Wendy Carlos

Wendy Carlos (born Walter Carlos?see Personal life section below?November 14, 1939 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island) is an American composer and electronic musician. Carlos was one of the first famous performers of electronic music using synthesizers.

Personal life

Carlos' musical education began when she started playing the piano at age six. Her formal education included Brown University where she studied music and physics, and Columbia University where she earned an MA in music. At Columbia, Carlos was a student of Vladimir Ussachevsky, a pioneer in electronic music. After graduation, she met Robert Moog and began designing the prototype of the Moog synthesizer. Around 1966, Carlos met Rachel Elkind with whom she began a lifelong professional relationship. Carlos has lived in New York since 1962.

Related Topics:
Piano - Brown University - Columbia University - MA - Vladimir Ussachevsky - 1966 - Rachel Elkind - New York - 1962

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Her first six recordings were released under the name Walter Carlos, although, being a transsexual woman, she had already changed her name from Walter to Wendy. In 1972, Carlos underwent gender reassignment therapy. The last release to be credited to Walter Carlos was By Request (1975). The first release as Wendy was Switched-On Brandenburgs (1979). Carlos's first public appearance after her gender transition was in an interview in the May 1979 issue of Playboy magazine, a decision she would come to regret as it brought unwelcome publicity to her personal life. On her official site, her transition is discussed in an essay stating that she values her privacy on the subject http://www.wendycarlos.com/pruri.html.

Related Topics:
Transsexual woman - 1972 - Gender reassignment therapy - 1975 - 1979 - Playboy - Transition

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