-famous, omnipresent script logo that proudly bears your name will always live on.
Anyone who would like more information on Jim Marshall can visit his personal website at http://www.jimmarshall.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, an online condolence book will be open there soon for those wanting to leave notes for his family. Anyone wishing to know more about Marshall Amps the official Marshall Amps website is http://www.marshallamps.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The music world owes a huge debt to Jim Marshall so let’s all contribute towards giving him a proper, fitting sendoff.
1923 - 2012
Dr Jim Marshall OBE, founder of Marshall Amplification, has died aged 88.
Since the company was founded 50 years ago, Marshall has become one of the most recognisable and iconic names in rock guitar, with the company's unmistakable livery gracing stages across the globe.
Jim Marshall started out as a drum kit retailer but began building amplifiers in the early 1960s, setting out to create a new valve guitar amplifier, using the Fender Bassman circuit as a model. With the sixth prototype, he hit upon 'the Marshall sound'. The rest is history.
By the late '60s, rock artists such as Jimi Hendrix could be seen playing against a backdrop of Marshall stacks. The mid-'70s saw the launch of the first master volume Marshalls and in 1982, the company introduced its now-classic JCM800 model.
Marshall was awarded The Queen's Award For Export in 1984, while 2012 sees the company celebrating 50 years in the business.
Jim Marshall will be remembered alongside the likes of Leo Fender and Les Paul as one of the founding fathers of the modern electric guitar sound and indeed the sound of rock music itself.
In an obituary posted on the company's website, Marshall Amps note: "in addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes."
It goes without saying that our thoughts are with Jim's family, friends and colleagues.
There has been an official announcement posted on Jim’s website, which can be read below:
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall. While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.
Jim’s ascent into the history books as ‘the Father of Loud’ and the man responsible for ‘the Sound of Rock’ is a true rags-to-riches tale. Cruelly robbed of his youth by tubercular bones, Jim rose to become one of the four forefathers responsible for creating the tools that allowed rock guitar as we know and love it today to be born. The ground breaking quartet also includes the late, great trio of Leo Fender, Les Paul and Seth Lover – together with Jim, they truly are the cornerstones of all things rock.
In addition to the creation of the amps chosen by countless guitar heroes and game changing bands, Jim was also an incredibly humble and generous man who, over the past several decades, has quietly donated many millions of pounds to worthy causes.
While the entire Marshall Amplification family mourns Jim’s passing and will miss him tremendously, we all feel richer for having known him and are happy in the knowledge that he is now in a much better place which has just got a whole lot louder!
Rest in Peace & thank you Jim.
Your memory; the music and joy your amps have brought to countless millions for the past five decades; and that world-famous, omnipresent script logo that proudly bears your name will always live on.
Anyone who would like more information on Jim Marshall can visit his personal website at http://www.jimmarshall.co.uk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, an online condolence book will be open there soon for those wanting to leave notes for his family. Anyone wishing to know more about Marshall Amps the official Marshall Amps website is http://www.marshallamps.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. The music world owes a huge debt to Jim Marshall so let’s all contribute towards giving him a proper, fitting sendoff.
