Christopher Franke: Thank You Very Much Bob Moog

August 21, 2010: Fifth Anniversary Tribute

Christopher Franke Photo From Bob Moog Foundation Archive Summarizes Sentiment

In combing through the archives for rarely seen photos to share on this very special day, we came across this one, below,  of Christopher Franke, pioneering synthesist for Tangerine Dream. Christopher sent this photo, with a small hand-written note, to Bob in the early 1970s and Bob had kept it neatly in his files. The photo speaks for itself, so we don’t need to elaborate on its significance too much. We do know that Bob considered himself a toolmaker, designing highly crafted, innovative, intuitive instruments for musicians. He took great joy in working with musicians, for they were the open spirits creating and communicating through the language of music. Bob must have been touched to receive Christopher’s note of gratitude, which serves as a tribute that Bob had succeeded in his goal to provide musicians with tools with which to expand their creativity.

Bob passed away five years ago, but he left a legacy as deep and broad as the sonic possibilities he created.  We echo Christopher’s sentiments of gratitude to a man who dedicated his life to expanding the very horizon of musical sound.

Many thanks to Christopher Franke for allowing us to share this photo and for his enormous contributions of pioneering the medium of electronic music itself.


Christopher Franke with his Moog Modular, 1970s (BMF Archive with permission from Christopher Franke)