after Pvt Mullin "liberated" a Radio Berlin Magnetophon recorder in 1945, it was Ampex who back engineered it into the magnetic tape recorder using a variation of 3M recording tape. It was the Bingster who first recorded on these machines. It has been said that Bing didn't care for the drive into Hollywood every evening for the live show and for him this new tech absolutely changed his career.
I've heard that as well. AN icon in many respects, including the "recording" part of the recording industry.