 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. (April 2022) |
Ryo Kawasaki 川崎 燎 | |
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 Ryo Kawasaki performing at The Garden Brewery, Zagreb Croatia Dec 15, 2018 — photography by Luka Antunac | |
| Background information | |
| Born | February 25, 1947 Kōenji, Tokyo, Japan |
| Died | April 13, 2020 (aged 73) Tallinn, Estonia |
| Genres | Jazz fusion |
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| Years active | 1967–2020 |
| Website | RyoKawasaki.com |
Ryo Kawasaki (川崎 燎, Kawasaki Ryō, February 25, 1947 – April 13, 2020) was a Japanese jazz fusion guitarist, composer and band leader, best known as one of the first musicians to develop and popularise the fusion genre and for helping to develop the guitar synthesizer in collaboration with Roland Corporation and Korg. His album Ryo Kawasaki and the Golden Dragon Live was one of the first all-digital recordings and he created the Kawasaki Synthesizer for the Commodore 64. During the 1960s, he played with various Japanese jazz groups and also formed his own bands. In the early 1970s, he moved to New York City, where he settled and worked with Gil Evans, Elvin Jones, Chico Hamilton, Ted Curson, Joanne Brackeen amongst others. In the mid-1980s, Kawasaki drifted out of performing music in favour of writing music software for computers. He also produced several techno dance singles, formed his own record company called Satellites Records, and later returned to jazz-fusion in 1991.