The Birthplace of EMI
![The Birthplace of EMI](https://www.shadyoldlady.com/uploadi/photos/music/3170.jpg)
The birthplace of Britains music industry.
Location: 31 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, WC2E 7JS
Description: Maiden Lane Recording Studios - the basement studio here was the UK's first recording studio - and was opened in 1898 by The Gramophone Company.
Engineer Fred Gaisberg made some important pioneering early recordings here. Indeed, opera singers and music hall artists (the pop stars of the Victorian era) were recorded for the mass enjoyment of the whole nation. The studio used incredibly primitive technology including a long trumpet-shaped horn Amy Williams on the piano - she was the Recording Department secretary and also accompanied the vocalists.
The company was run by a handful of early recording pioneers with big dreams and limited resources. In 1931, the Gramophone Company changed its name to EMI and opened a new extraordinarily successful studio at Abbey Road. EMI became a global giant, with acts from Pink Floyd to The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Janet Jackson and Kylie Minogue.
A green plaque from Westminster Council was unveiled here by Roger Taylor from Queen on Wednesday 4th December 2019.
![Music Theme](http://www.shadyoldlady.com/images/icons/music.gif)
The birthplace of Britains music industry. |
Ranking This Month: 2738/3067
Pages Hit This Month: 33
Your Comments:
Other places nearby:
The J60 Music Bar», 7.7km
A fabulous Live Music location», 3.3km
Classic Pop Tunes Born Here», 1.2km
The Tower House», 3.5km
Regent Sound», 0.4km
Yes were born here!», 4.3km
Madame Goldschmidt lived here», 3.1km
King's College Wimbledon Rocks», 7.5km
Studio 51 and the Stones», 0.2km
The Butcher Sessions», 2.8km
Location Pinpointed:
Open Street Maps», Google Maps»