Moondog, American-German singer-songwriter, drummer, and poet (b. 1916)
Louis Thomas Hardin (May 26, 1916 – September 8, 1999), known professionally as Moondog, was an American composer, performing musician, theoretician, poet, and inventor of several musical instruments. Largely self-taught as a composer, his work drew inspiration from jazz, classical, Latin, and Native American music. His music, strongly rhythmic and contrapuntal, later influenced minimalist composers Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
Moondog was blind from the age of 16. He lived in New York City from the late 1940s until 1972; during which time he was often found on Sixth Avenue, between 52nd and 55th Streets, wearing a cloak and a horned helmet. He sometimes busked or sold music, but often just stood silently on the sidewalk. He was recognized as "the Viking of Sixth Avenue" by thousands of passersby and residents who were not aware of his musical career.