What is "moondog"

Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), better known as Moondog, was an American composer, musician, poet and inventor of several musical instruments. He was blind from the age of 16. In New York from the late 1940s until he left in 1972, he could often be found on 6th Avenue between 52nd and 55th Street wearing a cloak and Viking-style helmet, sometimes busking or selling music, but often just standing silent and still.

He was widely recognized as "the Viking of 6th Avenue" by thousands of passersby and residents who weren't aware of his musical career.

Moondog is the nickname of American-born avant-garde composer Louis T. Hardin.

Moondog may also refer to:

Moondog is a minimalist sculpture created by Tony Smith in 1964. The piece is composed of 15 octahedra and 10 tetrahedra, and while perfectly ordered and symmetrical when seen from certain angles, it carries a strong tilt forward when seen from other angles. This is the third of an edition of three in the series (with one artist's proof).

The title refers to Joan Miró's painting Dog Barking at the Moon and the name of a blind poet and composer named Moondog.

It was installed at the Museum of Modern Art. In 1997, it showed at Paula Cooper Gallery. The work currently resides in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden.

Moondog is the fifth album by American composer Moondog.

Moondog had released no music for twelve years since his 1957 album The Story of Moondog. Finally, in 1969, producer James William Guercio invited him to record an album for Columbia Records.

The resulting album compiled various music which Moondog had been working on since the 1950s. This included two "minisyms" (Moondog's term for short symphonic-styled works performed by small orchestras); two canons; a chaconne in memory of Charlie Parker; ballet music originally written for Martha Graham ("Witch of Endor"); and three symphonic (or "symphonique") works, one of which was dedicated to Benny Goodman and featured elements of swing. A version of one composition, "Theme", had previously been recorded for Epic Records in 1952.

The album has been re-released twice as a 2-for-1 CD combining Moondog and Moondog 2: once by CBS in 1989, and once by Beat Goes On Records in 2001.