SYNTHESISER PIONEER MOOG DIES
Synthesiser pioneer Dr Robert Moog has died at his North Carolina home four
months after being diagnosed with brain cancer - he was 71.
Born in New York, Moog created his first electronic instrument, the
theremin, when he was just 14. He continued to develop other electronic
instruments, coming to public attention in 1968 via Wendy Carlo's album
'Switched-On Back', which featured Moog playing Back compositions on an
analogue synthesizer.
After building the MiniMoog, a compact, easy-to-use synthesizer, in 1970, an
ever increasing number of artists started to use Moog's instruments in their
music, including the Doors, the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. Even as
newer digital technology superseded Moog's creations some artists continued
to use his analogue synthesisers, including Brian Eno, Frank Zappa, The
Cure, Fatboy Slim and Stereolab.
In 2004 a Moogfest was organised in New York to celebrate Moog's
contribution to modern music. The organiser of that event, Charles Carlini,
paid tribute to Moog yesterday, saying: "He brought electronic music to the
masses and changed the way we hear music."
― Anna (Anna), Tuesday, 23 August 2005 09:28 (twenty years ago)