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Louis T. Hardin a/k/a Moondog, 1916-1999
by Jordan Hoffman

published 9/20/99

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Jordan Hoffman is LeisureSuit.net's Queens-based Senior Editor.



MOST RECENT YAK ABOUT THIS ARTICLE:

Subj: Moondog
Check out this issue of Wilson Quarterly. Intresting article about Moondogs law suit against DJ Alan Freed. Great picture of Moondog in his prime.

-- Jim D
Oct 24, 2007 at 7:18PM

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A puzzling image for a boy discovering rock n' roll
Louis T. Hardin, better known as Moondog, has died. He was a curiosity even in the modern classical-cum-jazz world he lived on the fringes of. He was even strange as compared to most New York street denizens. His legacy is this: he represented a moment when music appreciation was so inclusive, that it could even veer a bit to the extreme avant-garde and still maintain a veneer of rock's mysticism and rebellion. That doesn't exist today, no matter how much of a mindfucker you tell me a specific electronica DJ is. The height of Moondog's popularity, so my sketchy research tells me, was in the heady days of the late sixties, when ten-year-old records by a blind man who dressed like a Viking Wizard were brought out at gatherings. This occurred, I'm guessing, because there truly was no music packaged before or since so wonderfully shrouded in the perfect blend of mystery, myth, oddity, and potential-genius.

I've been obsessed with Moondog for years, but it wasn't until around 18 months ago that I ever heard any of his music. What I loved so much about Moondog was that picture. Yeah, that one, the one right up top. I used to stare at that picture an awful lot in those old record sleeves from albums I "borrowed" from my parents. There came a time in my childhood when I recognized that not all of my parents' record collection was horribly lame. There was some stuff by the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Dave Brubeck, and Chicago Transit Authority. With all of these records would be a sleeve advertising other albums on the same label, presumably so you could send away for them. Many were by bands I knew; at least half seemed to be by comedian Flip Wilson or exotic crooners like Charles Aznavour or Jose Feliciano. But some would be for strange acts I'd never even heard of. What's this, a band called "War" from the peace and love 60s? Who's this guy Al Kooper? Is he like Alice Cooper? And what on Earth is this Moondog guy??? I would ask older friends and "hip" teachers who seemed to remember music that preceded Michael Jackson's "Thriller" or The Boss.

Most people had kinda heard of Moondog, but no one had actually heard his music. No store had Moondog albums. I felt like I was on the verge of discovering a Leonard Zelig. All I had was that one crazy picture. I was therefore convinced that Moondog was the greatest, most important and transcendent music ever. Of course, at this point, I was fast becoming convinced that anything to do remotely with the 60's or psychedelia was very important, and, worst of all, being "kept" from me because I didn't live in New York or San Francisco. This is the only possible explanation of why I sat through 2001: A Space Odyssey as many times as I did.

Finally I was old enough to travel into New York on my own. I still remember going to the Tower Records on 4th Street with a list of artists I'd only heard about, and had fought in vain to find recordings of in lame Jersey "Sam Goodys." Among them: Roky Erickson, Syd Barrett, Yo La Tengo (then still very much a new band), Adrian Belew, The Residents, Phil Ochs, and, yes, Moondog. Eventually I found Moondog albums. Each with weird album covers of an old blind man. But for some reason I never bought them. You know this drill, you go in with $50 to spend on CD's, quickly collect about ten things, make a swift calculation, and then go through that horrible music-lovers equivalent of Sophie's Choice. For years, Moondog always got put on the heap.

Eventually I spoke with someone who had actually heard a Moondog album. He said it wasn't rock at all. (Up until now I had just assumed Moondog was psychedelic acid-rock.) He said Moondog was kinda like background music, with an orchestra, but kinda messy and choppy; not really worth spending money on.

An unlikely hippie party album
Then, a little less than two years ago, New York DJ Vin Scelsa played a real hopping, thunderous brass tune. It was like hearing the Mingus Big Band playing Phillip Glass. He eventually back announced it as a new (new?) composition by Louis Hardin, and then dared his old-fart listeners to come up with another name for this guy. It was Moondog! Remember Moondog? Didn't we all get stoned back in the 60's and kinda nod our heads in a not-quite-comprehending fashion at this guy? Well, apparently he's been living in Germany and has just released an album with the London Saxophonic called "Sax Pax for a Sax." You remember Moondog, right?

