As it said on the moogmusic.com home page as of this writing, Bob Moog's body has left us. But his wonderful creative mind will forever remain in the world of music he so greatly influenced.
Ironically, he wasn't a musician. He was an instrument maker. More specifically, an electronic instrument maker. He was the first person to design and produce synthesizers that were portable, affordable, and otherwise widely accessible to all musicians thus revolutionizing the world of music. He made it possible to literally make sounds that were out of this world.
When I began studying electronic music in high school, I was quickly made aware of his contributions. To my surprise and delight, I discovered that he had retired to an area outside of Asheville, NC only a 3 hour drive away from where I lived and he was teaching at UNCA. When it came time, I applied to UNCA and was accepted. Thus I had the great fortune of studying with him in 1991-92, his last year teaching there.
Through that experience I discovered that he was much more than an engineer. He was truly a delight to be with. He approached the world of sound with a sense of awe and discovery of a child. I remember when we got a new Kurzweil 2000 for the lab and we were setting it up. We played with it for about 5-10 minutes and then he turned it off. Why you ask?... Because he just had to take off the cover and see what was under the hood! All the while with the look of an eager child who has just dissected his first TV.
And though he had a background of logic and engineering he had a deep regard for the affection a musician has for their instruments and the spiritual connection it implies. I remember him talking about a recent visit he had from a reporter at the time. The reporter had brought one of the very first portable DAT recorders(a TASCAM I believe) to record the interview. When he was setting up the reporter dropped it and in great grief found that it no longer worked. So he conducted the interview without it. Then, while packing up the reporter again accidentally dropped it onto the floor. Out of curiosity, they tried using it and it worked. Bob then described with great amusement that moment as "the ultimate love tap". I will never beat a piece of equipment again without thinking of him and his love taps.
He also truly had a fascination with what musicians could do with an instrument no matter what their skill was. He seemed to recognize the infinite possibilities and saw each musician as the potential next creator of something fantastic. At least that's how he seemed to me.
Bob Moog showed a continued passion for life that I have rarely seen in others that to this day inspires me. I remember his talk on the first day of class with him so vividly. He said, "I am not going to teach you how to use a piece of equipment because it is technology, and technology is ever changing and inevitably will become obsolete. Instead, I want to teach you what I do. Read the manuals cover to cover for any new piece of equipment you get and try every feature... My goal is to teach you to teach yourself".
While that may sound like something a lazy professor might say he was still available to us in every way and supported our projects and research with his own insights and enthusiasm. He basically asked us what we wanted to achieve and said "okay, I'll do what I can to help you get there". He was extremely generous in this way.
Although I went completely acoustic with my music a few years later and for awhile even stopped playing, his teachings still inspired my everyday living. As with two of my other life changing mentors, Ed Littlefox and Tom Brown, Jr., he taught me to be a student of life, to never give up the learning process, and to be humble to the infinite possibilities.
Dr. Moog, may your passing take you to the grandest realms of music. I will cherish our time together always.
Matthew Cox . org
http://matthewcox.org/article.php/bob-moog