Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi has died at age 87

http://www.factmag.com/2017/04/01/roland-founder-ikutaro-kakehashi-died-age-87/

His contributions to the evolution of music were endless. Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland and mind behind the TR-808 and TB-303, has died at the age of 87. Roland has not yet issued a statement on his death, but Roland developer Tommy Snyder, among others, have confirmed, Synthtopia reports. Synder shared on Facebook: “Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland, father of the TR-909,TR-808, Godfather of MIDI, and someone who I have collaborated with for 38 years, and also considered him as my 2nd father, passed away at the age of 87. He was a super funny, wonderful and gifted human being, and his contributions to the musical instrument world , and music, touched millions of people worldwide. RIP dear Taro.” Kakehashi was awarded a Technical Grammy in 2013 for his contributions to the invention of the MIDI. An author of a handful of books, Kakehashi released his most recent, An Age Without Samples: Originality and Creativity in the Digital World this past January. Listen to FACT-curated playlists highlighting Roland’s TB-303, TR-808 and TR-909.

his funeral was in the ancient japanese style but instead of the traditional sounds a shinto buddhist monk played a tape recording of a squidge and an 808 cowbell alternating back and forth in some kinda call and response

RIP

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-pAZ00l3HgU

his hero/spirit animal was the fluorescent adolescent

ahaha didn't know about this one

icky taro potatop kek hahahahashi has deathmort at age 69

a life well lived

Thread should have been in the main Music Discussion forum really + hardly any responses at all ?

So many records, scenes & careers launched off the back of those machines.

RIP Ikutaro san.

actually his spirit animal was hamtaro