And then I heard who Moondog really was. See, I have a sense about things--I inherently knew how cool this guy was. Louis Hardin was born in Kansas in 1916, the son of a preacher. His family then moved to Montana, where he rode a horse to school in a place called Burnt Fork. He used to hang out with Indian chiefs and join in drum ceremonies. He lost his eyesight in his early teens in a dynamite accident. He learned musical composition, changed his name to Moondog, then moved to New York. That's when he started dressing up like a Viking, and hanging around the midtown "Jim and Andy's" recording studio neighborhood. He would spout off poetry and bang on hand-crafted instruments. According to all accounts, he made a decent living, was something of an attraction, and became fast friends with Charlie Parker, Benny Goodman, James William Guercio and Leonard Bernstein. He wrote music in his own language, codifying contours and expressions never before marked in written music. (I have no specifics as to what these are--material on Moondog is scarce, but if anyone should know please contact me.) He also invented his own instrument, most noticeably the Oo, a hand-held clave instrument that sounded fairly Japanese, encased in triangular wood.

Moondog recorded on the jazz label Prestige in the mid-to-late 50's. The albums were a collection of "minimalist" repetitions on piano and drum with flute. Often there is orchestral goings-on beneath this, and interspersed through it all is street noise, ambient sound, traffic, non-instruments just behaving in a would-be musical fashion. The claim is that it was all written down. Cynics would say it was certainly written down--by a blind man!

In rock terms, one could call early Moondog, at its best, much like the beginnings and ends of popular psychedelia of the 60's. Like the end of Jimi Hendrix' "If 6 Were 9" or even The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever." Moondog titles included "Queen Elizabeth Whistle and Bamboo Pipe (Duet)", "Ostrich Feathers Played on Drum", "Frog Bog", and "Conversation and Music at 51st St & 6th Ave".

Frankly, it all blurred together. There was one exception, "Moondog Monologue," an eight minute poem spoken over some of his music (not easily discernable from the rest) that was clever and humorous. Regarding his Viking garb he calmly stated, "I do not dress the way I do to attract attention, I attract attention because I dress the way I do."

I say "early Moondog" almost as a joke. After these albums Moondog disappeared. He hung around his corner for a while, but he stopped recording. He had a handful of releases in Germany, of which there is virtually no information, except that one is a song cycle all done on pipe organ, played in a staccato style, as a musical response to the 1938 ditty "Summer is A-Comin' In." What amazes me to no end is just how many people actually bought and gave this stuff a try. When stuff like this is put out today a few Knitting Factory-heads buy it and then it kinda goes away. But back then, many many hip people bought this, and then it was "re-discovered" ten years later. How did Big Brother and the Holding Company (Janis Joplin's first band) know to turn one of his songs into a psychedelic album-filler? Was it just because there was less material around back then? There were "modern composers" making records that were rightly dismissed. Is this stuff actually good? Is it just because he dressed as a Viking and freaked-out the squares in midtown? My guess, like Tom Wolfe admitted in his now 33 year old essay on Marshall McLuhan, is that people were worried, what if he's right? Moondog sure acted like a genius, we'd better treat him like one. This is different from "emperor's new clothes" because the market here isn't one to hail. They are one to secretly know and respect. It's all very complicated.

Louis Hardin's last and undeniably best work
The kicker is that the 1996 release "Sax Pax for a Sax" is actually quite stunning. When Moondog did away with the stray noise, or wanking on one hand-made instrument, he showed a real knack for tone qualities, sad and beautiful melodies, and forceful honking. Moondog bangs along on the bass drum as the looping groups of saxes beat away at his charts. There are two gaslight-era sounding choruses, both extolling cities. The first is Paris, pronounced Par-eee, the other New Amsterdam. Your guess is as good as mine. When I heard the album in full for the first time I was quite taken with it, and figured ol' Moondog might return to the states and maybe play at Carnegie Hall or the Beacon like those other newly-recording octogenarians, the Buena Vista Social Club. But, no. Moondog instead died.

