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RIP Isao Tomita

Isao-Tomita TOKYO–The legendary Japanese synthesizer player and composer Isao Tomita died at a hospital here May 5 of heart failure. He was 84.
MSTies remember that he was the score composer for the movie in episode 314- MIGHTY JACK.

This web site has the story.

Thanks to Kathy for two headses ups today.

16 Replies to “RIP Isao Tomita”

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  1. Rob says:

    It’s a bit goofy and kitschy at this point but I’ve always had a soft spot for his album of The Planets by Holst which I somehow got my hands on as a kid. Carry on, Tomita…

       3 likes

  2. dakotaboy says:

    They tried to kill him with a forklift…

       3 likes

  3. Tim S. Turner says:

    Wow. I didn’t know he did the music for “Mighty Jack”. I have several of his albums. Quite the innovator. What a bummer. :(

       2 likes

  4. Jay says:

    I still have every LP Tomita made back in the day. Tomita picked up the synthesizer baton from Carlos’ “Switched On Bach” and just took off. If you have never heard his rendition of “Aranjuez” please seek it out.

       3 likes

  5. Jack Perkins says:

    Yeah, first Album of his I ever bought. Also, wow I have watched Mighty Jack countless times but had no idea that he did the music. Wow. RIP good sir!

    Rob:
    It’s a bit goofy and kitschy at this point but I’ve always had a soft spot for his album of The Planets by Holst which I somehow got my hands on as a kid. Carry on, Tomita…

       1 likes

  6. JeremyR says:

    And if you ever watched PBS in the 80s, one of his songs (Arabesque) was used for Jack Horkheimer’s Star Hustler show

       5 likes

  7. Sitting Duck says:

    One of the more eye catching titles he did music for was a 1970 animated film called Cleopatra: Queen of Sex.

       0 likes

  8. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    I have all his albums — most of his stuff was takes on classical music (a la “The Planets”) but his “Bermuda Triangle” is mesmerizing.

    Nice to see a mention here (would probably never see it anywhere else).

       0 likes

  9. Mike "ex-genius" Kelley says:

    Oh, and the best bit in “The Planets” is his sly take off on the “Close Encounters” Williams stuff. That whole album is very enjoyable to listen to anytime.

       0 likes

  10. casterberus says:

    I LOVE his synthesizer version of Ravel’s “Daphnis and Chloe” – also his take on Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition.” I don’t know how many times I’ve played those albums since I got them in the early 80s.

    RIP.

       0 likes

  11. staytogethercheeks says:

    JeremyR:
    And if you ever watched PBS in the 80s, one of his songs (Arabesque) was used for Jack Horkheimer’s Star Hustler show

    Star Hustler was the first thing I thought of when I read Isao passed…so many PBS-at-2am college memories from the 90’s (yes, I’m a nerd…and dated by this point).
    I had no idea he composed the score for Mighty Jack, and I love me some Mighty Jack…that is my dog’s favorite food…but then again, what dog wouldn’t come a-runnin’ for the savory taste of Mighty Jack?
    Thanks for remembering Isao and Horky with me

       0 likes

  12. Satoris says:

    Rob:
    It’s a bit goofy and kitschy at this point but I’ve always had a soft spot for his album of The Planets by Holst which I somehow got my hands on as a kid. Carry on, Tomita…

    Same here. My father had it on LP . I know it was kind of cheesy but i loved his version of The Planets. RIP Tomita-san.

       1 likes

  13. underwoc says:

    My dad had the Pictures at an Exhibition album. Took me a long time to really appreciate the whole thing, but Tomita’s take on the Ballet of the Unborn Chicks always made me chuckle.

       0 likes

  14. Big McLargeHuge says:

    I also remember a piece of his that was on the original Cosmos soundtrack (the one with Carl Sagan) called The Sea Named Solaris. Had no idea he did the music for Mighty Jack! Prepare the 21 gun salute, Rocky! (A-gain?)

       0 likes

  15. Jason says:

    If I’m not mistaken, Joel makes reference to him at the end of Space Travellers. R.I.P.

       0 likes

  16. new cornjob says:

    RIP to another fine electronic-music pioneer… one who i’d till now known little-to-none about, but a big hat-tip to the wag upstream mentioning the use of his music at the end of “star hustler” – that alone brought that music back to mind in an instant. indelible!

    brings back memories of chortling over jack horkheimer (RIP sadly too) whether alone or with friends. i remember once catching the hustler at the end of late evening hanging out with friends, and he was reminding us to go outside to check out the milky way that time of year…

    jack: “look up and you’ll see a great -buldge- in the milky way!”
    friend: “i don’t like the way he said ‘buldge.'”

    heh – still it reminds me of many fond memories nightsky-gazing and telescoping with fellow astro-geeks back home, and how carl sagan’s “cosmos” was more than just an informational-and-ideas experience – it was actually emotional, and the soundtrack was a huge part of that.

    welp lots of great ideas and tips for what to put on my “wish-for” list for music to add to my library here… thanks you all!

       0 likes

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