Moondog
 

I am fairly new to this guy but am utterly taken away by his life story and music. To encapsulate : Moondog was the pseudonym of Louis Thomas Hardin , a blind American composer, musician, cosmologist, poet, and inventor of several musical instruments. Although these achievements would have been considered extraordinary for any blind person, Moondog further removed himself from society through his decision to make his home on the streets of New York for approximately twenty of the thirty years he spent in the city. The public began to appreciate the extent of Moondog's talents only in the final decades of Moondog's life, primarily because of his stubborn refusal to wear anything other than his own home-made clothes, all based on his own interpretation of the Norse god Thor. Indeed, he was known for much of his life as 'The Viking of 6th Avenue'.

I have cut and pasted this from wikipedia but only for the reason that this guy needs to be heard and I don't know enough about him yet to write about him in the manner in which he deserves. I have only heard the album 1969 but it has made me go all weak at the knees and I'm damn sure that many of you have heard this:



I cannot wait to delve into his back catalogue.

This is a worthwhile read and listen.

Have not visited this story since the 60 Minutes piece 10+ years ago.

"Why are all the geniuses so mad"

I've only heard the 1969 album, but I own two others. I love this guy.

Wouldn't that bring him closer to society? Though the homemade clothing made
in tribute of Thor might undo that a little.

I read about this guy in The Big Book of Weirdos (which is pretty interesting in it's own right) but hadn't heard any of his music until right now. I like that song a lot.

I've not heard of Moondog but have been offered a copy of his album to review.
Should I be excited?

Sounds great, I shall be checking out more of him soon.

I love interesting characters like that, on a side note.

This guy sounds interesting, I'll check him out.

I like it...it actually sounds like a person walking (or skipping) down 6th avenue in strange clothing. Checkin' it out now...

I don't get it.

It just sounds like the kind of classical I don't like.