Moondog, The Viking of 6th Avenue: The Authorized Biography

"Moondog is one of America’s great originals."—Alan Rich, New York Magazine
Here is one of the most improbable lives of the twentieth century: a blind and homeless man who became the most famous eccentric in New York and who, with enormous diligence, rose to prominence as an internationally respected music presence.
Born Louis Thomas Hardin in 1916, Moondog first made an impression in the late 1940s when he became a mascot of The New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. His unique, melodic compositions were released on the Prestige jazz label. In the late 1960s the Viking-garbed Moondog was a pop music sensation on Columbia Records. Moondog is the noted inspiration for the contemporary freak folk movement led by Devendra Banhart.
Moondog's compositional style influenced his former roommate, Philip Glass, whose Preface and performances of Moondog works appear in the book. Moondog's work transcends labels and redefines the distinction between popular and high culture. A CD compilation with a variety of Moondog's compositions is bound into the book.
The CD tracklisting is as follows:
1: Caribea (1:32)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
2: To a Sea Horse (1:43)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
3: Trees Against the Sky (.51)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
4: Oo Debut (1:09)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
5: Autumn (2:07)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
6: Moondog Monologue (8:24)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
7: Moondog’s Theme (1:53)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
8: Trimbas in Quarters (1:47)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
9: I Came Into This World Alone (1:19)
Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson
Composer: Moondog
10: Be a Hobo (1:22)
Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson
Composer: Moondog
11: Why Spend the Dark Night With You (1:40)
Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson
Composer: Moondog
12: All is Loneliness (1:38)
Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson
Composer: Moondog
13: Organ Rounds (2:04)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
14: Canon in F Major, Book I (.43)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
15: Canon in B Flat Major, Book III (1:36)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
16: Canon in B Flat Major, Book I (.43)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
17: Canon in B Flat Major, Book II (.28)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
18: Canon in G Sharp Minor, Book I (.44)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
19: Canon in C Sharp Minor, Book II (1:32)
Performer: Paul Jordan
Composer: Moondog
20: 5/4 Snakebite Rattle (3:41)
Performer: Stefan Lakatos
Composer: Moondog
21: Trimbas and Woodblock in 5/2 (1:26)
Performer: Stefan Lakatos
Composer: Moondog
22: When I Am Deep in Sleep (2:17)
Performer: Stefan Lakatos
Composer: Moondog
23: Rabbit Hop (2:25)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
24: Dog Trot (2:25)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
25: Bird’s Lament (2:00)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
26: Viking 1 (2:55)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
27: Heimdall Fanfare (3:06)
Performer/Composer: Moondog
28: Intro and Overtone Continuum (2:22)
Performer/Composer: Moondog