It was the day the music died. Veteran shipping banker and executive Hamish Norton has said goodbye to his five-level townhouse on East 37th Street in the Murray Hill section of Manhattan.

Many readers may know Norton as the former investment banker at Lazard Freres, Bear Stearns and Jefferies, who is now a key manager for Greek shipowner Petros Pappas.

But a lucky few people know him as the gracious host for nearly 20 years of live classical performances that married musicians’ need to practise programmes in an acoustically perfect setting — his place — with friends appreciating their craft.

Norton