1. Robert Arthur Moog was an American engineer and electronic music pioneer.
40 Facts About Robert Moog
1. 2.
Robert Moog was the founder of the synthesizer manufacturer Moog Music and the inventor of the first commercial synthesizer, the Moog synthesizer, which debuted in 1964.
3.
In 1970, Moog released a more portable model, the Minimoog, described as the most famous and influential synthesizer in history.
4.
Robert Moog developed his synthesizer in response to demand for more practical and affordable electronic-music equipment, guided by suggestions and requests from composers.
5.
Robert Moog introduced fundamental synthesizer concepts such as modularity, envelope generation and the pitch wheel.
6.
Robert Moog is credited with introducing synthesizers to a wider audience and influencing the development of popular music.
7.
Robert Moog pursued his work as a hobby, and he is regarded as a poor businessman.
8.
In 1971, Robert Moog sold Robert Moog Music to Norlin Musical Instruments, where he remained as a designer until 1977.
9.
In later years, Robert Moog taught at the University of North Carolina at Asheville and continued designing instruments for the revived Robert Moog Music.
10.
Robert Moog died at the age of 71 in Asheville from a brain tumor.
11.
Robert Moog was born at Flushing Hospital in New York City on May 23,1934.
12.
Robert Moog's father was George Conrad Moog, of German descent.
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Robert Moog's mother was Shirley Moog, of Polish-Jewish descent.
14.
When he was a boy, Robert Moog's mother forced him to study the piano.
15.
Robert Moog was active in the Boy Scouts, and especially enjoyed spending time with his father, a Consolidated Edison engineer, visiting Manhattan's Radio Row and working on radio and electronics projects.
16.
Robert Moog became fascinated by the theremin, an electronic instrument controlled by moving the hands over radio antennae.
17.
Robert Moog graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1952.
18.
Robert Moog earned a PhD in engineering physics from Cornell University in 1965.
19.
In 1953, Robert Moog produced his own theremin design, and in the following year, he published an article on the theremin in Radio and Television News.
20.
Robert Moog married in 1958 and continued building and selling theremin kits from his own home in Ithaca, before establishing the company's first commercial space at 41 East Main Street in Trumansburg, New York in 1963, all while continuing to pursue his postgraduate education.
21.
At Cornell, Robert Moog began work on his first synthesizer components with composer Herb Deutsch.
22.
At the time, synthesizers were enormous, room-filling instruments; Robert Moog hoped to build a more compact synthesizer that would appeal to musicians.
23.
Robert Moog believed that practicality and affordability were the most important parameters.
24.
Robert Moog debuted the instrument at the 1964 Audio Engineering Society convention in New York.
25.
Robert Moog described himself as a toolmaker designing things for his users, not himself.
26.
Robert Moog's development was driven by requests and suggestions from various musicians, including Deutsch, Richard Teitelbaum, Vladimir Ussachevsky, and Wendy Carlos.
27.
In 1970, Robert Moog released the portable fixed-architecture Minimoog, described as the most famous and influential synthesizer in history.
28.
Robert Moog had pursued the development of his synthesizer as a hobby, stressing that he was regarded as a businessman but had not known what a balance sheet was.
29.
Robert Moog only patented his filter design; David Borden, one of the first users of the Minimoog, felt that if Robert Moog had patented his pitch wheel design, he would have become extremely wealthy.
30.
Robert Moog remained employed as a designer at the company until 1977.
31.
Robert Moog said that he would have left earlier if his contract had not required him to remain employed there for four years to cash his stock.
32.
In 1978, Robert Moog moved to North Carolina and founded a new electronic instrument company, Big Briar.
33.
Robert Moog worked as a consultant and vice president for new product research at Kurzweil Music Systems from 1984 to 1988.
34.
Robert Moog was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor on April 28,2005.
35.
Robert Moog died on August 21,2005, at the age of 71 in Asheville, North Carolina.
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Robert Moog was survived by his second wife Ileana, four children, one stepdaughter and five grandchildren.
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Robert Moog's awards include honorary doctorates from Polytechnic Institute of New York University, Lycoming College and Berklee College of Music.
38.
In 2013, Robert Moog was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame.
39.
Robert Moog felt that Cornell could provide better access for researchers and that the foundation had not made enough progress toward a planned museum to be worthy of maintaining the collection.
40.
Robert Moog had contributed the foreword to Glinsky's first book, Theremin: Ether Music and Espionage, about Leon Theremin, who was a principal inspiration to Robert Moog.