Moondog is one of popular music's footnotes. But his span (remember: even those who hadn't heard him at least heard of him) is staggering, given just how uncommercial his music is. It is a phenomenon that will never be repeated, given the specialization of music marketing today. The way trends and subcultures are pigeonholed means there is no more room for street-walking, poetry spewing Vikings who bang blocks together and vibrate little pieces of string over lush orchestration. And it's a crying shame. I think.


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Name: Jim D
Subject: Moondog
-- Oct 24, 2007 at 7:18PM
Check out this issue of Wilson Quarterly. Intresting article about Moondogs law suit against DJ Alan Freed. Great picture of Moondog in his prime.

Name: Bob Manf
Subject: Monddog
-- Sep 5, 2007 at 3:59AM
I have a phot although it's redish in color. I can send it to you if you like for this site. I was in high school and shooting photos in NYC. It was one of my first rolls of B&W so it was under exposed. He surely was an interesting character. I did know his name but's that's all I remember.

Name: Jamie
Subject: sheet music
-- Jun 18, 2007 at 11:25PM
Does any one know where I can get a copy of the sheet music for "Synchrony" ; No. 2 ?

Any direction would be most greatly appreciated!

thanks,
Jamie

Name: P. Vier
Subject: Moondog
-- Jun 5, 2007 at 8:26PM
I met Mooondog for the first time in the Port Authority back in 1968. He was standing there all by himself, holding a staff-like stick to help him find his way. I couldn't resist speaking with him. He was a gentle giant of a man. I was in a band at the time, so we did discuss music. He was quite curious about what music I enjoyed. I had to leave to catch the late bus back to Jersey, or I would have stayed with him longer. He was the "real-thing&quo t;. A few years later, I ordered both of his albums. Many people have seen these albums over the years. The album shown above opens up like a double album, and shows a more complete picture of the man. He must have lived a long life to have finally died in Germany.

Regards,

Phil

Name: Said
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 30, 2007 at 9:21PM
I WAS ONE OF HIS FANS AND MADE A FEW TRIPS TO NY AT 52st to get his poetry books and music when he hung out a noble wizard ... I forgot about him until yesterday when I found his name in a gallery and it all flooded me with great reverance.... Best Said

Name: Rockin' Richard
Subject: Moondog
-- Nov 9, 2006 at 2:41AM
Hi: Wow! A lot of people remember the Moondog. I still play his Moondog Theme on my radio show now in it's 32 year. You can hear the Moondog Tuesday nights on the Rockin' Richard Show www.wnhu.net from 6pm to 8pm east coast time. Moondog still rules!

Name: Xenai Narati
Subject: Re: Tribute to Moondog
-- Mar 30, 2006 at 10:54AM
please let me inform you about the release of my latest CD MOONDOG's SHARP HARP (AM 1404-2), that was released on one of germanys leading classic labels ARS MUSICI. beside music of some old masters i recordet a big deal of MOONDOG compositions including 5 never before recordet tunes.

www.xenia-narati .de

Name: Carlos Burlar
Subject: Moon Dog
-- Feb 23, 2006 at 2:19AM
I knew Moon Dog when i was a young man. My step mother lived with him south of ithica new york in a place that he had built with his own hands. I will never forget shaking his hands. They were rough and he seemed very strong. He left an impresion on me that has lasted my whole life.... i will never forget him

Carlos Burlar
CBurlar@msn.com

Name: Darwin
Subject: Mr. Scruff - Get A Move On
-- Feb 22, 2006 at 10:06PM
I heard this tune on a Lincoln Navigator commercial. Jazzy but looped. Couldn't tell who did it. But oneday I was told it was by a DJ named Mr. Scruff. The tune is called - Get A Move On. He looped the Moondog track - Bird's Lament. From there on I been becoming a NEW fan for Moondog recordings!

-Darwin
Princeton, NJ

Name: Hervé Zénouda
Subject: Tribute to Moondog
-- Dec 25, 2005 at 8:20AM
The French Label "Trace Label" inform you that we just release a Tribute to Moondog (Louis Hardin : 1916-1999)

A tribute by 18 composers :
NORMAN BAMBI, JEAN JACQUES BIRGÉ, DRAGIBUS, DAVID FENECH, GROUPE D'ESSAI N°3, ILLICHT,
KONKI DUET, STEFAN LAKATOS, GUILLAUME LOZILLON, MAMI CHAN, MARKUS MUENCH,
XENIA NARATI, LES PRODUCTIONS DE L'INVISIBLE, PUSSE, JOSEPH RACAILLE, LAURENT SAIET
SAMON TAKAHASHI, HERVE ZENOUDA

You can Listen and buy the record on our Website :
http://www.trace lab.com

Moondog Official Site : http://www.moondogsc orner.de/

?

