FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Rebecca Eaddy Marketing Communications Manager U.S. (323) 890-3718 [email protected]

ROLAND FOUNDER & HONORED WITH TECHNICAL GRAMMY® AWARD

Los Angeles, CA, February 15, 2013 — Roland Corporation U.S. is pleased to announce that Roland founder Ikutaro Kakehashi and Dave Smith received a Technical GRAMMY® Award in Los Angeles on Saturday, February 9, 2013, for their contributions to the development of MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) technology. The Recording Academy® presented the Technical GRAMMY during the Special Merit Awards ceremony, one of many events hosted in celebration of the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards®. Ikutaro Kakehashi’s son Ikuo Kakehashi accepted the award on his father’s behalf.

Ikutaro Kakehashi commented, “I am very happy that MIDI has been regarded as a global standard by many musicians all over the world, even 30 years after its development. Also, I am honored to receive this Technical GRAMMY Award. MIDI will be around for many years, and I am sure it will be developed further to continually incorporate the latest technologies for generations to come. One of the best examples of MIDI’s continuous advancement is MIDI Visual Control, which was defined in 2011. This new standard opened the door to all musicians to control visuals with electronic musical instruments. I think musicians will really enjoy this totally new way of expression more and more in the future. MIDI has built, and continues to build, a strong ‘bridge’ [‘Kakehashi’ means ‘Bridge’ in Japanese] that connects musical instruments, , content, visuals and lighting with each other. I believe in the future of MIDI, and I am looking forward to seeing it.”

Technical GRAMMY Award recipients are determined by vote of The Academy’s Producers & Engineers Wing® Advisory Council and Chapter Committees, as well as The Academy’s Trustees. The award is presented to individuals and companies who have made contributions of outstanding technical significance to the recording field.

In 1983, Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of Roland Corporation, and Dave Smith, president of Circuits, unveiled MIDI. 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of the launch of MIDI, a standard that motivated the cooperation of an entire industry and helped move music technology into a new era. In a nearly unprecedented collaboration between competing manufacturers, two competing electronic keyboards were connected and enabled to “talk” to one another using a new communication standard. The announcement ultimately revolutionized the music world. Today, MIDI is ubiquitous in the musical equipment industry, and it is the de facto standard feature on virtually every product made by every manufacturer.

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About Roland Corporation Roland Corporation is a leading manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments, including keyboards and , products, electronic percussion, digital recording equipment, , audio processors, and multimedia products. With more than 40 years of musical instrument development, Roland sets the standard in music technology for the world to follow. For more information, visit http://www.RolandUS.com.

About The Recording Academy Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @TheGRAMMYs on Twitter, like “The GRAMMYs” on Facebook, and join The GRAMMYs’ social communities on Foursquare, GetGlue, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, and YouTube.