American composer and pianist born Walter Carlos in 1939 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Released early albums under "Walter Carlos" before her 1972 gender transition and subsequent reissue/continued release under the name Wendy Carlos. Pioneering figure in electronic music; the 1968 album Switched-On Bach was a landmark moment in popularizing synthesized music.
Released a dozen albums spanning electronic classical, ambient, and film scores. Key works include Switched-On Bach (1968), The Well-Tempered Synthesizer (1969), Sonic Seasonings (1972), and scores for A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Shining (1980, partially used), and Tron (1982). Earlier releases now typically reissued under the Wendy Carlos name; the Walter Carlos credit appears on original-era pressings.
