Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

January 20, 1929 in France

Death

:

November 4, 2016 in Morges, Switzerland

 

Jean-Jacques Perrey was a French composer and electronic music pioneer who was born on January 20, 1929, in Nantes, France. He was the son of a French father and a Swiss mother. Perrey began playing the piano at a young age and showed a natural talent for music. He studied at the Paris Conservatory and later at the École Normale de Musique de Paris. Perrey's early career was focused on traditional classical music, but he soon became interested in electronic music. In the early 1950s, he began experimenting with tape recorders and other electronic equipment, creating his own unique sound. He was one of the first musicians to use the Ondioline, an early electronic keyboard instrument, and he became known for his innovative use of electronic sounds. In 1958, Perrey met the American composer and musician Gershon Kingsley, and the two began collaborating on electronic music projects. They formed the duo Perrey and Kingsley and released their first album, "The In Sound from Way Out!" in 1966. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to popularize electronic music in the United States. Perrey continued to work on electronic music throughout the 1960s and 1970s, releasing several albums and collaborating with other musicians. He also composed music for television commercials and films, including the soundtrack for the 1971 film "Barbarella." In the 1980s, Perrey's music began to gain a new audience as electronic music became more popular. His music was sampled by hip-hop and electronic musicians, and he became a cult figure in the electronic music scene. He continued to perform and record music throughout the 1990s and 2000s, and he remained active until his death in 2016. Perrey's music was known for its playful and whimsical style, and he often used electronic sounds to create humorous and lighthearted compositions. His music was also influenced by jazz and pop music, and he often incorporated elements of these genres into his compositions. Some of Perrey's most famous compositions include "E.V.A.," "The Elephant Never Forgets," and "Flight of the Bumblebee." His music has been used in films, television shows, and commercials, and it has been sampled by numerous musicians. Perrey's legacy as a pioneer of electronic music is still felt today, and his influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary electronic musicians. He was a true innovator and a visionary artist who helped to shape the sound of modern music.

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