Roland founder and digital music pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi passes away

Japanese engineer, Roland founder and pioneer of digital music Ikutaro Kakehashi passed away in Japan. He was 87. He was best known for founding Roland Corporation in 1972 as well as his roles in the development of Roland drum machines and MIDI standard (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). He also had invented a series of drum machines and synthesisers such as the TR-808, TR-909 and TB-303 that were used by some of music’s biggest legends such as Prince, Kanye West, New Order, Dr Dre etc. since the mid-1970s. MIDI is a technical standard that describes a protocol, digital interface and connectors. It allows a wide variety of electronic musical instruments, computers and other related devices to connect and communicate with one another.

Month: Current Affairs - April, 2017