Wah-wah pedal inventor Del Casher dies aged 88
He also had a long career as a performer, composer and session musician
The guitarist and inventor Del Casher, whose work on the wah-wah pedal changed the sound of rock music, has died aged 88.
A GoFundMe page set up after his passing said Casher died on 1 October after battling cancer.
The fundraiser is seeking financial support for his widow, Eiko Casher.
Its creator, Al Burg, said that as well as grieving the loss of her husband, Eiko is also "facing overwhelming financial and personal challenges".
He added that donations would help her to address substantial debt and relocate to an assisted-living facility where she can receive additional support.
Casher is best remembered for developing the wah-wah pedal, one of the most influential effects in guitar history, though he also had a lengthy career as a performer, composer and session musician.
Working with Vox and the Thomas Organ Company, he adapted a transistorised mid-range booster circuit originally designed for trumpets and helped transform it into the first wah-wah pedal in 1967.
The effect went on to become a staple of rock, blues and funk music, finding its way into the arsenals of countless guitarists over subsequent decades.
The wah-wah pedal was far from his only innovation.
Casher invented the Ecco-Fonic, a portable tape echo system that brought studio-style echo effects to musicians without the need for expensive large-scale recording equipment.
His other inventions included the Fender Electronic Echo Chamber.
He also played a key role in introducing the Roland Guitar Synthesizer on behalf of the Roland Corporation, helping to bring new electronic possibilities to guitar players.
Away from engineering, Casher built a remarkable career as a musician in his own right.
He appeared on screen alongside Elvis Presley in the 1964 musical comedy Roustabout and performed opposite Jerry Lewis in The Patsy.
His work extended into television and film composition, with credits spanning more than a dozen productions.
Casher was also a member of the legendary session collective known as the Wrecking Crew.
The hugely influential group of studio musicians performed on recordings for some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, and The Monkees.
