The EMI Archive Trust thanks the men and women based at the EMI Factory and Hayes, whose contribution was essential to the British War effort, in both civilian and military roles. Photographs: EMI Home Guard, C-Coy. 17th Btn. N.F. Team April 1944Speech: Winston Churchill – War of the Unknown Warrior – Broadcast July 14 1940… Read more »
‘Nipper Runs Amok’ By David Hughes MBE – Trustee of EMI Archive Trust. Archives and secrets go together, and the EMI archive is no exception. Archives are not visitor attractions; they are not laid out beautifully in lovely display cabinets. The key words are preservation and safety. Initially, presumably, for good business practice, The Gramophone… Read more »
In honour of all those who lost their lives in the First World War. • Recording: Gas shell bombardment • Royal Garrison Artillery • Record: HMV 09308 • Company: The Gramophone Company • Location: Lille, near France • Date of recording: 9th October 1918 • Recorded by: William Gaisberg • Type of disc: 12-inch single… Read more »
Gauhar Jaan – The Datia Incident is a historical re-imagining of a key part in the remarkable story of India’s first recording artist. It follows young American recording engineer Fred Gaisberg (Jordon Kemp) journey to India to record Gauhar Jaan (Sheetal Kapoor) acclaimed voice for the British Gramophone Company. On his journey, he is told… Read more »
Throughout April, the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham will be hosting a play and exhibition revolving around the remarkable story of India’s first recording artist, supported by The EMI Archive Trust, The British Library and The Arts Council England. Mukul & Ghetto Tigers, an East London theatre company present Gauhar Jaan – The Datia Incident. A tale interwoven with… Read more »
LONDON, February 8, 2018 – Universal Music is proud to announce that pioneering EMI engineer Alan Dower Blumlein’s ground-breaking invention of stereo sound is being celebrated as part of a major campaign launched by the UK government, marking the 400th anniversary of the grant of British patent number one. The campaign, titled ‘GREAT for Imagination’,… Read more »
Christabel Pankhurst, a leading Suffragette, was one of the primary strategists of the campaign for women’s right to vote in the first decades of the twentieth century. Christabel was jailed in 1907 and 1909 and was dubbed the ‘Queen of the Mob’ by the media, as described in this contemporary press release. Miss Christabel Pankhurst… Read more »
Our very hard working chair of the EMI Archive Trust is the highly regarded and experienced music industry executive Ms Caryn Tomlinson who balances ensuring the Trust continues its excellent work with her day job as senior vice president, Communications at Universal Music, the Trust’s corporate patron. Caryn’s passion for and dedication to the Trust… Read more »
The heirs of prolific 20th century British inventor, Alan Dower Blumlein, gathered in the Stranger’s Dining Room at the House of Commons on Monday October 23, 2017 to celebrate his posthumous Grammy for the invention of stereo recording. The innovative brain behind airborne radar, stereo recording and the television camera, Blumlein lost his life in… Read more »
My Grandfather, the genius electronics engineer and inventor Alan Dower Blumlein was born on this day, June 29th, 1903. Employed by EMI at the Hayes R&D facility for most of his working life, he filed 128 patents in the field of telecommunications, stereo sound, television and H2S airborne radar. Sadly, his life was cut tragically… Read more »