Jim Marshall (businessman) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jim Marshall
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Marshall in 2007
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| Born |
James Charles Marshall
29 July 1923 London, England
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| Died | 5 April 2012 (aged 88) Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
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| Other names |
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Employer | Marshall Amplification |
| Known for | Pioneering guitar amplification |
James Charles Marshall (born July 29, 1923 – died April 5, 2012) was an English businessman. He was known as The Father of Loud or The Lord of Loud. Jim Marshall helped create modern guitar amplifiers. His company, Marshall Amplification, started in 1962. It makes famous amplifiers used by many rock musicians.
The Times newspaper called Marshall a "charismatic amplifier innovator". He received an OBE award from Buckingham Palace in 2003. This was for his work in music and for charity. In 2009, he was honored by the town of Milton Keynes for helping his community.
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Jim Marshall's Early Life
Jim Marshall was born in Acton, West London, in 1923. His family had boxers and music hall performers. As a child, he had a bone disease called tuberculosis. He spent many years in the hospital because of this. This meant he missed a lot of school.
During World War II, he could not join the army due to his health. He started as a singer and then became a drummer. There were not many musicians available then. He also worked as an electrical engineer. He built his own sound system so his singing could be heard over his drums.
Marshall once said, "I made 10 shillings (£0.50) a night. It was wartime, so we had no petrol for cars. I rode my bicycle with a trailer to carry my drum kit and the PA cabinets I made!"
From 1946 to 1948, Marshall took drum lessons. He wanted to play like his hero, Gene Krupa. In the 1950s, Marshall became a part of the English music scene. He taught drums to many students. Some of his students became famous drummers. These included Mitch Mitchell from The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Marshall saved money from teaching and playing music. This money helped him start his own business.
Starting Marshall Amplification
From 1960, Jim Marshall owned a music store in Hanwell, West London. He first sold drums and then started selling guitars. Many guitar players came to his store. They included Ritchie Blackmore and Pete Townshend. They all wanted a special kind of amplifier. Pete Townshend wanted something "bigger and louder."
Marshall saw this as a chance to create something new. He started Marshall Amplification in 1962. His assistants were Dudley Craven and Ken Bran. They used a Fender Bassman amplifier as a starting point. It took them six tries to build an amp that Jim Marshall liked. This amp was called the Marshall JTM 45. Pete Townshend of The Who band called it "the Marshall sound." This sound changed music forever.
As his company grew, Marshall made more products. He created Master Volume Marshall amps. In 1981, he introduced the classic Marshall JCM800 amps. Soon after he started, famous musicians used his equipment. These included Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page.
The "Marshall stack" became very famous. It was a tall wall of black amplifiers stacked on top of each other. It showed the power and excitement of rock music. A Marshall amp was even in the movie This Is Spinal Tap. In the movie, guitarist Nigel Tufnel said his amp's volume knob went to "11." Jim Marshall then made amps that could go up to 20!
Awards and Special Honors
In 1984, Marshall Amplification won the "Queen's Award for Export." Queen Elizabeth II gave this award for the company's great success in selling products to other countries. In 1985, Jim Marshall went to Hollywood. He put his hand prints on the "Rock and Roll Walk of Fame."
In 2003, he received an OBE honor. This was for his help to the music industry and to charities. On March 19, 2009, he was honored by the Milton Keynes community. Marshall was also a member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a group that helps charities.
Helping Others: Jim Marshall's Charity Work
Jim Marshall gave millions of pounds to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. This hospital is in Stanmore, London. It was where he was treated for tuberculosis as a child. Marshall also supported many causes in his local area of Milton Keynes.
He helped the Marshall Milton Keynes Athletic Club. He also supported Willen Hospice, a place that cares for sick people. He was a big supporter of the MK Dons football club. Marshall Amplification was one of the first companies to sponsor the team's shirts.
The 400-seat Jim Marshall Auditorium is at The Stables Theatre in Milton Keynes. It is named after him. This shows his friendship with the theatre's founders, Sir John Dankworth and Dame Cleo Laine.
Jim Marshall's Legacy
Jim Marshall passed away on April 5, 2012. He was 88 years old. Many musicians shared their sadness. These included Paul McCartney, Slash, and Dave Mustaine. Marshall is seen as one of the four most important people in rock music equipment. The others are Leo Fender, Les Paul, and Seth Lover. The Download Festival even named its main stage after him in 2012.
Every year on April 5, guitarists around the world pay tribute to Jim Marshall. They post videos with one minute of feedback instead of one minute of silence.
On April 6, 2013, musicians and fans held a music festival in Hanwell, West London. This was the town where Jim Marshall sold his first amplifier. A special plaque was put up near the spot.
See also
In Spanish: Jim Marshall para niños
