Published
Wed, Nov 9, 2022, 16:30
- Lewis, who passed away over the weekend, worked closely with Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi for more than a decade.
Electronic music engineer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Don Lewis has died aged 81.
A statement on Lewis' Facebook page on Sunday, November 6th, confirmed his death, the cause of which remains unclear.
Born in Dayton, Ohio, Lewis is considered a pioneer of electronic music. He is perhaps best known as the creator of the Live Electronic Orchestra (LEO), a custom rig that integrated multiple instruments under a controller system and predated the MIDI controller.
He later worked closely with Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi for more than a decade, collaborating on rhythm units including the FR-7L, CR-68, CR-78 and TR-808. He also contributed to the rise in popularity of other synthesisers, such as the Yamaha DX7.
In the studio, Lewis worked with the likes of Quincy Jones, Sérgio Mendes and Michael Jackson, and produced music for TV, film and commercials. In later life, he taught at University of California, Berkeley and was a guest lecturer at Stanford University and San Jose State University.
A feature-length documentary, The Ballad of Don Lewis: The Untold Story of a Synthesizer Pioneer, was released in 2020. The film covered Lewis' musical achievements, his struggles with systemic racism and his clashes with the Musicians Union, which feared his groundbreaking technological advancements could put musicians out of work.
Watch the trailer for the documentary, and read some social media tributes.