| On May 1st and 2nd, torrential rains caused | | | | In 1952, designed by guitarist Les Paul, the first |
| severe flooding in the Nashville, Tennessee area. | | | | solid body was introduced. In 1969, it was bought |
| One business that was impacted was the Gibson | | | | by Norlin, Inc. Between 1974 and 1984, production |
| Guitar plant. Gibson is a leader in musical | | | | was moved to Nashville with the Michigan plant |
| instrument manufacturing and music technology. | | | | closing in 1984. This change caused many |
| The lower levels of the plant were completely | | | | problems including inexperienced Southern |
| flooded. Many famous musical artists instruments | | | | employees and climate control because of high |
| were destroyed. Some were saved by Gibsons' | | | | humidity. The company was bought by private |
| Guitar Repair and Restoration facility. Through the | | | | investors before being driven out of business by |
| hard work of many people, the plant was | | | | these problems. Under new ownership, the |
| reconditioned and ready to start producing again in | | | | company has prospered and increased market |
| July. | | | | share and sales to the present. |
| The company was founded in 1804 by Orville | | | | Gibson is the largest manufacturer of acoustic and |
| Gibson in Kalamazoo, Michigan making mandolins. | | | | electric guitars in the United States. Besides |
| After Orvilles' death in 1919, the company | | | | Gibson, it markets its guitar under the Epiphone, |
| continued to make mandolins and archtop guitars. | | | | Kramer, Valley Arts, Tobias, Steinberger and |
| In 1935, it introduced the first electric guitar. In | | | | Kalamazoo brands among others. It also makes |
| 1944, Gibson was purchased by Chicago Musical | | | | pianos under the Baldwin brand. Through research |
| Instruments but the factory remained | | | | and innovation, it continues to be one of the |
| independent. | | | | worlds leading guitar manufacturers. |