Louis Thomas Hardin, known as Moondog (1916–1999), was an American composer, musician, and poet celebrated for his unconventional genius and visionary sound. Blind from childhood, he became an iconic figure in mid-20th-century New York, often seen wearing a Viking cloak and helmet. Moondog’s music—an adventurous blend of classical structure, jazz rhythm, and natural soundscapes—inspired artists from Philip Glass to Steve Reich. His work, rich with invention and rhythmic precision, cemented him as a pioneer who bridged the avant-garde and the accessible.