Switched On: Bob Moog and the Synthesizer Revolution

Bob Moog, the inventor of the Moog synthesizer, was a lovable geek with Einstein hair and pocket protectors. In 1964, his homemade contraption became a sensation, and it was featured in seminal film scores. However, he struggled to hang on to his inventions, business, and name due to imitators, the musicians' union, and Japanese competitors. His story upends our notions of success and wealth.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 24 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

The Moog synthesizer, a groundbreaking instrument that revolutionized the music industry, was declared by Rolling Stone to have "bent the course of music forever." The man behind this musical transformation was Bob Moog, a lovable geek with Einstein hair and pocket protectors. In 1964, Moog's homemade contraption unexpectedly gained popularity, causing a sensation that led to everyone wanting a Moog. The Beatles, The Doors, The Byrds, and Stevie Wonder discovered his synthesizer, and it became featured in seminal film scores such as Apocalypse Now and A Clockwork Orange. The Moog's game-changing sounds saturated the 60s counterculture and burst into the disco party in the 70s, igniting the electronic dance music movement.

Bob Moog, however, faced significant challenges. Imitators copied his technology, the musicians' union accused him of replacing live players, and Japanese competitors began to overtake his work. He struggled to retain his inventions, his business, and his very name. Bob's story challenges our notions of success and wealth, revealing that the two are not always intertwined.

In Switched On, author Albert Glinsky delves into the life and work of Bob Moog through exclusive access to his personal archives and probing interviews with Bob's family and a multitude of associates. This comprehensive biography offers a nuanced journey through the public and private worlds of this legendary inventor, providing a roller coaster ride of triumph, heart-breaking moments, and frequently laugh-out-loud absurdity. The book takes the reader on a journey through the public and private realms of this legendary inventor, offering a captivating and insightful exploration of his life and contributions to music.

Weight: 1042g
Dimension: 243 x 162 x 40 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197642078