Name: Cindy L
Subject: Charts for CBS sessions?
-- Nov 5, 2004 at 12:22AM
I just finished talking to NYC musician from 1969 CBS recording. I have wanted to play this music for the longest time. Are there charts available for any the instrumental tunes?

Name: Stefan Lakatos
Subject: Moondog Trimba and New York
-- Jul 5, 2004 at 6:48AM
Hello and greetings from Sweden!

Would be happy if you could support this project by forward it, publish it on web or paper or in any other way make it VISIBLE!

It is time for a tribute to Moondog in New York!

"Stefan Lakatos is the leading exponent of the Moondog method of drum playing", said Louis Hardin 1986.

Stefan will be arriving from Sweden, to spend the month of July in New York, where he will pay tribute to the spirit of Moondog.

WANTED!
Looking for friends, lovers, contemporaries and aquaintances of Louis Hardin, a.k.a. MOONDOG.
We are inviting musicians and artists to connect and network with Stefan Lakatos, intimate friend and musical inheritor of Moondogs´ percussion instrument, the Trimba. A trimba performance and Moondog celebration are being planned and scheduled, so please stay posted and alert for upcoming times and dates.
Those interested can reach Stefan Lakatos by email at stefanlakatos01@yaho o.se or meet him at the corner of 54th Street and 6th Avenue, from the 9th - 25th of July, between 4 pm and 6 pm DAILY.

Thank you!

Best wishes,

Stefan

Name: Stefan Lakatos
Subject: Moondog Trimba and New York
-- Jul 5, 2004 at 6:46AM
Hello and greetings from Sweden!

Would be happy if you could support this project by forward it, publish it on web or paper or in any other way make it VISIBLE!

It is time for a tribute to Moondog in New York!

"Stefan Lakatos is the leading exponent of the Moondog method of drum playing", said Louis Hardin 1986.

Stefan will be arriving from Sweden, to spend the month of July in New York, where he will pay tribute to the spirit of Moondog.

WANTED!
Looking for friends, lovers, contemporaries and aquaintances of Louis Hardin, a.k.a. MOONDOG.
We are inviting musicians and artists to connect and network with Stefan Lakatos, intimate friend and musical inheritor of Moondogs´ percussion instrument, the Trimba. A trimba performance and Moondog celebration are being planned and scheduled, so please stay posted and alert for upcoming times and dates.
Those interested can reach Stefan Lakatos by email at stefanlakatos01@yaho o.se or meet him at the corner of 54th Street and 6th Avenue, from the 9th - 25th of July, between 4 pm and 6 pm DAILY.

Thank you!

Best wishes,

Stefan

Name: maggie
Subject: Louis T. Hardin a/k/a Moondog, 1916-1999
-- Apr 6, 2004 at 10:49PM
first heard moondog on a Kronos Quartet CD...in doing research to find sheet music for synchrony number two (can anyone help me??)
I have found some fascinating information about moondog. I want to hear more of his work.

Name: G.LOIZILLON
Subject: MOONDOG
-- Jan 28, 2004 at 12:25PM
We are planning the production of an album, tribute to Moondog.
For now, we have contact with a few of musician , composers or poets
working in Paris, all Moondog lovers and ready to propose some
material.

We are still thinking of the concept of the album. (originals pieces in
tribute, covers, new interpretations ...)

We are sending you this message to inform you of the project and to
know if you would be interested in a contribution to it .
(Suggering us other artists, finding the way to find scores and to be
in touch with music editors of Moondog to inforce the project ....

You can have an idea of our works, visiting our website at this URL :


http://www.trace lab.com

Thank you in advance

Guillaume Loizillon

For Trace Label

Name: Rex
Subject: Dog Digger
-- Nov 3, 2003 at 9:12AM
Was a time you could
count on seeing Moondog
around midtown Manhattan
performing.
Another fixture back
then was Tommy Tom Tom .
Not as acclaimed as
Moondog, but no less
facinating to watch.

