Earlier this month, Ikutaro Kakehashi, the founder of Roland Corporation passed away. While his passing has been unfortunate, we’ll be taking a look at the products that Kakehashi helped create and shape the way we create music today.


Born in Japan, Kakehashi spent his earlier life-fighting tuberculosis and spare time fixing electronics around the hospital while he was confined to for treatment. After making his recovery, he shortly thereafter opened his own electronic shop and founded the first incarnation of his future electronic businesses, Ace Electrical Industries (AEI). AEI became the creative outlet to test and build his later innovative products that featured his contributions such as the theremin/Moog inspired products, Technics SX601 (organ), Wurlitzer Sideman (Using tape loops, this self-contained device allowed users to play 12 predetermined drum patterns at varying tempos, electronically generated drum sounds without the use of a present drummer). But what would come next, would be a game-changer for the music industry.


By 1972, Kakehashi cut ties from his previous company AEI, and launched what we know today as Roland to regain control over his company and creative control over development. While he couldn’t compete with mega music manufacturers like Yamaha and Kawai, he turned his primary focus to an overlooked area which was “Rhythm Machines”. Releasing notable products such as the TR-77, TR-55, and TR-33, it was the Roland TR-808 became a groundbreaking and later influential product in music history. Freed from preset patterns, and with much more control over the contour and shape of the drum sounds themselves, it placed the focus or responsibility of all drum rhythms on the musician.

Check my full article here:
http://soundplug.net/ikutaro-kakehashi-808s/