The Wizard of Menlo Park made a name for himself when he announced his latest invention of a device that could record and play back sound. Thomas Alva Edison had already issued several patents for improvements to the telegraph and telephone that made them more practical, using his proceeds to open the first research and development laboratory at Menlo Park, New Jersey. It was there that he stumbled upon the machine that would make him famous. In an experiment to see if he could record a telephone conversation, he used a stylus on a tinfoil cylinder. He surprised himself when his recording of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' played back: “I was never so taken aback in my life. I was always afraid of things that worked the first time.”
He brought his new invention to magazines to give demonstrations, which brought national recognition and led to his nickname: "The Wizard of Menlo Park". He shelved the device to work on developing the incandescent light bulb, during which time other inventors made improvements on his revolutionary 'sound writer'. The phonograph would usher in a new age of music and sound recording.
'Mary Had a Little Lamb'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBXyuY2J20o
The Song of Mr. Phonograph
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZWf2torO8
The Bee Gees - Edison
Chumbawamba did their song 'The Wizard of Menlo Park' as a bouncy tribute to the famous inventor.
Thomas Edison - Mary Had A Little Lamb dance remix by Frank O' The Mountain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqOJYJcZkoY
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