Legendary record company damaged in fire
A strong fire swept through the Broad Street offices of
Philadelphia International Records today, causing extensive damage to the celebrated
music company where
Chubby Checker recorded “The Twist,” and where songwriters Kenny Gamble and
Leon Huff developed their soulful Philadelphia sound.
Investigators, who arrived on the scene four minutes after the 7:28 a.m. alarm, were working yesterday to determine the cause of the blaze. They immediately escorted an unidentified man from the three-story building on the corner of Spruce Street, across from the
Kimmel Center.
He was taken to
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital with minor injuries, and was being questioned, said
Battalion Chief Derrick Sawyer. He would only describe the man as “an adult male.”
The fire began on the third floor, in Philadelphia International's main offices, where dozens of its
gold albums adorn the walls. Sawyer said that firefighters made a special effort to
save the memorabilia, even as they cut through the roof to attack the spreading flames.
