Fire damaged the gold and platinum records of Philadelphia International's personal inventory of CDs by Michael Jackson and the Jacksons, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls and Patti LaBelle. The building primarily serves as the licensing arm of Philadelphia International Records, which hosts tour groups and offers a small gift shop. An art store also occupies space on the ground floor.
Christopher Cimini, 27, has been charged with the arson-he had been using a lighter to see inside the building. The blaze ruined 40 percent of the company's memorabilia, though the recording studio was largely spared. Police said that when they rescued Cimini, he seemed to "extremely intoxicated."
Like Berry Gordy's Motown in Detroit, Philadelphia International, the record label founded in the early '70s by Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff (pictured above, with Huff on right), built their enterprise of talent-from the swooning crooning of Pendergrass to the shrieking and floor-rolling performances of LaBelle-from the ground up, crowning their label as the "Sound of Philadelphia."
Gamble and Huff had the Midas Touch, finding, nurturing and sharing the talents of artists like MFSB, Jean Carne, Michael Jackson, Phyllis Hyman, The O'Jays and Billy Paul for the world.
Gamble was quoted in the AP saying, "When I walked through it the other day, it was like an old friend had died."
Gamble's partner, Huff, said, "We'll bounce back. We wrote the song - 'Only the Strong Survive.'"
Comments: (2)
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By: bookman on 2/26/2010 11:04AM
the precious art that came through that enterprise provided the soundtrack to the lives of generations. that's when music was MUSIC!
a shame that some drunken fool could do something like this. our kids should study philadelphia international, as well as motown, to see the bluprint that russell simmons, sean puffy puff daddy p-diddy diddy combs and the other modern musical entrepreneurs followed.
and, not to hate, but harris, baker and young were the true geniuses behind the philadelphia sound. they made those songs that gamble and huff wrote, taking them from good to GREAT with their artistry, precision and funk! bookman's out!!!!
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By: Millie on 2/28/2010 7:49PM
This is such a shame. The poor fool/drunk probably don't even remember entering the building.
The Sound of Philadelphia represented creativity that today's music is sorely lacking. Back then people didn't always have to hear a sample, but went out and bought a single/album because of the reputation of the record company and the God given talent of the artist. That young'n destroyed a part of our history; he has no idea what he's really done.
My hometown is not far from Philly and I didn't even know there were tours of the studio. Had I known, I would've visited with my children. When I visit the east coast this summer, hopefully the studio will be up and running for tours.
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