Shigeichi Negishi, inventor of karaoke, dies at 100: WSJ

Shigeichi Negishi, known as one of the inventors of karaoke, died of natural causes on Jan. 26, the Wall Street Journal has reported his family as saying. He was 100.The WSJ said Negishi was the "first to automate and commercialize the singalong in 1967, although he never patented his creation."His "Sparko Box" first came to the market in 1967 and is "recognized as the earliest" karaoke machine by the All-Japan Karaoke Industrialist Association. He is also "the first among five Japanese inventors who independently created karaoke machines from 1967 to 1971," the WSJ said.Another man is ofte…READ FULL ARTICLE