History of Electronic Music

Teleharmonium was Invented

Jan 19, 1887

Thaddeus Cahill was the inventor. In total, the machine weighed 7 tons!

Timeline Timespan!

Period: Jan 19, 1887 to Mar 16, 1981

The major events in the history of electronic music.

Phonograph

Mar 20, 1888

Thomas Edison introduces the electric motor-driven phonograph.

Prototype Theremin

Jan 2, 1917

Leon Theremin invented the prototype of the Theremin, an instrument which is played without touching it, as it detects the proximity of the hands.

Commercial AM Radio

Nov 2, 1921

First commercial AM radio Broadcast made by KDKA, Pittsburgh, PA.

Westinghouse Organ

Dec 24, 1930

Robert Hitchcock completes the Westinghouse Organ.

Hammond Organ

Sep 19, 1934

Laurens Hammond created the first Hammond Organ.

Voder Speech Synthesizer

Mar 8, 1937

Homer W. Dudley introduced the Voder Speech Synthesizer.

Conceived MIDI

Jan 27, 1947

Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi conceives MIDI.

first 8-track recordings

Jul 7, 1948

Les Paul makes the first 8-track recordings using the “sel-sync” method.

Donca-Matic DE-20 released

Nov 3, 1963

Korg releases Donca-Matic DE-20, an early electronic drum machine.

Moog synthesizer

Oct 12, 1964

The Moog synthesizer is created by Bob Moog and is released.

PCM Recorder

Apr 28, 1967

First PCM recorder developed by NHK.

Direct-Drive Turntable

May 4, 1969

Matsushita engineer Shuichi Obata invents first direct-drive turntable, Technics SP-10.

First Digital Synthesizer

Feb 17, 1974

Yamaha build first digital synthesizer!

Releases GS-1

Mar 16, 1981

Yamaha releases GS-1, the first FM digital synthesizer.