Ryo Kawasaki, the inventor of the guitar synthesizer and a pioneer of jazz fusion guitar, has died at the age of 73, his daughter confirmed. Kawasaki succumbed to a brief, unspecified illness.
A trailblazer in every sense of the word, Kawasaki worked extensively with Korg and Roland to develop the first range of guitar synthesizers. He was also the brains behind the popular Kawasaki Synthesizer program for the Commodore 64 computer.
Kawasaki was a fusion guitar luminary, quickly becoming a favorite of New York City's jazz "loft" scene upon his move there from Japan in 1973. A session guitar regular, Kawasaki worked with the likes of Gil Evans, Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton, Ted Curson and Joanne Brackeen.
His first album, 1976's Juice, was released by RCA, and - with its fearless incorporation of a wide variety of musical influences - immediately became a milestone for the fusion genre.
Never one to be tied down to a single style, Kawasaki later explored dance music with a number of releases in the '80s, while continuing to develop pioneering, acclaimed music software.
Kawasaki later moved to Tallinn, Estonia, where he became a regular of the city's jazz scene and formed a fusion band of his own, Level 8. The band released one studio and one live LP.
“My daddy. A true original,” his daughter, Tane Kawasaki Saavedra, wrote in a Facebook post. “Just as your name suggests, you did illuminate, set it afire, and your fire will burn forever as your music plays on and we continue to carry your light.”
* This article was originally published here
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