Name: thomas heinrich
Subject: moondog
-- Nov 2, 2003 at 10:23AM
have a look at our new guestbook.

www.moondogscorn er.de

Name: Bill Kulze
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 13, 2003 at 2:04PM
Moondog had a shack/cabin in the hills outside the town in which I grew up in upstate NY. Saw him in 1971 at our July 4th carnival. Didn't know much about him other than being eccentric and lived most of the time in NYC. I guess when he died they had a memorial of sorts in the town. I've got a couple of pictures of his cabin that I took in 1997. Fascinating music. I mean, 7 part rounds! wow!

Name: Jan Ferrari
Subject: Moondog
-- Dec 3, 2002 at 8:47PM
I had one of his albums in 1971 or 1972. I will try to locate Sax Pax for a Sax on CD.
I thought he was really neat.
Jan

Name: Marck Webster
Subject: Moondog
-- Oct 16, 2002 at 9:54PM
I remember seeing Moondog on 5th Ave. in NYC and being freaked out. "One of God's children", my Mom would say. He certainly was!

Name: Bill
Subject: Moondog
-- Sep 5, 2002 at 9:53PM
It was very sad the day I heard of Moondog's death. Being a lifelong jazz fan, I was introduced to his lps on Prestige in the 70's. Recently I found a copy of his great early 10" lp from the 50's on Epic. Someone should reissue the Epic lp on cd!
I also enjoy his poetry. His voice and choice of words reminds a somewhat of Captain Beefheart. He had a similar following too.... cult.
Too bad we live in an age where the true genius remains an unknown artist, but Kenny G and Britanny Spears make millions.

Name: leo
Subject: moondog
-- Jul 19, 2002 at 6:57PM
since everybody's still talking about moondog here, can someone recommend a book about/by him? I going to write a (important) paper on him.

thank you,

leo

Name: charles blackwell
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 21, 2002 at 11:50PM
I worked at the Fat Black Pussy Cat coffee house at 105 MacDougal St. in Greenwich Village in the early 60s, my apt was in the same building.
This was before it bcame The Feenjon. I cooked, washed dishes, performed poetry, stand-up comedy and helped MC and arrange for new talent there.
Tiny Tim and Hugh Romney were frequent 'pass the hat' performers there but we actually paid Moondog a set fee to come in one Friday night to a sold out house. Soon after, Moondog, Tiny and Hugh did a major Hootnanny together. I have some posters and other paraphenalia concerning same somewhere as well as some sheet music published by Moondog with a great ink drawing of his head on the cover.
Moondog and I talked many times. He spoke of the importance of vowel sounds to Human Beings, claiming there were at least nine and perhaps twelve of them, comparing them to overtones, undertones and silent consonants. It has been a long time and I cannot remember much of his interesting theory....that and the fact that I was half-stoned most of the time back then.
I really did like Moondog. He saw a lot more than most folks with sight.

Name: charles blackwell
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 21, 2002 at 11:49PM
I worked at the Fat Black Pussy Cat coffee house at 105 MacDougal St. in Greenwich Village in the early 60s, my apt was in the same building.
This was before it bcame The Feenjon. I cooked, washed dishes, performed poetry, stand-up comedy and helped MC and arrange for new talent there.
Tiny Tim and Hugh Romney were frequent 'pass the hat' performers there but we actually paid Moondog a set fee to come in one Friday night to a sold out house. Soon after, Moondog, Tiny and Hugh did a major Hootnanny together. I have some posters and other paraphenalia concerning same somewhere as well as some sheet music published by Moondog with a great ink drawing of his head on the cover.
Moondog and I talked many times. He spoke of the importance of vowel sounds to Human Beings, claiming there were at least nine and perhaps twelve of them, comparing them to overtones, undertones and silent consonants. It has been a long time and I cannot remember much of his interesting theory....that and the fact that I was half-stoned most of the time back then.
I really did like Moondog. He saw a lot more than most folks with sight.

Name: Thomas Heinrich
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 13, 2002 at 6:33AM
Watch out for the CD release of the legendary "Moondog and his honking Geese" EP.
Only 500 Copies available at www.moondogscorner.d e

Name: Peter Hodge
Subject: Moondog Web Page
-- Dec 10, 2001 at 10:48AM
Great page, well I think so as it's mine! at http://www.geocities .com/moondogmadness

Name: JimG
Subject: Moondog
-- Dec 2, 2001 at 4:27PM
The Sax Pax is a fine album. Genius? In a way. He seemed to hear music in a simple and subtle way and presented it to the best of his abilities. That,in my mind, makes great art.

