Sun Ra & the History of the Minimoog at The Bob Moog Foundation

The Bob Moog Foundation has a post up featuring Sun Ra & the history of the first Minimoog.  Sun Ra was given a prototype Model B. The later Model D was the released production model. You can find a couple of videos of Sun Ra with the prototype Model B here and an audio interview with an image of the prototype here.

"In 1969, a year before the introduction of the Minimoog, Sun Ra became familiar with Bob Moog’s modular studio synthesizer. He was given a demonstration in New York by Gershon Kingsley.[i] Sun Ra first met Robert Moog after Downbeat journalist and Sun Ra acquaintance Tam Fiofori arranged for a visit to Moog’s factory in Trumansburg in the Fall of 1969. [ii] This was most likely October. Bob and his crew were testing prototypes of the Minimoog at that time, inviting Sun Ra to explore its sounds. A recording of this test session was made and, although not originally intended for commercial release, partly released many years later in 1992 as the 'Moog Experiment' (My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2, CD tracks 7-11, Evidence Records.) But more significantly, it was during this visit that Moog loaned Sun Ra a prototype Minimoog (Model B), several months before the commercial instrument (Model D) was introduced in March 1970...

What is perhaps most interesting about this encounter is that the Minimoog was still an untested idea—at least in the mind of Bob Moog. The development of a portable synthesizer was a risk for his small company. But Sun Ra’s enthusiasm was one of the first indications that a veteran live performer found promise in the new instrument."

Read the full post at The Bob Moog Foundation here.


In related Bob Moog Foundation News:
Samoogarai T-shirt Comes to Life
Dr Bob's SoundSchool Expands to Rural Madison County

And don't forget, the 2014 BMF Calendar makes a great stocking stuffer!