New Book by Roland Founder, Ikutaro Kakehashi

In the world of digital music making, sampling refers to the act of digitally recording a portion or sample of one sound recording and reusing it in a different recording. Ikutaro Kakahashi, who, as founder of Roland Corporation was instrumental in establishing MIDI as a worldwide standard for electronic musical instruments, takes the term “sampling” in a new direction in his book, An Age Without Samples (January 2017, Hal Leonard Books, $24.99).

In Japan, Kakehashi explains, “sampling” has been the business model for decades: Taking something that already exists – a car or camera, for example – building upon it and creating new innovations based upon it.  In An Age Without Samples, he argues that the digital age has left us without samples we can borrow from; however, with the enormous change brought about by information technology, social networking, and other developments, he sees a rare opportunity for new ventures in businesses that need the vision of creative and original thinking.

Based on a solid footing in his area of specialty as a pioneer in music and technology, and building upon his first book, I Believe in Music, Kakehashi uses the digital age as the backdrop of the times we live in. He draws on his personal experience, successes, and most important, groundbreaking product development over a career spanning more than a half-century and offers tips on how one might navigate this “age without samples.”

The book will be available at NAMM at the Hal Leonard booth B-6720.  Available online at Amazon.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

IKUTARO KAKEHASHI, the founder of Roland Corporation, has created several successful businesses with a host of important innovations in electronic musical instruments. He formed Ace Electronics in 1964 with the goal of improving the electronic organ, following up on the work of his heroes, Laurens Hammond and Donald J. Leslie. With the expansion of electronics in the late 1960s, he formed the Roland Corporation, which soon became one of the leaders in the industry. In 2013, he and Dave Smith, founder of Sequential Circuits, were jointly awarded the Technical Grammy Award by the Recording Academy. The two were recognized for their work in establishing MIDI as a worldwide standard for electronic musical instruments and for the impact that the MIDI standard had on the audio industry thereafter. Mr. Kakehashi founded ATV Corporation in May 2013 and is still directly engaged in development.