Name: Mike Thompson
Subject: Moondog Genius?
-- May 24, 2001 at 11:50AM
In the article, you touch on the question as to why so many people bought and listened to 'early' Moondog when much of what he was doing was inaccesible. The 'kicker' (as you put it) is that "Sax Pax For A Sax" is a work of musical genius - without question or doubt.
Maybe, then, the reason why moondog survived and why people were so ready to 'give him a try' was because the genius was always there (perhaps hidden quite deeply at times, but still available to those who did not close their minds or ears).
True musical genius goes (or should go) beyond the ability of commentators to disect the reasons for that genius. It is reflected in the ability to touch people in an undescribable fashion. This was Moondog's gift that he shared with the world and which spanned nearly 50 years of recordings. One day, just maybe, that gift will be recognised, and Louis Hardin will be ranked alongside John Cage et al as one of the great 'modern' composers/performers .

Name: Phil Vier
Subject: My encounter with Moondog in the old Port Authority Bldg. in 1968 when I was about 15 years old
-- Apr 20, 2001 at 3:27PM
On a cold November evening back around 1968, I was boarding a ShortLine bus for Upper Saddle River,NJ. As I looked back behind me, I saw the strangest looking man. Or should I say viking? I had a little while before the bus was to pull out, so I went back inside where this man (Moondog) was standing all by himself. I immediately started to talk with him. He introduced himself as Moondog. I can't recall our exact conversation, but I know we talked about music. I told him that I was a lead singer in a rock band from New Jersey and he told me that he was a composer of music himself. About four or five years later, I was in a record shop in Albuquerque,NM and came across his 1969 release, Moondog. I grabbed it immediately, and ordered his other album on Columbia Records. I was always wondering what became of old Mr. Moondog and was amazed (I guess) to just now learn that he had lived up until 1999. God Bless Moondog. The End

Name: PC
Subject: Re. Moondog album
-- Apr 3, 2001 at 4:19AM
Sorry to disappoint you, Moondog's 1969 album (on Columbia/CBS) is valued at approx. 20 pounds. You'll no doubt find it cheaper at eBay.

Name: Phil
Subject: Moondog album
-- Apr 2, 2001 at 2:32PM
I have an original copy of the 1969 album Moondog, and wonder whether this is now worth anything? I have been told that copies are changing hands for several thousand pounds!
is this true??

Name: Baron Whateley
Subject: Moondog family
-- Mar 15, 2001 at 9:23PM
I am in the process of transcribing my Moondog record to CD's and I am curious as to how he translated to Germany and what happened to his wife Suzuko and daughter June? And yes I remember Moondog in NY outside the then new CBS building, doing his thing.

Name: Thomas Heinrich
Subject: Moondog
-- Feb 27, 2001 at 7:18AM
Please visit the latest update of our Moondog website.
www.moondogscorn er.de

Name: Ric
Subject: Late bloomer
-- Feb 24, 2001 at 5:09PM
My daughter just introduced me to Moondog and now I'm off to find my first album. Thanks for your notes and wish me luck in finding some of his stuff

Name: David Lovelight
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 18, 2001 at 8:22AM
Being a late baby boomer with an obsession for anything to do with the Sixties and hippydom in general,it was an absolute delight to discover the music of Moondog on old vinyl that I would find here in Australia. There was something strangely evocative about that name, so much so that Ive began to use it as my nick on ARPANET (later to become the Internet). You'd be surprised how many people immediately think of Moondog from the Sixties TV show 'Gidget'...whilst it was cool that Moondog on Gidget was a beatnik beachbum it annoyed the heck out of me that no-one seemed to know who the real Moondog was. Yes the Beatles had the line 'Hey Moondog' and Janis Joplin covered a track of his on her first album...this all added to the mystique. For years I never knew what he looked like... the music was strangely compelling and timeless and could still stand today as a contemporary sound... I would have loved to have seen him perform and if I ever travel to New York I'll be sure to stand on his corner and feel the vibes... thanks for the info on his most recent recordings and I am surprised to hear he died only last year. I rate him as a musical genius along with another one of my obsessions Tiny Tim. May the legend of Moondog ring thru Eternity.

