Monday is the birthdate of the late electronic music pioneer Robert Moog. Born in 1934 in New York City, Moog was fascinated by the theremin as a youngster, and he built his own at age 14. Moog went on to earn a PhD in engineering physics at Cornell University, and it was at Cornell that he began his work developing the instrument we now know as the synthesizer.

The Moog Synthesizer revolutionized pop music from the 1960s onward. The Doors and the Beatles were among the first major acts to try out the new sound, while later artists like Kraftwerk built entire catalogues around the synth sound. To this day, the Moog Synthesizer continues to create rich textures in many genres of music.

Let’s celebrate the legacy of Robert Moog on his birthday. For today’s 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that feature the synthesizer?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

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Songs played:
Parliament - Flashlight
Gary Numan - Are 'Friends' Electric
The Monkees - Star Collector
Wendy Carlos - Orchestral Suite No. 3: Air on the G String
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
Air - Sexy Boy
Hot Butter - Popcorn