We Still Miss You, Bob
Today marks two years since we lost one of electronic music‘s founding fathers, Bob Moog. I attended an event held in his honor in Asheville, North Carolina, three days after his passing. Here‘s an email I sent to the other EM editors the next day, describing the experience:
The Moog memorial event yesterday was just incredible. Bob’s son Matt organized the whole thing and served as master of ceremonies for a gathering of almost 300. From noon until 4:00, about 15 friends and family members took turns telling stories about Bob, most of them very humorous, very touching, or very enlightening, and often all three. The stories only reinforced what we already know about what a colorful character and what a genuinely modest, funny, and warm human being Bob was.
The celebration began with music from Bob’s favorite local band, Toubab Krewe. The first speaker was Herb Deutsch, who told how in 1963, he coaxed Bob into creating an instrument that musicians could really use, which led to the first keyboard synthesizers and a lifelong friendship. Dave Borden, who apparently had a talent for blowing up electronic circuits, told of how Bob gave him a key to provide full nighttime access to the Moog studio, where he was unknowingly used to idiot-proof synth modules.
Wendy Carlos was positioned as the keynote speaker. She began with an account of how she and Bob met at AES; her most quotable quote was that he was a scientist who spoke music, and she was a musician who spoke science. Alongside her stories about Bob, she played four recorded examples of her work, ranging from Switched-On Bach to Beauty in the Beast. Her recording of the Henry Purcell’s funeral procession from “A Clockwork Orange” was especially poignant.
Steve Dunnington, Moog Music’s heir apparent, played “Amazing Grace” on the theremin. Cyril Lance, a very talented musician and reportedly brilliant physicist who was Bob’s most favored choice to carry on his work, played guitar and sang a couple songs. Steve Martin, the director of the film “Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey,” told great stories of his experiences with Bob, Leon Theremin, and Clara Rockmore. Bob’s wife Ileana Grams and all his children shared their stories and feelings with the audience. The final speaker was a famous Japanese synthesist who had a close lifelong friendship with Bob and considered him his “master.” Bob even suggested the name for his daughter, Eureka, who had accompanied him and his wife from Japan the day before. Unfortunately, I don’t recall his name.
After the official event, a couple dozen of us relocated to Bob and Ileana’s house. Ileana gave a detailed account of how she and Bob discovered the cancer and how it progressed. He died at home, and they kept him there until the funeral. Wendy pointed out that Larry Fast’s father died of the same illness last year. A room full of synthesists was quite a stimulus for conversation. I was the first to leave, at about 9:30, and I got home at midnight–12 hours after the memorial celebration had begun.
Obviously, Bob had lots of very good friends who thought the world of him.
Related Topics: Geary Yelton, Emusician
August 21st, 2007 at 8:57 pm
It’s hard to believe that it has been two years already. And several major trade shows have come and gone without Bob in attendance. He continues to be sorely missed…
August 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 am
There is a great deal of talk about “great” bands, songs, albums and figures in music. Of course it’s mostly crap, there are very few truly great things, but whatever way you look at it, Bob Moog had a more significant and lasting effect on music throughout the last few decades than practically anyone else. His work on synthesis truely revolutionised the music we are able to make, and he’ll be sadly missed. –xithium
September 4th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I was a fledgling engineer at Universal Recording In Chicago when the first Moog units became available. The senior engineers at the studio were besieged by musicians to acquire one for experimentation. It didn’t take long for everyone to learn how to use the patchcords and get great new sounds for use in jingles and records.
Leave a Comment
About
Stay up to date on the latest technology news. Select press representatives post company news several times a day. Check back often to get the latest news on product releases, mergers and acquisitions, and product applications. To be included in this virtual press conference, please contact The Briefing Room.Categories
Calendar
Archives
Your Account
Subscribe