Shigeichi Negishi, the inventor of the world’s first Karaoke machine, has passed away at the age of 100. According to the Wall Street Journal, Atsumi Takano, Negishi’s daughter, stated that he fell and died of natural causes on January 26. The Japanese engineer designed the first prototype Karaoke machine in 1967, known as the Sparko Box, which was an automated machine that required instrumental tapes to operate.
Shigeichi Negishi, born in Tokyo, enjoyed singing and questioned what he would sound like with a backing track after his colleague stated he had an unfavorable voice. This experience inspired him to create the prototype karaoke machine. Negishi was previously conscripted into the Japanese military and was imprisoned in Singapore as a prisoner of war, where he learned to speak English. He would eventually use his English knowledge for his work as an engineer at his consumer electronics assembly business.
The Karaoke machine increased in popularity in nightclubs and bars throughout Japan in the 1970s, and it became a global phenomenon in the ’80s. Although Negishi’s invention was groundbreaking, he did not patent the design, believing it would be too complicated as it required instrumental tapes. According to the National News, other pioneers besides Negishi, such as Daisuke Inoue and Toshiharu Yamashita, are also credited with advancing Karaoke.
Shigeichi Negishi’s invention revolutionized the entertainment industry, and Karaoke remains a popular activity worldwide. His contribution to the music industry through his invention paved the way for countless artists worldwide, and undoubtedly, his legacy will continue
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