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UK Premiere: Don Lewis and the Live Electronic Orchestra (12A*) + Q&A with director and Julie Lewis (Don Lewis’s wife) 

Doc'n Roll Film Festival 2023

,Cinema 1
Don Lewis plays his invention, a collection of various instruments.

The tale of Don Lewis, the visionary who invented the Live Electronic Orchestra device, followed by a Q&A with his wife Julie and director Ned Augustenborg.

Synth legend Don Lewis, creator of the LEO and developer on the Roland TR-808, also designed voices for the Yamaha DX7 and worked alongside Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson, amongst many other musical innovators throughout his career while pushing the limits of the new technology. The inspirational electronic musician & engineer worked with The Roland Corporation in Japan to create the drum machines of the future.

In the ‘80s, Lewis was targeted by the Musicians’ Union, which saw his technological advancements as a threat to live musicians' orchestrations. This story delves into the life and times of an unsung and trailblazing African American musician who was unwilling to sacrifice his own curiosity in his pursuit to change the World’s musical landscape. Featuring music from David Bowie, Prince, The Beach Boys, The Who, & Kraftwerk.

Tagged with: Cinema Doc'n Roll Film Festival 2023

Dir. Ned Augustenborg, US, 2023, 94 mins

Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

Public transport
The Barbican is widely accessible by bus, tube, train and by foot or bicycle. Plan your journey and find more route information in ‘Your Visit’ or book your car parking space in advance.