Terry Marshall is a British saxophonist, businessman and co-founder of Marshall Amplification, the world-famous company whose amplifiers helped shape the sound of modern rock music.
The son of legendary drummer and businessman Jim Marshall, Terry began earning money as a musician at the age of 14 and became a professional saxophonist at 16. Inspired by performers including Count Basie and Little Richard, he developed a lifelong passion for jazz, blues and live music.
In July 1960, Terry joined his parents, Jim and Violet Marshall, in opening the family music shop Jim Marshall and Son at 76 Uxbridge Road in Hanwell, London. The business was renamed J & T Marshall in 1962, representing Jim and Terry Marshall.
The shop became a meeting place for many of the young musicians who were helping to create Britain’s emerging rock and rhythm and blues scene. By listening to the needs of players seeking a louder and more powerful guitar sound, Terry and his father helped create the first Marshall amplifier in 1962.
The resulting JTM45 laid the foundations for the unmistakable Marshall sound. The company’s amplifiers and famous Marshall stacks would become closely associated with generations of influential musicians, including Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend and countless other major performers.
Although his work with Marshall Amplification became an important part of his life, Terry never lost his love of performing. He continued to work as a saxophonist and remained a passionate supporter of live music and the musicians who create it.
In 2024, Terry released his debut album, Living the Blues, through Marshall Records. Recorded with an outstanding collection of British blues musicians, the album features eleven blues classics and celebrates Terry’s lifelong devotion to performance, collaboration and traditional live musicianship.
Terry and his wife, Lesley, have also been generous supporters of grassroots music. In 2025, they pledged £100,000 to the Music Venue Trust’s Own Our Venues campaign, helping to protect independent venues and ensure that future generations of performers have places in which to develop their talents.
Through his contribution to Marshall Amplification and his enduring career as a musician, Terry has played an important part in British music history. His work has helped support the sound, careers and performances of musicians throughout the world.
Terry Marshall is a proud member of the Grand Order of Water Rats and is Water Rat number 858. He has also served the Order as Trap Guard.
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