Malcolm Cecil

Real Name:
Malcolm Cecil
Profile:
9 Jan 1937 - 28 March 2021

English bassist and inventor of the unique TONTO synthesizer ("The Original New Timbral Orchestra": the world's first and still the largest multitimbral polyphonic analog synthesizer), born January 9, 1937 in London.
Cecil was a founding member of Tonto's Expanding Head Band and also bass player in an early formation of Blues Incorporated.
Apart from being a synthesizer programmer and performer, Cecil is also a Grammy-winning recording engineer. He has produced for Stevie Wonder, The Isley Brothers, Richie Havens, Minnie Ripperton, Steven Stills, Joan Baez, and many other major recording artists.
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Albums

SD 18123 Tonto's Expanding Head Band — Malcolm Cecil Robert Margouleff And Malcolm Cecil Robert Margouleff And Malcolm Cecil - Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Album) Atlantic SD 18123 US 1975 Sell This Version
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UR 709, UR-709 Radiance — Malcolm Cecil Malcolm Cecil Radiance (Album) Unity Records (10), Unity Records (10) UR 709, UR-709 US 1981 Sell This Version
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MCAC-21038 A Merry Jazz Christmas — Malcolm Cecil Bill Augustine & Malcolm Cecil Bill Augustine & Malcolm Cecil - A Merry Jazz Christmas (Album) MCA Special Products MCAC-21038 US 1997 Sell This Version

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boogielightnin

boogielightnin

April 15, 2021
edited about 1 year ago
A great interview with him: https://www.namm.org/library/oral-history/malcolm-cecil - what a nice man! Respect. RIP
Alain_Patrick

Alain_Patrick

March 28, 2021
edited about 1 year ago
Tom Browne: "Sadly, pioneering electronic musician and producer Malcolm Cecil (creator of The Original New Timbral Orchestra and half of synth duo Tonto's Expanding Head Band – along with producer/engineer Robert Margouleff) passed away this morning – according to his son. He was 84 years old.
Cecil and Margouleff engineered and produced Stevie Wonder’s multiple Grammy Award winning album, Talking Book, in 1972; sharing the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Grammy. They also collaborated with Wonder on his classic albums Music of My Mind, Innervisions, and Fulfillingness' First Finale.
Additionally, they produced and engineered most of the Isley Brothers hit albums of the 1970s, in addition to records by Gil Scott-Heron, Billy Preston, Weather Report, Little Feat, Doobie Brothers, Minnie Riperton, Quincy Jones, Bobby Womack, Stephen Stills, Dave Mason, Joan Baez, and Steve Hillage."

Leroy Burgess: “Malcolm Cecil, Rest In Peace.
Any fan of King Stevie Wonder is familiar with his awe-inspiring work in the early 70s ("Music Of My Mind", "Talking Book", "Innervisions", etc.).
The principle architects of the synthesizers he used were Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, who collectively created T.O.N.T.O. (The Original New Timbral Orchestra), pictured below. Between them and Stevie, the face of Electronic Music was changed forever.
It was also used, notably, by Billy Preston, Quincy Jones, Minnie Riperton, Weather Report, The Stairsteps and many, many others.
My brother, Stuart Bascombe and I haven't been the same since.
Malcolm ascended to his Reward this morning.
May the MOST HIGH FATHER GOD/ALLAH receive his Spirit with open arms.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BRILLIANCE, BROTHER MALCOLM!”

Stuart Bascombe: “ This is so weird. I just found out that the legendary Malcolm Cecil, synthesist, producer and co-creator of T.O.N.T.O. (The Original New Timbral Orchestra) passed away this morning. I just so happened to change my Cover Photo to a picture of it this morning. His work was instrumental to my favorite album of all time, 2nd Resurrection by the Stairsteps, as well as some of Stevie Wonder and the Isley Brothers most popular recordings. His work with Robert Margouleff inspired me to begin my interest and continuing collection of synthesizers and synth music. R.I.P. Malcolm. Peace to all who love him.”

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