Name: Uli
Subject: Moondog
-- Aug 17, 2000 at 4:52AM
There is a new site devoted to Louis Hardin: www.moondogscorner.de.

Name: Thomas
Subject: Moondog
-- Aug 8, 2000 at 3:32PM
Moondog is great. When I was a kid, I used to watch a TV series
which featured movie trailors. The music intro was Moondog's "Bird's lament".
Much later I tried to find that music - and found it.
Some months later, Moondog played in my hometown Salzburg (Austria) - what
could I have asked more for?
Thanks for the music Mr. Hardin!

Name: An LS.n Reader
Subject: http://hem.spray.se/stefanlakatos
-- Jun 26, 2000 at 6:10AM
Hi!
There had occured something on the site wich made it impossible to listen to the music in 5/4. But it's fixed now. Wellcome in and listen

yours sincerely

Stefan Lakatos

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Re:Moondog
-- Jun 21, 2000 at 12:07PM
Thanks fro stopping by Stefan.

I'll be sure to check out your site.

Name: Stefan Lakatos
Subject: Re:Moondog
-- Jun 21, 2000 at 9:50AM
Thank you for your nice writing on Moondog. I am happy to see that this great, almost unknown composer is not completely forgotten to this day. I knew about Moondog´s music back in 1968 and got in personal contact with him in the beginning of the 1980´s and we have spent a lot of time together and we shared a lot of laughs as well. Besides being a fantastic composer he was a very nice person, witty and humorous. His view on music was rather personal and I think he had some interesting aspects and knowledge on composing in general and especially on counterpoint worth considering, though I am personally not able to put that on words. Moondog visited Sweden in the 1980´s several times for performances. We also made an album together with strings here in Sweden. I did learn how to play his "trimbas" and he taught me to sing many of his madrigals. I miss Moondog deeply, both as a friend and mentor. But he have left a treasure of wonderful music here for us to be played and to bring us joy. For further information you can visit my own homepage on http://hem.spray.se/stefanlakatos. If you have any further questions I am happy to answer them or if you want to share your interest concerning Moondog and his music you are welcome to send me an e-mail: stefanlakatos@spray.se. Thank you.

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Moondog
-- Apr 4, 2000 at 4:51PM
Well stated

Name: Chris Nery
Subject: Moondog
-- Apr 4, 2000 at 3:52PM
As a "classically" trained musician (OK I play the euphonium, another musical "footnote") I was delighted when I first discovered an old album in my parent's collection about eight years ago. I too was fascinated with the Viking Wizard cover, the mysticism and incoherency. But what drew my attention most was the unlikely mixture of classical/ jazz/ folk and rock idioms. In an ever dwindling "classical" music market, such a visionary (pardon the irony) music as Mr. Hardin's could have led a desperately needed movement to rescue instrumental music from its death by popular culture. I am hopeful that the advent of the internet will eventually result in a breakdown of the marginalization process which has forever undermined individuals such as Mr. Hardin while giving us three thousand versions of the Ricki Lake Show.

Name: holly moors
Subject: moondog
-- Jan 27, 2000 at 2:59AM
Overhere, in Europe, it was easier to get Moondog's albums. He made a few reaaly great ones for a German record company called 'kopf'. One called 'moondog in Europe' is great, another one called 'H'art songs' is Moondog singing songs over a phenomally good piano backing. In fact: the two albums he made for CBS are great too. They were releaesed on one cd. The first one is full of symphonic music, the second one is filled with medieval-sounding short songs, played with his daughter!
The only albums that are not great but just good are the two early ones and the organ-album he did in Germany. That one is just for organ-freaks I'm afraid.
And 'sax pax' is great too! So, what do you say: six great albums! Check them all out!
Holly Moors,
The Netherlands

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Moondog
-- Jan 20, 2000 at 12:23AM
Thanks for the kind words, Mick.

Let us know if you pick up "Sax Pax For A Sax." It made my un-ranked "best of the 90s" list.

