Shigeichi Negishi’s “Sparko Box” first came to the market in 1967 and is “recognized as the earliest” karaoke machine by the All-Japan Karaoke Industrialist Association. (Photo: GETTY IMAGES) |
Negishi was born in Tokyo in 1923. After a colleague criticized him for singing poorly, Negishi did research and in 1967 invented the first karaoke machine, including a device connected to microphone. This device was capable of playing cassette tapes with pre-recorded melodies of songs.
Until the “Sparko Box” came along in 1967, karaoke-like activities involved the use of backing tracks provided by live bands or instrumental recordings.
In Japan, the term “karaoke” was used when singers performed with a backing track instead of a live musician. The word combined the Japanese words for “empty” (kara) and “orchestra” (ōkesutora).