Modular synthesizer pioneer Don Buchla has died. The news was confirmed on the Buchla website. Mark Vail, author of the books The Synthesizer: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Programming, Playing, and Recording the Ultimate Electronic Music Instrument and Vintage Synthesizers, shared some additional information on his Facebook. “Don Buchla passed away on Wednesday, September 14,” he wrote. “He contributed immeasurably to mankind and created many important and unique instruments.” Buchla’s son, Ezra, confirmed to THUMP that his father died from complications following his battle with cancer. Buchla was 79.
Don Buchla was instrumental in the creation of early synthesizers. He built his first modular synthesizer, the Buchla 100, in 1963 and began selling them in 1966. In 1969, he sold the Series 100 to the television network CBS. He would go on to create several other synthesizers, including the MIDI compatible Buchla 700. In 2012, Buchla sold his company after a battle with cancer rendered him unable to continue running it.
Support for Buchla rang out from across the music community:
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