10th March 2015 Yamaha CS80 #15xx History

The following information was supplied to us by the owner of this CS80 we are Brokering for them.

“About my CS80: I'm the original owner. I got it in 1981 for the tour I did with Michael Jackson and The Jacksons. It can be heard on The Jacksons Live album that was recorded during that tour. I also used it many times in the studio on my own productions, including ‘Dancing In The Sheets’ from the Footloose soundtrack.

It was given to me, along with another one for Randy Jackson by Yamaha. I had previously worked at Guitar Center, and knew the local Yamaha rep. I called him, told him I was touring with the Jacksons, and we needed two CS80s and a CP-70. It came straight out of their Buena Park warehouse - brand new & unused.

It was delivered by Yamaha to our rehearsal studio in June of '81. We rehearsed for six weeks, and the tour went for a bit over three months. The double album "The Jacksons Live" was recorded over several dates of the tour, and the CS80 is featured prominently on several tracks, especially "Heartbreak Hotel's" solo cello introduction, and the synth bass on "Shake Your Body." At the end of the tour, I took mine home, and Randy took his. In 1982, I got a record deal with Solar records, and the CS80 was used extensively on my first album, "Wolf." I also used it on records I produced for artists such as Vanity, Jon Gibson and Shalamar. It is on the Grammy-nominated song "Dancing In The Sheets" from the Footloose soundtrack.

I also used a CS80 (not this particular one) on Michael Jackson's “Billie Jean.” It's those three chords that come in after the drums and bass start the song. That's two tracks of CS80 overdubbed. I also played Rhodes and CS80 on Paul McCartney's "Say Say Say" duet with Michael.

Around 1990 it went into storage, and about seven years ago (2008), I got it out and had David Rogoff bring it back to specs. I also corresponded with Kent Spong at KSR, who was very helpful, finding us some parts needed, including a new ribbon spring. That's about as much as I can remember right now.”

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