Karaoke inventor Shigeichi Negishi dies at 100

Shigeichi Negishi, the Japanese entrepreneur who invented the first-ever karaoke machine, died at 100 on Jan. 26.

Negishi was in his 40s when he came up with the idea of prototyping a mass-produced, coin-operated karaoke machine, branded “Sparko Box” in 1967.

(Image credit: cookelman)

Negishi was in his 40s when he came up with the idea of prototyping a mass-produced, coin-operated karaoke machine, branded “Sparko Box” in 1967.