George Moonoogian – at the deck.
It is sad to report the death of the well respected record collector, R&B expert, writer and DJ George A. Moonoogian of Haverhill, Massachusetts. George passed away on 17th December.Â
George was an English teacher and began collecting records in the 1950s, buying R&B, Blues, Gospel and Doo Wop 78s, 45s, LPs and memorabilia in thrift and dime stores and record shops, amassing a large record collection – with many rarities, one-offs, demo’s and highly collectable discs.
George was also a writer and researcher. His work appeared in ‘Goldmine’, ‘Record Exchanger’, ‘Record Collectors’ Monthly’, ‘Out Of The Past’ and ‘Whiskey, Women, And…’ producing in-depth and pioneering research on R&B artists such as Cecil Gant, Amos Milburn, Joe Turner, Doc Pomus, Helen Humes, Van Walls and pianist Sammy Price.
He co-produced a number of reissue albums for Jonas Bernholm’s reissue labels allied to Jonas’s Route 66 stable.
George was also an accomplished blues and boogie pianist and he hosted his own R&B record show on a radio station WJZ in Haverhill as DJ ‘GM Hooker’.
In recent years he had suffered from a brain aneurysm. which meant he couldn’t keep contact with the world of R&B record collecting, although long term buddy and co-founder of ‘Whiskey Women And…’ Dan Kochakian said that he ‘talked blues and R&B to George only two weeks ago and he was still sharp’.
Condolences go to George’s wife Dianne and the family.