Moondog: the Man on the Street | On-Point. Gordon Spencer of WBAI in New York presents a program about Louis Hardin, more popularly known as Moondog. From the 1940s up until 1974 Moondog made his living as a street musician and poet in New York City and was typically found near the jazz clubs on 52nd Street. Blind since an accident when he was 16 years old, Moondog was always recognizable in his Viking helmet playing a variety of instruments, some of his own design. In this program Moondog talks about his interests, his influences and his experiences.
Recorded 1971-07-03. (there are two parts, click next for the second part) Shout to J.Neversleeps for the hat tip! Moondog in New York. Bochum, West Germany.For 30 years he was a landmark for New Yorkers. Decked out in a bizzare mock-Viking outfit, a horned helmet on his head and a spear in his hand, he stood on the corner of 54th Street and Sixth Avenue, majestically ignoring the giggles and wisecracks, selling his poems and copies of his sheet music and playing what one critic called "delicate Coplandesque rhythms" on weird instruments of his own design. He called himself Moondog, after a dog he liked, and was unfailingly courteous and patient with the curious. Although handicapped by total blindness from an explosion when he was 16 years old, Moondog wasn't just another one of the crazies wandering aimlessly through the metropolis, but a dedicated nonconformist who insists he pursued his unorthodox street life for the sake of his music. Over the years he acquired a lot of friends, some of them with real clout in the music world, like Artur Rodzinski, conductor of the New York Philharmonic.
Moondog. Moondog, born Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), was a blind American composer, musician, poet and inventor of several musical instruments. Moving to New York as a young man, Moondog made a deliberate decision to make his home on the streets there, where he spent approximately twenty of the thirty years he lived in the city. Most days he could be found in his chosen part of town wearing clothes he had created based on his own interpretation of the Norse god Odin. [citation needed] Thanks to his unconventional outfits and lifestyle, he was known for much of his life as "The Viking of 6th Avenue".[1] Early life[edit] Hardin played drums for the high school band in Hurley, Missouri before losing his sight in a farm accident involving a dynamite cap at the age of 16.[2] After learning the principles of music in several schools for blind young men across middle America, he taught himself the skills of ear training and composition.
New York City[edit] Germany[edit] EPs[edit] Stefan Lakatos||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||< Outtakes. Moondog The main problem with authorized biographies is that, well, they’re authorized. This means certain vital facts may be left out due to jealousies, estate disputes, etc. Such is the case with the long-awaited Moondog by Robert Scotto. But if you’re a fan like I am, you will overlook this very readable bio’s one major historical gap, namely Moondog’s many years living in Germany, some of which were spent with two now-dear friends of mine.
After prying him away from them, his last companion, Ilona Goebel (who helped Moondog set up the primary holding company for his artistic endeavors, and now controls his estate), has for some reason decided to obliterate Norbert Nowotsch and Tom Glott from the Moondog history, a hard thing to do when there’s enough proof to sink a ship. Sound Art Now on to a few recent concerts that I saw and almost completely loved, to end 2007 and begin 2008.
My second concert of the New Year was at John Zorn’s club, the Stone, curated this month by Hal Willner. Moondog - Music. Moondog (Louis Hardin) (1916 - 1999. Moondog – Le Viking de la 6ème Avenue. Moondog: the Man on the Street.