The New York Times has confirmed that Don Buchla, a famed inventor of musical instruments and one-time sound engineer for the Grateful Dead, has passed away. He was 79 years old, and the cause of death was complications due to cancer.
Buchla was an electronic music pioneer, primarily in the realm of synthesizer creation. Inventions like the Music Box or the Buchla Box were some of the first voltage-controlled modular synthesizers ever produced, allowing musicians to create sounds that were previously unheard. While he was mostly known for his instrument creation, Buchla spent time working with Owsley Stanley and the Grateful Dead to build their sound system. He would even help record a handful of their shows during this period by mixing it live.
Some of his other reputable projects include work with NASA, hearing aids and navigation systems. His real accomplishments were in the field of music, creating new and exciting instruments that broke sonic barriers with every turn. One such instrument is the Marimba Lumina, a device that has been regularly employed by Phish in recent years. Between his new instruments, his modular synthesizers and more, Buchla was truly a mastermind of music technology.
We are grateful for his work in all things musical. RIP Don Buchla.