Del Casher, guitarist and inventor of the wah-wah pedal who played with Elvis Presley and Frank Zappa, dead at 88

Del Casher, a celebrated guitarist who played with Elvis Presley and Frank Zappa and inventor of the wah-wah pedal, has died. He was 88.The musician, who was also a film and TV composer, passed away on October 1, per TMZ.No other details regarding the specific cause or location where he died have been publicly released.Since his death, a GoFundMe has been set up with Casher's widow, Eiko.'Eiko is now facing overwhelming financial and personal challenges at a time when she should be surrounded by peace, care, and stability,' organizer Al Burg wrote.'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.' Del Casher, a celebrated guitarist who played with Elvis Presley and Frank Zappa and inventor of the wah-wah pedal, has died. He was 88. Above, Casher in 1998 The musician, who was also a film and TV composer, passed away on October 1. Above, Casher in 2014Casher was a highly influential and visionary inventor and musician.His most famous creation was the wah-wah pedal, a foot-controlled tone knob for the guitar. It changed the sound of the instrument by sweeping a filter back and forth across different frequencies as the foot pushed the pedal up and down.It unique - and accidental - creation occurred in 1966 while he was working as a consultant for Thomas Organ, the US partner for Vox.He also invented the Ecco-Fonic and the Fender Electronic Echo Chamber.Casher had ties in Hollywood, where he was a popular studio guitarist.He was hired by Paramount Pictures to appear with Presley in his 1964 movie Roustabout.Presley was so impressed with his guitar playing that he personally invited Casher to perform with him on future gigs, but Casher declined the offer.After that, Casher signed a contract to become a regular guitarist on Gene Autry's Melody Ranch TV show, a popular family and children-friendly program. Casher was hired by Paramount Pictures to appear with Presley as a guitarist in his 1964 movie Roustabout Presley was so impressed with his guitar playing that he personally invited Casher to perform with him on future gigs, but Casher declined the offer. Above, Presley in a scene in Roustabout with Joan Freeman Casher appeared in The Patsy (1964) with Jerry Lewis, in an uncredited role as the Studio Guitarist He went on to work with Frank Zappa's rock band Mothers of Invention. Above, Casher, center with cap, performing with Zappa's band at The Whiskey a Go Go in 1966He went on to work with Frank Zappa's rock band Mothers of Invention, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Monkees, and Sonny & Cher.Casher appeared in The Patsy (1964) with Jerry Lewis. He had an uncredited role as the Studio Guitarist in the film.The prolific artist was also featured in three movies for Universal Pictures where he used his prototype wah-wah pedal including The Ghost and Mr Chicken (1966) and The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), both starring Don Knotts, and Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady(1968) with Phyllis Diller and Bob Denver.He used his wah-wah effect as a featured session musician playing on the soundtrack for the MGM film Don’t Make Waves (1967) starring Tony Curtis.Casher's guitar playing also appeared on the theme for NBC Nightly News. His work is featured on John Williams' theme The Mission, which was introduced in 1985 and is still being used to this day, making it the longest-running TV news theme in television history.His later work included the position of Music Director for the children's TV show The New Zoo Revue.He also composed Americana Suite for Orchestra around 2000.'There’s a story to the suite, it's not just a composition,' Casher told The Los Angeles Times in 2006. 'My father came to America from Austria when he was 13, and by 21 years old, he was an accomplished musician and he became a teacher and orchestra arranger and conductor. Casher's guitar playing also appeared on the theme for NBC Nightly News beginning in 1985 and is still running to this day. Above, Casher in 1998'Americana Suite is an inspiration of the American dream,' he said. 'And because I compose my music on the guitar, I translate it then to the orchestra sound, and the first movement is called The Pursuit.'He added: 'It is a fast and lively song with vivid anticipation of the American dream.'Casher served as producer on several Japanese anime television series, for their English-dubbed adaptations, including Love Hina (2000), Sakura Wars (2000), and Tenchi Myo! GXP (2002).He was born Delton Kacher in 1937, in Hammond, Indiana. After college, he moved to California.