News release For immediate distribution 3rd edition of the Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show The MMMIS Tribute Award goes to Ikutaro Kakehashi Montreal, Friday, July 6, 2007 — For its 3rd edition, the MMMIS (Montreal Musician and Musical Instrument Show), presented by General Motors of Canada as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, is very happy to bestow the Tribute Award on the great Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder and special consultant of and BOSS, and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the MIDI. The recipient of this award—which highlights the outstanding contribution made by an artist or artisan to the popularization of music and music making—thus joins the ranks of Robert Godin, father of the legendary of the same name, and Jim Marshall, the famous British amp creator. Right from its very first year, the MMMIS has sought to formally recognize musicians and creators who, through their active involvement in the world of music, whether backstage or centrestage, have greatly contributed to the advancement of music making. The name Ikutaro Kakekashi is synonymous with Jupiter 8, synthesizers, sampling or digital synthesizers, electronic drums, guitar effects, programmable rhythm boxes, sequencers, Space Echo, Jazz Chorus amps, musical information processing, MIDI, and the list goes on! But the work of this visionary, born in Osaka, Japan, in 1930, goes well beyond the designing of instruments and the opening of numerous businesses, from his first stores—the Kakehashi Musen and the Kakehashi Radio Shop—to Ace Electronic Industries and Hammond in the 1960s, not to mention Roland in 1972... Mr. Kakehashi has always been driven by a philosophy based on action and on finding a means to achieve his dreams and goals. This is how, for example, he came to remedy the incompatibility that prevailed among the various brand instruments until 1982 by initiating discussions between Japanese and American manufacturers regarding the creation of a common digital language that would become the standard, i.e. the MIDI 1.0 standard (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). This interface standard made it possible for the different brand instruments and models to communicate with each other, and in terms of accessories, revolutionized the music industry. Today, at age 77, the legendary Ikutaro Kakehashi has brought a totally new way of creating within the realm of possibility. His impact on the development of defies comparison. By bringing all these instruments and accessories within reach, both in terms of price and user-friendliness, he has promoted the democratization of music, contributing enormously to the advancement of music making. The trophy that will be awarded to Mr. Kakehashi was designed by glassworks artist Sylvie Bélanger, who has exhibited her works across North America and in France over the past 15 years. To find out everything about the 3rd edition of the MMMIS, which runs until July 8 at Complexe Desjardins, visit the MMMIS website at mmmis.ca. – 30 – Source: Festival International de Jazz de Montréal – 514 509-2000 Media Information: Marie-Eve Boisvert, Media Relations Director – 514-509-2000, [email protected] Frederic Poulin, Press Attaché, 514 509-2000; [email protected] Public Information: Web site: mmmis.ca