Artist Spotlight: Wendy Carlos
Wendy Carlos is a pioneering electronic musician who was born on November 14, 1939, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA. Carlos began her career in music as a student at Brown University, where she studied music and physics. Her early interest in electronic music was sparked by a chance encounter with the Buchla modular synthesizer at a party in 1962, which led to her experimenting with electronic music and eventually composing her own pieces.
Carlos rose to fame in the late 1960s and early 1970s with her groundbreaking album “Switched-On Bach,” which was recorded entirely on a Moog synthesizer and became the first classical album to go platinum. The album featured electronic versions of Johann Sebastian Bach’s music, and it helped to popularize the use of synthesizers in music.
In addition to her work as a composer and performer, Carlos is also known for her contributions to the film industry. She collaborated with Stanley Kubrick on the soundtracks for “A Clockwork Orange” and “The Shining,” and her work on the latter earned her a nomination for a Grammy Award.
Throughout her career, Carlos has continued to innovate and push the boundaries of electronic music. She has also been an advocate for transgender rights, and she has been open about her own experiences as a transgender woman.
In recognition of her contributions to music and electronic music, Carlos has received numerous awards and honors, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Her pioneering work in the field of electronic music has had a profound influence on modern music, and her legacy as a musician, composer, and innovator continues to inspire new generations of musicians and music lovers.
Wendy Carlos has released a number of albums over the course of her career, starting with “Switched-On Bach” in 1968. Here is a complete list of her album releases:
- “Switched-On Bach” (1968)
- “The Well-Tempered Synthesizer” (1969)
- “Wendy Carlos By Request” (1975)
- “Sonic Seasonings” (1972)
- “Switched-On Bach II” (1973)
- “A Clockwork Orange” (1972) – soundtrack
- “Digital Moonscapes” (1974)
- “Switched-On Brandenburgs” (1979)
- “Tron” (1982) – soundtrack
- “Wendy Carlos’ Clockwork Orange” (1980) – re-recording of the “A Clockwork Orange” soundtrack
- “The Shining” (1980) – soundtrack
- “Beauty in the Beast” (1986)
- “Secrets of Synthesis” (1987)
- “Tales of Heaven and Hell” (1998)
- “Switched-On Bach 2000” (1992)
- “Rediscovering Lost Scores, Volume One” (2005)
- “Rediscovering Lost Scores, Volume Two” (2005)
In addition to her album releases, Carlos has also contributed to several film scores, including “A Clockwork Orange,” “The Shining,” and “Tron.” She has also released a number of singles and other recordings over the course of her career.
