The music community in Norman is mourning the tragic death of a man who helped found the live music scene on Campus Corner. Cleveland County officials said 76-year-old Bob “Space Dog’ Moore died in a house fire in Slaughterville last week.
Campus Corner was Moore’s musical home. He regularly played at The Deli and mentored up-and-coming musicians for decades.
“The owners decided they wanted to make a bigger stage for the bands,” said Carley Brown, daughter. “He did build the stage here.”
The band stage at The Deli is one of the many marks Moore left on Campus Corner. His oldest daughter Carley Brown said on Friday her father was known for his smile, authenticity, art and musical talent.
“There’s not an instrument he couldn’t play and he’s all self-taught,” said Brown.
Moore died last Tuesday when his Slaughterville home caught on fire. Brown said her father died at the front door trying to escape with his pets. Everything on the property was destroyed, including Moore’s instrument collection and art studio.
“Our family is trying really hard to honor his memory and clean up the property and return the land to its good state from the fire,” said Brown.
As they sift through the ashes, Moore’s family has received countless messages remembering the musician’s decades-long legacy.
“The sentiments we’ve got on Facebook is pretty much all of them are the same,” said Brown. “Bob was like a father to me, he mentored me, he taught me, he helped me with my music.”
Brown said the outpouring from the community has helped their family through the tragic loss.
“Make sure that we’re keeping his memory alive,” said Brown. “Which was about community, arts, and lifting people up.”
Moore’s daughter said he would want a party rather than a funeral. His family is planning a tribute concert and art show in the Spring.
Moore’s fellow musicians started a GoFundMe for his family to help in their efforts to clean up the destroyed property.