Negishi’s 1967 invention, the Sparko Box, transformed the entertainment industry.
Shigeichi Negishi, the inventor of the first karaoke machine, has died at the age of 100. His daughter confirmed his death, which resulted from natural causes following a fall.
Negishi’s invention, the Sparko Box, was unveiled in 1967 and transformed the entertainment industry. His passion for singing and wish to hear his voice with a backing track inspired him to create this device.
His karaoke machine combined a speaker, microphone, and tape deck. Although the design was innovative, Negishi decided against patenting it, describing the process as “too much hassle”.
Farewell to another legend: Shigeichi Negishi, inventor of karaoke, has died age 100. By automating the sing-along, he earned the enmity of performers who saw his machine as a threat to their jobs. It’s an eerie precursor of the debate surrounding AI’s impact on artists today. pic.twitter.com/ZOpLdSisb2
— Matt Alt (@Matt_Alt) March 14, 2024
