Amplifier maker Jim Marshall dies at 88

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Jim Marshall, who was known as ‘The Father of Loud’ for designing the amplifiers that became ubiquitous in the rock world, has died at 88.

‘It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved founder and leader for the past 50 years, Jim Marshall,’ reads a notice on Marshall Amplification’s website. ‘While mourning the Guv’nor though, we also salute a legendary man who led a full and truly remarkable life.’

Marshall died in a London hospice Thursday morning, his family told the Associated Press. He had cancer and had suffered a series of strokes, according to his son, Terry Marshall.

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“My wife and I were with him when he passed away,” Terry Marshall told the AP. “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.”

Based in England, Jim Marshall said he created his first amp in 1960. The equipment found popularity with performers such as Pete Townshend of The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, who used stacks of Marshall amps to create their hard rock sounds.

On Thursday morning, rock musicians turned to Twitter to express their condolences.

‘Sad to hear we have lost dear friend & innovator Jim Marshall,’ wrote Peter Frampton on his Twitter account. ‘Condolences to Paul & Marshall fam. One of a kind & I will miss him. RIP Jim.’

‘R.I.P. Jim Marshall,’ tweeted Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue. ‘You were responsible for some of the greatest audio moments in music’s history and 50% of all our hearing loss......’

The company statement captures the spirit of Marshall’s contribution to music, saying, ‘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!’

A full obituary will be posted on latimes.com/obits.

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