Name: mick
Subject: Moondog
-- Jan 19, 2000 at 4:55PM
A slightly late footnote to the excellent Jordon Hoffman obituary. Sitting in murky London, Jan 2000 having just 'discovered' Moondog. Saddened that the best info available on this enigmatic individual is an obituary.The very thorough Guiness Encyclopedia of Popular Music includes the following in its brief biog;'Moondog befriended actor Marlon Brando, performed with anti-establishment comedian Lenny Bruce, and singer Tiny Tim and accepted coins thrown by Duke Ellington'. Here in the UK the Shellshock label are just about to release four recordings from the 70's. I look forward to further enlightenment. Many thanks.

Name: Jessica
Subject: Moondog
-- Nov 3, 1999 at 1:20AM
Rockin' Richard..Please email me, I have questions re: Freed ripping off Moondog. My father has repeatedly told me the tale that Moondog invented "Rock'n'Roll" and that Freed was just a poser. Regardless, I have other questions.
email me jessicao@hotmail.com

Name: Rockin' Richard
Subject: Moondog
-- Oct 5, 1999 at 8:47PM
I don't know where my head was at Jordan. Your right about the Moondog Matinee...that was "The Band". But in my interview with Louis Hardin he did mention the Beatles trying to use the Moondog name. Mr. Hardin told me that he would not let them use it without paying royalties. At one time the Beatles did go under the name Johnny and the Moondogs...back in the 50's. At any rate glad you recognized a great one Louis Hardin (The Moondog) in your article.
Yours, Rockin' Richard

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Moondog
-- Oct 3, 1999 at 2:38AM
Cool yak, Rockin' Richard (if indeed that is your real name. . .)

I'm sure I don[t need to point out your rn'r historical error in reference to "Moodog Matinee". The "b" group in question was not The Beatles, it was in fact The Band.

Thnaks for reading!

Name: Rockin' Richard
Subject: Moondog
-- Oct 3, 1999 at 12:09AM
I first heard of the Moondog in association with Alan Freed the pioneer R&B R&R d.j. from the 50's. Freed would rap over the Moondog Theme song on Prestige label. I did a video interview with the Moondog about 10 years ago or so in his room in NYC and he told the story of the battle he had with trying to get Freed to pay him royalties for using his name. Also the Beatles used him name in Moogdog Matinee LP. It was indeed a pleasure for me to finally go to NYC and sit down with the Moondog a just let him talk about himself....I like him! I still play his Moondog Theme on my radio show to this day! I am on tuesday nights 8-11pm WNHU-88.7 FM with the rare sounds of the 50's.

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Who was listening.
-- Oct 1, 1999 at 9:52PM
Jim--
You'll get no arguement from me that Moondog is worthy of remembering. I might be one of a handfull journalists who chose to note his passing this extensively.

However, I find it ridiculous that your want to contend with my label "footnote." While it may not be polite, it is true. Your own defense of him proves it. Performances at BAM, appearences on WBAI, beloved by Yale Evelev? That's the very definition of a musical footnote.

(ps, I am a WBAI contributer, but still. . . .)

BAM recently put-on an opera written by Salieri. I think I've proved my point.

Thanks for reading!

Name: Jim Finnigan
Subject: Who was listening.
-- Oct 1, 1999 at 4:59PM
Moondog had lots of fans. Alan Freed. Giraldo Rivera. Philip Glass. Yale Evelev.
He made semi-regular concert appearances in NYC in the 60's and early 70's, and was almost a
fixture in the WBAI-FM classical music department, where he would host the yearly New Year's day
performances of Wagner's Ring cycle. When my dad was going to Fordham in the 50's, on the GI bill,
he would chat with Moondog while waiting for the bus. I saw Moondog perform several times - at his
BAM appearance in 1989, and at the WBAI Free Music Store in the 70s'.
Moondog was more than a footnote.
-----

Name: James french
Subject: sing-a-long-a-moondog.
-- Sep 26, 1999 at 7:04PM
Dear Jordan,you miss the point.The music fitted together so completely ,it felt totally natural .

Name: Jordan Hoffman Responds
Subject: Re: Moondog
-- Sep 25, 1999 at 11:26PM
Wow, this was the music you always dreamed? What did you eat before you went to bed?

Name: James French
Subject: Moondog
-- Sep 25, 1999 at 7:51PM
I used to listen to his album he made with Gurcio when I was about fifteen. I played it over and over . It was like music that I had always dreamed of without realising it.


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