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Demolition Day For Iconic Philadelphia Building

By John McDevitt

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia International Records building in Center City will soon be no more. But while the building at Broad and Spruce Streets may be gone, the music lives on.

Operators of cranes were taking the three story building down piece  by piece Saturday.

The building served as the longtime home of Gamble and Huff, Teddy Pendergrass , Chubby Checker, Pattie Labelle and many more.

Chuck Gamble -- the executive vice president of Philadelphia International Records and Gamble-Huff music -- was watching the demolition:

"The music doesn't die, of course, its one of the most sampled R&B catalogs in the world. We are in many movies a year, but a lot of history came out of here when we think about all of these various artists, producers and writers. A lot of people's careers started from here."

tsop chuck gamble
executive vice president of Philadelphia International Records Chuck Gamble looks on. (Credit: John McDevitt)

The building was never the same after a 2010 arson fire.

A 47-story hotel and luxury condominium will go up in its place.

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