Local musician Bob “Space Dog” Moore died in a house fire at his home in Slaughterville, Mayor Stephen Tyler Holman announced in a Facebook post Wednesday.
“Norman lost a true original, …” Holman wrote. “My thoughts are with everyone else who loved him and called him a friend.”
Holman wrote Moore was considered a staple of Campus Corner, playing his guitar and telling stories late into the night.
Holman spoke with the Daily Thursday about what Moore meant to the Norman community.
“(He was) one of those figures in a community, in a town, in an area, because he also was well known in Oklahoma City music venues and nightlife and comedy clubs and stuff, but just one of those characters that is real unique,” Holman said.
Holman said Moore was considered a father figure for aspiring musicians in the community.
In a 2017 interview with Tonya Little for the blog Little Okie Land, Moore spoke about his time leading the music scene in Norman.
Moore said he took over The Deli in Norman in 1988, and with the bar under his leadership from 1988 to 1995, he transformed it into a “7 day a week music place” that reflected his passion for encouraging creative music.
Moore let music guide him through much of his life, touring with the band The Moon Dogs for eight years — along the way recording two live albums in Canada — and mentoring young, up-and-coming artists like Wayne Coyne before Coyne joined The Flaming Lips.
Moore started his music career at 15 in 1965. He earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and his master’s degree in computer animation, which he taught for 14 years.
“I’ve taught at OU, I’ve taught at OCC, I’ve taught Children at Seeworth Academy Charter School and Dove Science Academy, and many many residencies,” Moore told Little.
Jordie Moorback, Moore’s daughter, shared a GoFundMe link on her Facebook to help cover the costs of the funeral and cleanup from the fire.
This story was edited by Macey Thaxton and Audrey McClour. Larkin Bock, Gretchen Schultz, Sophie Hemker and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
