Gershon Kingsley, Synthesizer Pioneer Sampled by J Dilla and Madlib, Dead at 97

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Kingsley's 1969 composition, "Popcorn," is considered the first electronic song to get regular radio rotations.

Gershon Kingsley, the synthesizer hero responsible for popularizing the electronic instrument, has died. He was 97-years-old.

Kingsley is perhaps best known for his 1969 song "Popcorn," which was one of the first electronic songs to get regular rotations on terrestrial radio. Originally appearing on his album, Music to Moog By, the song became a hit for the band Hot Better in 1972, but also sparked a wave of compilation albums of pop, rock, and classical, staples performed with the fairly new-to-market instrument.

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In 1970, Kingsley formed First Moog Quartet with Stan Free, Howard Salat, Ken Bichel, and Eric W. Knight, who became the first-ever electronic group to perform at Carnegie Hall that year. They released a self-titled debut album the same year, featuring the song "Rebirth," which has been sampled by both J Dilla and Madlib, respectively, and as recently as Bandana on the album's closer "Soul Right."

You can hear both "Popcorn" and "Rebirth" below.