Died On This Date (April 29, 2010) Walter Sear / Synthesizer Pioneer
themusicsover Walter Sear
1930 – April 29, 2010
Walter Sear was a composer, musician, and inventor who is perhaps most celebrated as a pioneer of the music synthesizer. He began his career in music as a classical tuba player and eventually launched a successful business where he imported and sold tubas from a shop in New York City. During the early ’60s, he partnered with synthesizer inventor, Robert Moog to help him perfect and market the first commercial synthesizers. Sear went on to make synth recordings for motion pictures such as Midnight Cowboy. He also ran his Sear Sound recording studio in New York City for many years. Over the decades, artists like the Beatles, Paul McCartney, Sonic Youth, Steely Dan and Wynton Marsalis called upon Sear to outfit them with vintage synthesizers. Walter Sear was 79 when he passed away on April 29, 2010.
Tristram Cary was a British composer and pioneering electronic musician. But his greatest contribution to popular music was probably the EMS VCS3 portable synthesizer which he co-designed. The instrument became very popular with such English electronic and prog acts as Pink Floyd, Brian Eno and Roxy Music. He also wrote music for British television show, Dr. Who, as well as some British films.
Beau Velasco was the founding drummer for up-and-coming electro-punk band, The Death Set. Formed in Australia in 2005, the band quickly moved to New York City and then settled in Baltimore where they began to build a following for their aggressive genre-bending music. In 2008, they signed to hip indie label, Counter Records, who released their debut album, Worldwide to positive reviews. Beau Valesco died on September 27, 2009. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Hector Zazou was a much respected French composer and producer who has collaborated with Bjork, Mark Isham, Siousxie Sioux, David Sylvian, Suzanne Vega, Robert Fripp, Peter Buck and many more. He was celebrated for his ability to fuse classical influences with electronic music. Hector Zazou, age 60, passed away after after falling ill earlier in the year. Cause of death was not immediately released.