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Beaver, Paul (1925-16th January 1975)

Paul Beaver was a floundering jazz musician and Hollywood sound-effects man until he purchased a synthesizer from Robert Moog and, in concert with Bernie Krause, formed the duo Beaver & Krause and transformed pop-rock music.

They released The Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music, an instructional LP record, in 1968, but it was Paul’s introduction of the Moog synthesizer to Monkees drummer and vocalist Micky Dolenz that would prove to etch his lasting legacy in the annals of pop-rock history.

Other groups that benefited from Paul’s expertise, and salesmanship (he was one of the West Coast reps for the newfound electronic instrument), were Bread, The Byrds, and The Doors. (“Strange Days” is one of the first rock songs to employ a synthesizer.)

Although Beaver & Krause continued to record, it was these early collaborations that made their reputation.  They also made their mark on film, having composed “Krakatoa” which George Lucas adapted as the signature theme of his THX sound reproduction system.

Other artists Paul worked with include Neil Diamond , Don Everly, Quincy Jones, Mike Melvoin, and Simon & Garfunkel.

Paul died suddenly from a brain aneurism on 16th January 1975, in Los Angeles, California, aged 49.

Lalo Schifrin recordings
All for the Love of Sunshine ( Lalo Schifrin )
Theme from “Medical Center” ( Lalo Schifrin )

Here’s a track from the album The Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music by Beaver & Krause…

Sources:

  1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Beaver
  2. http://www.spaceagepop.com/beaver.htm
  3. http://shopping.yahoo.com/p:Paul%20Beaver:1927012159
  4. http://www.answers.com/topic/bernie-krause-1?cat=entertainment
  5. http://www.mp3.com/albums/15513/reviews.html
  6. http://www.filmmusicsociety.org/merchandise/merchandise.html
  7. http://domainhelp.search.com/reference/Paul_Beaver
  8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THX