A fire that damaged Philly's most famous music recording studio is "suspicious," according to The Daily News.
Thank goodness the master tapes are not kept on site -- they're in a vault outside the city.
"It's a shocker that someone might want to do this purposefully," said Chuck Gamble, especially "given what the Sound of Philadelphia means not only to people in this city, but around the world."
Philadelphia International Records caught fire Sunday morning.
It's the place where the famous team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff worked with legendary singers like Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, the O'Jays, Billy Paul and many more, producing and recording the music that's now known as The Sound of Philadelphia.
The fire department was on the scene in four minutes, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and rolled up to find one guy hanging out of Chuck Gamble's office window on the third floor.
They rescued him with a ladder. He was questioned, treated for minor injuries and released "for now" according to fire officials.
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Chuck Gamble, Kenny's nephew and the executive vice president of the company, said he also heard other folks were seen running from the building.
The recording studio is on Broad and Spruce Streets, across from the Kimmel Center. Fire crews knew when they were on the scene the historical significance of the building on fire.
"We tried to keep water damage to a minimum, but you have to get the fire out," said Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers.
Chuck Gamble was hoping to get inside sometime Monday to assess the damage, which was contained primarily to the third floor.
