Moondog
Also known as Viking of 6th Avenue, Moondog And His Honking Geese
Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), known professionally as Moondog, was an American composer, musician, performer, music theoretician, poet and inventor of musical instruments. Largely self-taught as a composer, his prolific work widely drew inspiration from jazz, classical, Native American music which he had become familiar with as a child, and Latin American music. His strongly rhythmic, contrapuntal pieces and arrangements later influenced composers of minimal music, in particular American composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
Person · Open Library
- Born
- 1916
- Died
- 1999
- Works
- 1
Top works
- Moondog yearbook I.
via Open Library + Wikidata
Film & TV
Acting · Marysville, Kansas, USA
Moondog, born Louis Thomas Hardin, was an American musician, composer, theoretician, poet and inventor of several musical instruments. He was blind from the age of 16. Moondog lived in New York from the late 1940s until 1972, and during this time he could often be found on 6th Avenue, between 52nd and 55th Streets, wearing a cloak and a horned helmet sometimes busking or selling music, but often…
Known for
- La deuxième femme — Self2008
- Chappaqua — The prophet1966
- The Moving Finger — Self1963
- Jazz of Lights — Self1954
via TMDB
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
~19 min read
Article
21 sectionsContents
- Biography and career
- Early life
- New York City
- Germany
- Music
- Inventions
- Legacy
- Personal life
- Discography
- Singles
- EPs
- Albums
- With Julie Andrews and Martyn Green
- Compilations
- Various artist compilations
- Performed by other musicians
- References
- Further reading
- Articles
- Books
- External links
Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), known professionally as Moondog, was an American composer, musician, performer, music theoretician, poet and inventor of musical instruments. Largely self-taught as a composer, his prolific work widely drew inspiration from jazz, classical, Native American music which he had become familiar with as a child, and Latin American music. His strongly rhythmic, contrapuntal pieces and arrangements later influenced composers of minimal music, in particular American composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
Due to an accident, Moondog was blind from the age of 16. He lived in a small apartment on 44th Street in New York City from the late 1940s until 1972, during which time he was often found on Sixth Avenue, between 52nd and 55th Streets, selling records, composing, and performing poetry. According to the New York Times, he made most of his living begging. He briefly appeared in a cloak and horned helmet during the 1960s and was hence recognized as "the Viking of Sixth Avenue" by passersby and residents who were not aware of his musical career.
Gallery (4)
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Categories
1916 births1999 deaths20th-century American inventors20th-century American jazz composers20th-century American male composers20th-century American poetsAdherents of Germanic neopaganismAmerican avant-garde musiciansAmerican blind poetsAmerican blind singersAmerican expatriates in GermanyAmerican expatriates in West Germany
