Roland founder and music pioneer Ikutaro Kakehashi dies aged 87

The man behind the Roland drum machine and synthesiser range used across the spectrum of popular music since the mid-70s – from Prince to New Order, from Dr Dre to Kraftwerk – has died. Ikutaro Kakehashi founded the Roland Corporation in 1972 and went on to develop one of the most well-known drum machines in pop music – the TR-808. His death at 87 was revealed by a former colleague on Facebook.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/02/roland-founder-and-music-pioneer-ikutaro-kakehashi-dies-aged-87?source=Snapzu