Iconic New York City Street Musician Moondog Honored with Tribute Album
In the bustling streets of New York City during the 1960s and 1970s, there was one eccentric musician who stood out among the crowd. Known as Moondog, this Viking-clad composer and poet captivated the attention of passersby with his unique style and captivating music. Now, Moondog is being celebrated on a new tribute album, featuring collaborations with musicians such as Rufus Wainwright, Jarvis Cocker, and Joan as Policewoman.
Moondog’s presence on 6th Avenue and 53rd Street was hard to miss. Dressed in a doomy black tunic, adorned with a double-horned headdress and an eight-foot spear, he stood out among the hustle and bustle of the city. Despite being blind, Moondog refused to hide behind dark glasses, showcasing his poetic works and original compositions to anyone who passed by. Some saw him as a freak or a vagrant, but others recognized him as a visionary, including influential figures like Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, and Arturo Toscanini.
Moondog’s music and persona left a lasting impression on the music world. Janis Joplin covered his composition “All Is Loneliness” on her first album, and artists like T-Rex and Prefab Sprout referenced him in their lyrics. Despite this, Moondog’s legacy is mainly known to a niche group of musicians and fans. Inspired by his underrated talent, the Brooklyn-based jazz-chamber ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra collaborated with the Kronos Quartet to create a tribute album titled “Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog.”
Ghost Train Orchestra’s leader, Brian Carpenter, described himself as an “evangelist for Moondog,” wanting more people to discover the joy and wonder of his music. Moondog’s archive, located in Germany, contains hundreds of unrecorded compositions, showcasing his range that spans from classical to jazz to pop. To capture the unusual sounds of Moondog’s mind, he even created his own instruments, including the triangle-shaped percussive contraption called the “trimba.”
Moondog’s unconventional life began in Kansas in 1916, where he was born as Louis Hardin. After a life-altering accident left him blind, he found solace in music and eventually moved to New York City. Despite facing periods of homelessness, Moondog’s talent caught the attention of renowned conductor Artur Rodzinski, and he even had a connection to the early days of rock ‘n’ roll through DJ Alan Freed.
Today, Moondog’s legacy lives on through the recognition and appreciation of fellow musicians. The tribute album serves as a reminder of his innovative compositions and unyielding passion for self-expression. As Moondog once said, “Music was born free and to win freedom is its destiny.”
The album “Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog” is set to release in the coming months, ensuring that Moondog’s music continues to inspire and captivate new audiences.