Leon Theremin

Born Lev Sergeyevich Termen, Leon Theremin's most famous invention, the theremin, was developed in Soviet Russia in the early 1920s. This eerie, touchless instrument produced sound by sensing the proximity of the player's hands to two antennas, a concept so futuristic it felt like something from a bad sci-fi film, yet it became a legitimate instrument. It was later famously used in horror movie soundtracks and by the Beach Boys.

Theremin spent over a decade in the United States, where he patented his invention and performed for appreciative audiences. However, his American dream came to an abrupt end when he was mysteriously abducted and returned to the Soviet Union in 1938. There, he was promptly sent to a gulag and later forced to work in a secret laboratory for the KGB, applying his genius to surveillance technology rather than avant-garde music.

After his release, Theremin continued his work in obscurity, reportedly teaching at the Moscow Conservatory in later years, though his most significant contributions remained under wraps for decades. He managed to live to a ripe old age, long enough to see his unique instrument enjoy a resurgence of interest in the West, finally receiving some belated recognition for his truly otherworldly creation.