John Chowning, godfather of digital pop: My wife told me: I didn't think I'd have to compete with a computer'

"Chowning's hearing and vision may be waning but, he says, artists don't retire. They create their art until they can't."

"His diligence has made him a godfather of today's pop, primarily thanks to his accidental discovery, in 1967, of digital frequency modulation."

"The DX7 featured prominently on Prince's When Doves Cry, Tina Turner's The Best and Sade's Smooth Operator. Its electric piano preset has prickled neck hairs."

"Chowning says the DX7, with its easy setup and lustrous tones, democratised computer music."

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