Robert Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer, was born today in 1934.

His electronic design is used in many synthesizers including the Minimoog, Minimoog Voyager, Little Phatty, Moog Taurus, and the Moogerfooger line of effects pedals.

What do you need to be THIS GOOD at pioneering synthesizer design techniques? Piles of physics education. Moog earned a B.S. in physics from Queens College, and a Masters from the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and a Ph.D. in engineering physics from Cornell University.

So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs that feature the synthesizer would you like to hear?

Respond with your song ideas in the comments below.

Have an idea for a Coffee Break topic? Submit your idea for a future theme and browse past Coffee Breaks in our archive. Or, when you register for a Minnesota Public Radio account, you can send requests via Alexa, too Just say "Alexa, ask The Current to play Song by Artist" e.g. "Alexa, ask The Current to play Left of the Dial by The Replacements."

Songs played

Crystal Castles - Affection
Yaz - Don't Go
MGMT - Kids
Depeche Mode - World in My Eyes
Grimes - Oblivion
Real Life - Send Me An Angel
Parliament - Flashlight
Popcorn - Hot Butter