March 7, 2008
Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of the Roland Corporation, is to be honoured in recognition of his legendary contribution to both the music industry and music education.
During his forthcoming visit to the UK, Mr Kakehashi will receive an Honorary Professorship from the University of Glamorgan at a special ceremony held in Cardiff on 4th April.
The ceremony includes Mr Kakehashi’s inaugural lecture to an invited VIP audience and coincides with the official opening of the Roland Music Academy at the University’s new multi-million pound ATRiuM facility.
Born in Osaka, Japan, in 1930, Ikutaro Kakehashi’s story is remarkable. Orphaned at the age of 2 and nearly losing his own life to tuberculosis at 20, Kakehashi began his working life repairing watches and building radios before discovering his love of music and his true vocation in 1958.
“It was 1958. I was 28 years old, and I decided I would find a way to make electronic musical instruments my life’s work.” Ikutaro Kakehashi – I Believe in Music (2002).
This led to the development of products for the music industry, including organs, which Kakehashi sold through his own company before linking up with Hammond to form Hammond Japan.
In 1972 Kakehashi founded the Roland Corporation. By this time, his impact on the music industry was already significant, but his most important contribution came in 1982 as he initiated discussions between electronic musical instrument manufacturers with a view to creating a standard method of communication.
This resulted in the MIDI specification. Over the following decades, with Kakehashi at the helm, the Roland Corporation continued to flourish. Advances in research and development made it a market leader in the production of synthesizers, organs, pianos, electronic drums, samplers, music workstations, amplifiers, and guitar effects.
The last 10 years saw further business expansion with the addition of video and visual performance products to the Roland Corporation portfolio.
At the same time, Roland’s international profile developed with the establishment of its joint venture companies worldwide and its additional investment in companies such as Boss, Rodgers, Edirol, Cakewalk, RSS and Roland DG, who are all part of the Roland family.
“Mr Kakehashi’s impact on the music industry has been colossal,” says John Booth, Managing Director of Roland UK.
“In addition to being the driving force in the design of cutting-edge music technology, he has also been influential in shaping the sound and style of music itself.
His achievements will influence generations of musicians for years to come. The award of an Honorary Professorship recognises his amazing contribution to the music industry and education.”
Professor David Halton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Glamorgan commented,
"It is with great pleasure that we honour Mr Kakehashi with an Honorary Professorship of the University of Glamorgan."
"ATRiuM will be home to the first university-based Roland Music Academy in the UK and we are delighted that Mr Kakehashi will visit the faculty in person to mark the launch of this forward-looking project."
For additional info please contact Dr. Mark Leslie Woods at mwoods[at]glam.ac.uk
Cardiff School of Creative & Cultural Industries
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