Inventor of the karaoke machine has died aged 100

by Mick the Ram

Shigeichi Negishi, the man who invented the very first karaoke machine, has sadly died at the age of 100. His daughter, Atsumi Takano, said he had peacefully passed away, following a fall.

The Tokyo-based electronics expert came up with the idea way back in 1967 as a response to being teased by work colleagues who made fun of his singing ability. Determined to prove them wrong, the entrepreneur believed that if he could sing to a backing track, it would change everything.

He was able to automate the lyrics to popular Japanese songs through what would become a legendary creation – the “Sparko Box”. Other versions followed, but that was the very first.

When his new device first came out, professional singers were worried it would put them out of business, such was the impact.

However, unfortunately for Shigeichi he was never able to get a patent for his invention and as a consequence, he did not make the fortune out of it that would be imagined.

English learned in POW camp helped his early successes

Mr Negishi was born in Tokyo in 1923. After being in the Japanese military, he became a prisoner of war in various camps in Singapore, where he was able to learn English language skills.

On his release in 1947 he used those skills to become founder of Nichiden Kogyo, an electrical devices company that helped to assemble transistor radios, hi-fi systems and car stereos for other manufacturers.

He knew he was on to a winner

Prompted almost by accident to have his “lightbulb” moment, he initially instructed a staff member in his company to put together a device with a microphone, speaker and tape deck to play the tunes.

He would later reveal in the book: Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World, that he knew he had discovered something very special right from the off. He said: “It works! That’s all I was thinking; most of all, it was fun.”

First ever karaoke session in family home

The brilliant inventor disclosed that the first song he ever played on his new creation was an instrumental version of Mujo no Yume (The Heartless Dream), by Yoshio Kodama. So thrilled was he with his Sparko Box that he took it home to show his family and that was when the first ever karaoke session took place.

The name karaoke was chosen because it had long been used in Japan to refer to singers who used backing tracks to perform. The word itself is a mixture of the words “empty” and “orchestra” in the Japanese language.

Walked away after industry struggles

If he could only have secured the patent he would have become a staggeringly rich man, but in actual fact he reportedly only ever sold 8,000 products.

Somewhat disillusioned with the music industry after a stream of conflicts with musicians, he gave up making the boxes, and his family are thought to own the only remaining Sparko Box in existence.

Family man

Nevertheless, his proud daughter, Atsumi Takano, said she knew her father was happy just knowing that his idea had grown into something that was so enjoyed. She commented: “He felt a lot of pride in seeing his idea evolve into a culture of having fun through song around the world.”

Demonstrating the kind of man he was, she added: “To him, spending a hundred years surrounded by his family was reward enough.”

His invention gained worldwide appreciation

To say the man was way ahead of his time is an understatement. Just appreciating the hostility that came his way from performers of that era, who felt extremely threatened by this amazing device, is remarkably similar to growing concern that today’s performers and artists feel towards Artificial Intelligence (AI).

His Sparko Box kicked off the karaoke revolution and changed the soundtrack of everyone’s lives for all time. If nothing else, his invention allowed would-be superstars blessed with a shocking singing voice, the opportunity to live out a pop-star dream just for a few minutes, courtesy of the karaoke machine.

He lived a full life and the world need to recognise the great man, now his track has ended. He leaves three loving children, five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.