A vintage 1980 Moog Liberation keytar previously owned by "Dream Weaver" songwriter Gary Wright has been donated to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives by synth programmer Casey Young, with plans to restore it for display at the Moogseum in Asheville, North Carolina.
A rare white Moog Liberation keytar with serial number 8041, manufactured in 1980 and previously owned by Gary Wright, has been donated to the Bob Moog Foundation Archives by keyboardist and synth programmer Casey Young, who received the instrument as a gift from Wright himself.
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The Liberation holds a notable place in synthesiser history as one of the earliest examples of a wearable keytar. An adjustable leather strap allows the instrument to be worn like a guitar, giving keyboard players the freedom to move around the stage rather than staying rooted to a single spot. Connecting it to an external interface and power supply unit allows audio output and power delivery through a single cable, a clever solution for its era.
What makes the Liberation particularly significant is its built-in sound-generating synthesiser. MIDI wouldn’t arrive until 1983, so keytars of this period had to house all their own electronics, making them considerably heavier than the lightweight MIDI controllers that would follow. That inherent heft contributed to a very short production run. The Liberation was discontinued in 1981, which is a large part of why surviving examples are so rare and collectible today.
This particular instrument appeared in Gary Wright’s 1981 music video for “Heartbeat”. Wright, best known for writing and performing “Dream Weaver” in 1976, was known for incorporating keytars into his live performances. According to Young, Moog Music sponsored the band and donated three black and one white Liberation for use in the video, and Wright later gifted Young the white model, with the remaining three returned.
“Getting to work with Gary Wright was one of the best gigs I ever had,” said Young, whose credits also include Yes, Madonna, TOTO, Michael Jackson and Tina Turner. “He did so much to jump-start my musical journey.”
The Bob Moog Foundation plans to restore the Liberation to full working order for eventual display and hands-on use at the Moogseum. “Gary Wright’s Liberation is a part of synthesiser history,” said Executive Director Michelle Moog-Koussa. “We are deeply grateful to Casey Young for this important donation, and we look forward to sharing this historical gem once it has been restored.”
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