The Brill Building, 1935.

The Brill Building is a landmark structure that was developed in 1930-31 by Abraham E. Lefcourt. When Lefcourt first leased the land from the Brill Brothers, he planned to erect the world's tallest building on the site, which he would then name after his son, Alan. When Lefcourt failed to meet the terms of their agreement, the Brills foreclosed on the property and changed the name of the near-complete building from the Alan E. Lefcourt Building to the Brill Building.

Since its construction, the Brill Building has been synonymous with American music. From the last days of Tin Pan Ally to the emergence of rock and roll, it has been home to a number of remarkable tenants in the music industry. Many big-name performers have leased office space in the building, including Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole. At its height in the '60s, more than 160 tenants were involved in the music industry, giving the Brill Building a genre of its own: "The Brill Building Sound."