Moondog: The Viking of 6th Avenue - by Robert Scotto (Paperback)

About the Book

The revised edition biography of one of the twentieth century's most fascinating and original artists.

Book Synopsis

The basis of a full-length documentary.

"Moondog is one of America's great originals."--Alan Rich, New York Magazine

Here is a revised edition of a book that celebrates 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 both in major label pop music recordings in addition to symphonic concerts of his compositions.

This edition of Moondog will soon be seen a as a feature documentary titled The Viking of 6th Avenue directed by Holly Elson and produced by Hard Working Movies.

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's compositional style influenced his former roommate Philip Glass, whose preface appears in the book. Moondog's work transcends labels and redefines the distinction between popular and high culture.

A wide-ranging compilation of Moondog recordings, which includes four Madrigals played by Philip Glass, Steven Reich, Jon Gibson, and Moondog himself, are offered as free downloads for every purchaser of this biography.

Review Quotes

"This biography passionately explores the long and fruitful life of Moondog: childhood, the accident that rendered him blind, lifestyle, marriages, legal issues, touring, success and ideas. Appendix treats include Moondog's Perpetual Calendar and poetry. Whether you've heard of the man or not, this chronicle of genius is worth your time." --Samantha Anne Carrillo, The Alibi

"We Americans have rarely understood what to do with odd members of our culture. If their voices don't seem immediately accessible, if they look or dress oddly (even as a form of self-definition, in Moondog's case), we write them off as loonies and close our ears. That's our loss: Though Moondog lived mostly on the street and dwelt always on the musical fringe, he had something to say." --Lawrence Toppman, Charlotte Observer

About the Author

Robert Scotto was a professor of English at Baruch College, CUNY, until his recent retirement. His previous publications include a Critical Edition of Catch-22, a book on the contemporary American novel and essays on Walter Pater, James Joyce and other major nineteenth and twentieth century writers.