Del Casher, the inventor of the wah-wah pedal, guitarist and film and television composer, has died aged 88. He passed away on 1 October.
Casher created the influential pedal in 1967 while working with Vox and the Thomas Organ Company. He used a transistorised mid-range booster circuit originally designed for trumpets to develop the effect.
His career also included appearances on screen and guitar performances alongside Elvis Presley in Roustabout and Jerry Lewis in The Patsy.
Casher composed music for more than a dozen television shows and films, and was a member of the studio recording unit known as the Wrecking Crew.
The group provided backing for artists including Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and The Monkees.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established to support Casher’s widow, Eiko. Organiser Al Burg said she was facing “overwhelming financial and personal challenges” and that donations would help her pay down credit card debt and move into assisted living.
“Eiko is now facing overwhelming financial and personal challenges at a time when she should be surrounded by peace, care, and stability,” Burg wrote.
He added: “Tour donations will help Eiko pay down huge credit card debt and move into assisted living, where she can have safe housing and the increasing care she needs.”
