Dave Smith (1950–2022), synthesizer pioneer
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2 min readDave Smith was an engineer known as the “Father of MIDI” for his innovations in electronic instruments.
- Died: May 31, 2022 (Who else died on May 31?)
- Details of death: Died at the age of 72.
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Father of MIDI
Smith began experimenting with electronic instruments in the early 1970s and founded Sequential Circuits, known known as Sequential, in 1974. He created the Prophet 5 synthesizer in 1977, the first programmable polyphonic synth. The Prophet 5 revolutionized electronic music and was used in prominent recordings by artists including the Cars, Michael Jackson (1958–2009), Madonna, Radiohead, and many more. Smith was among the engineers who developed MIDI technology in the early ‘80s, allowing electronic instruments and components to be connected for a greater range of abilities. In 2013, Smith was honored with a Technical Grammy Award for his groundbreaking work with MIDI.
Smith on his greatest achievement
“Mostly just producing a lot of different instruments in the last 35 years that have been played by a lot of great musicians in a bunch of great recordings and live shows. That’s ultimately the goal as a synth designer.” —from a 2013 interview for Attack
Tributes to Dave Smith
Full obituary: Pitchfork
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