Some tragic news in the world of guitar today; Jim Marshall, the founder of Marshall Amplifications and one of the most important figures to have ever contributed to the music industry has passed away in a hospice at the age of 88. A statement posted on the Marshall website can be read below.
After being diagnosed with cancer late last year Marshall’s health had quickly declined. The legendary innovator was crippled by a series of strokes, some of which were very severe. Marshall’s son, Terry says he is relieved his fathers pain is over. “My wife and I were with him when he passed away,” he said. “He got cancer toward the end of last year, and had surgery for that, and it came back. He was in a terrible state the last five or six weeks. He’s in a much better place now.”
The official statement reads as follows: “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!
“Thank you for everything Jim, Rest in Peace.”