Del Casher: key obituary facts
Is Del Casher dead? Yes. Del Casher died on November 1, 2026, at age 88.
Cause of death: Del Casher's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Del Casher known for?
He was an American musician.
More about Del Casher
Born: 1 January 1938.
Gender: male.
Occupation: inventor, guitarist.
Nationality: United States.
Education: University of Pittsburgh.
Also known as: Kay Leodel, Delton Kacher, Del Kacher.
Del Casher, an American guitarist, composer and inventor, died November 1, 2026, aged 88.
Born in 1938 as Delton Kacher in Hammond, Indiana, he studied communications at the University of Pittsburgh before moving to Hollywood. There, he was invited to perform as a guitar and banjo soloist on the Lawrence Welk television show.
He also toured with the Three Suns, the RCA recording artists associated with the hit song “Twilight Time.” On a Japanese tour connected with the group’s album The Three Suns, Casher introduced the Ecco-Fonic, a portable tape-echo device he had invented. It produced echo effects that previously required large, expensive tape machines in a studio, making the effect available in a compact unit suited to travel and use beyond the studio. His inventions included the wah-wah pedal and the Fender Electronic Echo Chamber. Casher was also the first to introduce the Roland Guitar Synthesizer for the Roland Corporation. His friendship with Ikutaro Kakehashi, founder of the Japanese music company, led to an invitation from Kakehashi to visit Japan. Casher’s career combined television and touring work with invention, spanning guitar performance and the development of electronic sound equipment.