R.I.P Ikutaro Kakehashi

We were sad to hear this morning that founder of Roland Corporation Ikutaro Kakehashi, has passed away aged 87. Ikutaro Kakehashi was an early pioneer of electronic musical instruments, attributed for the iconic Roland TR-808 and TR-909.

 

Kakehashi received a technical Grammy award in 2013 due to his contribution in developing the MIDI protocol, and also recieved an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in 1991. Ikutaro Kakehashi has left behind a company that still remains at the forefront of music production equipment and electronic musical instruments, since they formed in 1972.