Bob Moog

Robert Arthur Moog known as Bob Moog (23 May 1934 – 21 Aug 2005), an American pioneer of electronic music, best known as the inventor of the Moog synthesizer.

Biography

In 1953 at age 19, Moog founded his first company, R.A. Moog Co., to manufacture theremin kits. He created the first voltage-controlled subtractive synthesizer to utilize a keyboard as a controller and demonstrated it at the AES convention in 1964. The first Moog instruments were modular synthesizers. In 1971 Moog Music began production of the Minimoog Model D, which was among the first synthesizers that was widely available, portable, and relatively affordable. In 1972 Moog changed the company's name to Moog Music. Throughout the 1970s, Moog Music went through various changes of ownership, eventually being bought out by musical instrument manufacturer Norlin. Poor management and marketing led to Moog's departure in 1977. In 1978 he started making electronic musical instruments with a new company, Big Briar. Beginning with theremins, but by 1999 the company expanded to produce a line of analog effects pedals called moogerfoogers.

Further reading

• Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer, by Trevor Pinch and Frank Trocco, Harvard University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-674-01617-3
• The Art of Electronic Music by Tom Darter, William Morrow & Company, 1984, ISBN 0-688-03105-6, p.69-74

External links

• Moog, documentary film by Hans Fjellestad, 2004
• Bob Moog Foundation
• Compiled Moog Stuff, Webnote 14 by Bernie Hutchins