A Brief History of Moondog

Throughout the 1940's and 60's, a blind man could be seen reciting poetry or playing music while dressed as a viking on 54th and 6th ave in New York City. Many believed he was homeless and thought of him as more of a novelty not realizing that he was an acclaimed composer who had written 80 symphonies! This is a brief story of the man known as the viking of 6th ave better known as "Moondog".

[@GeorgeDeFilippo]

I used to play hooky from my elementary school in Queens, take the subway into the city and hang on 6th Ave. I think it was the CBS Headquarters and hang out with Moondog, listening to him talk and play his instruments. I guess it was 1968-69. He seemed other worldly and captured my imagination.

[@Yourmomma568]

that's a lake trout, bud.

[@seanpasquarella4149]

One of the greatest forgotten music minds ever to have lived

[@vinylvillain3232]

Absolutely! Thank you so much for checking this out

[@004752]

I remember visiting with Moondog on the street when I worked in NYC during the summers of 1969 & 1970. He was a fascinating man. I cherish my memories of those conversations and have come to realize what a privilege it was to spend even a few moments in his presence.

[@Chambelona59]

When I was 4 or 5 years old 1956, '57 Moondog often sat outside the Greenwich bank on 6th ave. and 14th st in Manhattan, when I went to the bank with my mother I would stop and talk to him, he always remembered my name.

[@jodawgsup]

beautiful

[@scientifico]

I came to the states in 1974. My aunt had her studio on 21st and 6th av. She was an abstractionist and would take me up to MOMA for lunch. I was a wide eyed kid from england who soaked up everything and I specifically remember seeing Moondog on one of these luncheons with my aunt. NYC was something else.

[@ncbloom]

Moondog's music connects on a level most never achieve .

[@davetinoco]

Most underrated artist ever. Bird’s Lament...impossibly beautiful, ominous, decadently rich.

[@leifkunzel9843]

Whenever I pass moondogs corner here in Recklinghausen I think of him. It's the city where he lived in Germany. He is not very known in Recklinghausen, There is a club with his name but beside this and a little sign on this place where he stand there is not much attention on the unique music genius.

[@isaiahrobinson7997]

Watched the movie "beach bum" now I'm here. Good vid👍

[@dwill123]

In the early 70s (70-72) Moondog used to hangout on the corner of St. Mark's Place and 2nd ave. I used to see him just standing there while on my way to the Fillmore or to buy some records. He never bothered any body. I don't even remember him asking for money. He was just there.

[@jillybean1229]

Amazing.! Thank you for this. Woke up with his music running through my head after not hearing it for nearly 50 years.! What an inspiration to everyone to not let a potentially catastrophic disability stop you from being a creative genius.

[@Orthodoxzee]

Moondog is my spirit animal

[@zipel]

Very cool video man. I discovered this guy about year or 2 ago i was so blessed an out of my mind when someone put this on exactly the German Years "album" so damne good

[@jonb.3726]

Thats a great channel idea you had, good production quality, good pace and very interesting, sadly it look like this channel is dead. Super underrated channel, a gold mine.

[@TheJonboix]

I was quite a fan of Moondog in my college years. I was a music major and was fascinated by his various styles. It's great to hear some of his music again.

[@Mrbeahz1]

Thank you for putting this together. I'd see Moondog often when I was growing up in NYC. Thanks for his story.

[@lauravie4849]

more like this please! such good content you make!!

[@donvhermit5803]

loved this, more please

[@stormingstormer360]

this is amazing. please keep making videos

[@Rowoool]

Amazing video man, hope to see more like it

[@Bimanche]

awesome work! I just read about him, and it's so cool ot be able to see a video presentation before actuzlly listening to his music :) you got a new subscriber, keep creating content :D

[@michaeltoop1353]

Super interesting dude. Fascinating journey.

[@radnomad7263]

This is really cool, thanks man

[@sylvan4309]

very informative! thank you!

[@i-a-g-r-e-e-----f-----jo--b]

Thanks for the history! I read about Moondog just now reading about Wolfman Jack and where his name came from. BTW @:11, I lived there, off Minneta Lane and MacDougal Street.

[@luqmanpilu]

What happens to this channel? I love this kind of video! More please!!!

[@vinylvillain3232]

I just gained access back to it so watch out for more

[@lyletuck]

Moondog songs in this video, in order: Stamping Ground Symphonique #6 (Good For Goodie) Lament 1 (Bird's Lament) Witch Of Endor Viking (I hope I got them all, and got them right. I already knew Bird's Lament and Stamping Ground from movies. Most of these appear on his 1969 self-titled album.)

