Jim Marshall Biography

James (Jim) Marshall, known as The Father Of Loud, was a pioneer of guitar amplification and continues to produce amplifiers with an iconic status.

From 1960, Marshall owned a moderately successful music store in Hendon and was known to supplement this income by teaching drums. His many guitar playing customers (including Ritchie Blackmore, Jim Sullivan and Pete Townshend) spoke of the need for a particular kind of amplifier and Marshall saw the opportunity. He recruited an 18-year-old electronics apprentice, Dudley Craven, who was previously working for EMI and, with his help, began producing prototype amplifiers, resulting in the foundation of Marshall Amplification, in 1962.