Everyone talks about Bob Moog and Leon Theremin, but no one talks about Daphne Oram. Seems like a shame too, because this is a really interesting way to compose music. I like how visual it is.
I always found it rather shocking that Hughe Le Caine is always left out of the discussion even though he pretty much built one of the first synthesizers in the mid 40's. Gave it a hilarious name (Electronic Sackbut) then proceeded to make kick ass music that rivals some of the more creative IDM artists today.
That said this machine is awesome. Love switches on wooden panels.
You guys are just making names up. Well, three can play this game:
I think the classic overlooked synthesizer virtuoso would be Chad Kneepads. Him, along with Gretta Gilligan (a.k.a. Tracy Legs, a.k.a. The Human Tornado, a.k.a. Sandwiches), pioneered the ability to compose songs out of farts recorded on magnetic tape.