[@Etten99]

I remember seeing him as a young adult. There was also a drummer with black shoe dye in his hair.

[@mazzie9663]

He was on 6th avenue right down the street from my elementary school PS 69 on west 54th st in NYC. All the kids and I used to talk with him all the time.,talented and very kind person.

[@lucianoribeiro9527]

excellent👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@TyroneEpps]

Great story of moondog 😊 !

[@CC-fi3pp]

Brilliant musician!

[@markdavies9792]

Moondog may have allegedly had some odd beliefs but to put his music with Trump is an insult

[@Strimbles]

LOVE MOONDOG

[@ricochetpig]

Legend

[@BCT611]

But you did do a good job loved it.

[@franzlove]

oh my god thank u, for some reason there is no info on him on google

[@RealSwamyG]

Matthew McConaughey sent me here.

[@40mmmm23]

How did he post something

[@friselectif]

Does anyone know what the last musical track of this video is called ?

[@josuesanchez1331]

Buen video

[@hausofvishy8695]

I ❤️Birds Lament

[@davidcopson5800]

Me too as well also.

[@fredericklanneau6805]

What was the last and second to last song in the video? Great video!

[@elaorleansplus]

what is that whole section with Trump doing there? Baffled

[@matthewroth4659]

What’s that last song

[@skywalker4206]

Real different

[@mikemcgrath3484]

Don't know how I got the album with him on the cover in Seattle when I was about12 thought my mother would take it away he was way too weird for most parents I thought just a great guy when I did end up playing music in New York I had forgot to go look for him I beleive I figured he had died or I couldn't find him in New York I turned down an interview with the head of music in the white house I did not want to live in NY or play crap music in the white house lololo

[@ciupenhauer]

I think he died wise and contempt with his life, if not truly happy

[@jakenconor]

Content *??

[@davidcopson5800]

@@jakenconor You beat me to it.

[@bloodybungalow7316]

yeah but, what's the meaning of life, if I may ask, mr. Moondog?

[@avatterott1]

How many of the 80 symphonies that he wrote were recorded?

[@davidcopson5800]

85

[@vadstradamus]

3:05 nice 😂... I mean, I'm laughing but, you know...

[@rateyesmertz3785]

How can he write a symphony if he is blind ? Does musical notation come in Braille ?? I don't understand how he did it ??

[@offbeatmusic2638]

I believe he went to a school for the blind and learned to write music in braille.

[@Garbhan51]

And I believe he dictated music to an assistant who notated it.

[@tjm3900]

Did some disc jocky try to rip him off thinking he was a bum?

[@miblish5168]

That was a photo of Aaron Copland, not Stravinsky.

[@davidcopson5800]

Sorry, no. That is a photo of Stravinsky taken in New York city in 1959.

[@zipel]

🔔

[@SOMERVILLELISA]

Wow! Debbie Harry speaks of him in her new bio.

[@THE.MAN.FROM.THE.FUTURE.2023]

:)

[@MrDaraghkinch]

*accomplishments

[@jurgenforster8314]

What’s the last song ?

[@ciupenhauer]

it's Moondog - Viking 1

[@bodybazaar3256]

why should there be a moral of the story?

[@rhostatton8944]

he worked with Julie fooking Andrews....i tell ya!!

[@Tero92]

Rick Rubin took his style foshö..

[@bamamadoudioulde3087]

Seb

[@ct1monkey548]

what symphony what that under donald trumps inaugiration (idk how to spell srry)

[@DdGgSs544JB]

Jamie Briton

[@PaoloGennaioli]

(cuore

[@luckyjinxer]

Oh, great. More politics out of nowhere.

[@Moodboard39]

just like that brain eno dude, involed in politics shit

[@YaoEspirito]

Instant down-vote for ANY video that features those atrocious double images, with the out-of-focus sides.

[@suzanna5002]

Wow this was terrific until you had to grind your AXE regarding Trump. If he had some relatable relevance it would be one thing. Surely as a New Yorker he would have seen Moondog. We all did. Moondog was a fixture that we could expect in the city where there were all possibilities and at a time of artistic experimentation and expression in NYC. I still like to think of New York as a place where people can escape mundane America. A place where a person is free to be their authentic selves. That is what led Moondog there.

[@suckmygme-darck9996]

Should have put his music to Obama's record setting troop send-off to the middle East.

[@effmerunning]

Why do I feel like this is bullshit

[@owenwswain]

Because you failed to research anything before adding your (-) comment.

[@georgehoffman4645]

Donald Trump was an amazing president and will be again I'm hoping