Ikutaro Kakehashi
Ikutaro Kakehashi (梯 郁太郎 Kakehashi Ikutarō, born in Osaka on February 7, 1930) is an engineer, an entrepreneur, and the founder of the Roland Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments.
Biography
In the 1950s, Ikutaro Kakehashi repaired electronic organs and created new prototype organs while concurrently running an electrical appliance shop. At 28, he decided to devote himself to music and pursuit of the ideal electronic musical instrument.
Ikutaro Kakehashi is best known for founding Roland Corporation. Prior to Roland he started Acetone, an organ company that evolved into Hammond Organ Japan. He left Hammond to start Roland in the early 1970s.
Oral History, Ikutaro Kakehashi explains pieces of his life story and career. interview date January 23, 2001, NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Oral History Library |
In 1991, based upon his contribution to the development and popularization of electronic instruments, Kakehashi was awarded an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music, U.S.A. In 2000 he left his handprints on the Rock Walk Hall of Fame in Hollywood. In 2013 he received a Technical Grammy Award, shared with Dave Smith of Sequential Circuits, for the invention of MIDI. Kakehashi retired from Roland in 2013.
In 2002 Kakehashi published his autobiography, titled I Believe In Music,[1] and was also featured as a biography in the book The Art of Digital Music.
Highlights
- 1930 - Born in Osaka, Japan.
- 1954 - Started Kakehashi Radio electrical appliance store
- 1960 - Founded Ace Electronic Industries Inc.
- 1972 - Founded Roland Corporation and became president
- 1988 - Roland purchased Rodgers Organ Company renamed Rodgers Instruments fulfilling Kakehashi's lifelong dream to build large classical organs
- 1994 - Founded Roland Foundation and became chairman
- 1995 - Appointed chairman of Roland Corporation
- 2001 - Resigned chairman's position and appointed Special Executive Adviser of Roland Corporation
- 2013 - Received technical Grammy (along with Dave Smith) for inventing MIDI
- 2013 - Retired from Roland Corporation
References
External links
- Ikutaro Kakehashi's Picture
- "Berklee College of Music, Honorary Degree Recipients" http://www.berklee.edu/about/honorary.html
- "Guitar Center's Hollywood Rockwalk" http://www.rockwalk.com/inductees/handPrint.cfm?id=60&disp=2
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