Wendy/Walter

[Teasing the Korean]

On Wendy Carlos's website, she claims that "Walter Carlos" was a pseudonym used because electronic music by a female musician wouldn't be taken seriously. I'd always heard quite a different story.

What's the deal? Is this revisionist history by W. Carlos?

[Hot Ptah]

Walter had a sex change operation and a name change to Wendy. I remember reading an article about how he appeared on a late 1960s TV talk show while undergoing hormone therapy but before the operation, and how the other guests stared at him with open shock about his appearance, in that less PC era.

[Teasing the Korean]

As I thought. So why would she fabricate such a presposterous story when everyone knows the real story?

On a related note, I think it's bizarre that albums released by Walter Carlos don't show up if you do an Amazon search for that name, but show up when you search for Wendy Carlos.

[Chuck Nessa]

She's probably dealing with some identity issue and denial is her answer.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

penis or no penis, W. sure has a lot of synthesizers

[DTMX]

penis or no penis, W. sure has a lot of synthesizers

Surprisingly enough, Columbia Records is using that same quote to promote the 40th anniversary release of Switched-On Bach next year.

I keed, I keed.

[DukeCity]

On Wendy Carlos's website, she claims that "Walter Carlos" was a pseudonym used because electronic music by a female musician wouldn't be taken seriously. I'd always heard quite a different story.

What's the deal? Is this revisionist history by W. Carlos?

I had always heard that "Walter Carlos" was her slave name; a way for the white establishment to keep her down. When she converted to Islam she took her rightful name of "Wendy Carlos."

... and she announced this development right after pummeling Sonny Liston to garner the heavyweight championship.

[JSngry]

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