RIP Herbert A Deutsch, Synthesizer pioneer, co-inventor of the Moog Synthesizer, and musician, passed away last night.
Many Synthesizer pioneers left us in 2022. Shortly before the end of the year, another big one left us forever.
Herbert A Deutsch passed away last night at the age of 90 years.
RIP Herbert A Deutsch
Deutsch was mainly known for co-inventing the Moog Synthesizer with Bob Moog in 1964. So he was one of the founding fathers of what we know today as a synthesizer with a keyboard.
He was also an active musician and published many compositions. For example, in 1995, Deutsch’s multimedia opera Dorian (based on Oscar Wilde’s novel) premiered at the Hofstra Opera Theater. His love for the Minimoog and other Moog synthesizers lasted until the end of his life
Besides music designing, he has also taught at Hofstra University for over 50 years and was twice the chair of the music department. Further, Deutsch was a member of The Bob Moog Foundation and the Moogseum.
Moog recently published a very impressive and extensive documentary about the life of Herb Deutsch.
Moogseum Statement
We are saddened to share that Herb Deutsch has joined Bob Moog in Analog Heaven. Herb’s family shared with us that he passed away last night at the age of 90 years old.
It would be impossible to overstate Herb’s contribution to the Moog legacy. It was Herb who approached Bob about developing a device to make new sounds for his experimental jazz compositions. Bob was intrigued, and the two men then collaborated on what would become the Moog synthesizer prototype, with Herb explaining the musician’s needs and Bob designing the circuitry in response. They then worked together to promote the instrument and help people understand its revolutionary capabilities.Herb is seen here at the grand opening of the Moogseum in August of 2019, with the prototype in the background. He gave an incredible talk to the Moogmentum attendees.Herb will be deeply missed by all of us at the The Bob Moog Foundation and the Moogseum. We send our deepest condolences to Herb’s family and to the greater electronic music community who embraced him with love and reverence.
RIP Herbert A Deutsch, synth pioneer, and musician. Thank you for everything you gave to the Synthesizer and music world. You shaped the synth market but also electronic music forever. We will miss you.
More information here: Moogseum
Well, just for a case.
the first synth based on oscillators was actually made in Russia called – ThereminVox
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
it’s not about to confront, this man was good for sure, has his life well lived i guess
it’s about a bit of education, you know.
the first Moog Synthesizer, not the first “Synthesizer” ever designed or engineered.
Please don’t call every tone-generator a synthesizer …
The Theremin is a simple pitch and amplitude controlled oscillator. The Trautonium would be another example of an early electronic instrument.
Herb Deutsch massively influenced and inspired the development of what we know today as a “synthesizer” with building blocks like VCO, VCF, VCA, ADSR and LFO which are synthesized for a sound.