Facing the Music

The Rushworth name has been synonymous with music in Liverpool and beyond for over a century. Founded in 1840, the company was owned andmanaged by the family for five successive generations. Originally manufacturers of pipe organs, the business branched out into piano restoration and retail of musical instruments, famously supplying guitars to the Beatles. Rushworths also organised concerts, festivals and competitions within the Liverpool community, and built up a fine permanent collection of antique instruments. The family was passionate about music and its spreadthroughout the city and beyond. The story is told by the great-great-grandson of the founder, crucially placing Rushworths amidst the wide sweep of Liverpool's history, and its developing and vibrant music culture.