Rod McKuen (born April 29, 1933) was a bestselling American poet, composer, and singer, instrumental in the revitalization of popular poetry that took place in the 1960s and early 1970s.Born Rodney Marvin McKuen in Oakland, California, McKuen ran away from home at the age of eleven to escape an alcoholic stepfather and to send what money he could to his mother. After a series of jobs, from logger, ranch hand, railroad worker to rodeo cowboy, throughout the west, McKuen began in the 1950s to excite audiences with his poetry readings, appearing with such well-known poets as Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg; during this time, he often used the pseudonym "Dor".McKuen moved to New York City in 1959 to compose and conduct for the TV show The CBS Workshop. By the 1960s he had achieved fame, far surpassing in sales the works of the Beat poets who preceded him. During the early 1960s he spent most of his time in France. This began his project to translate the work of legendary singer/songwriter Jacques Brel, into English. After Brel died he said, "As friends and as musical collaborators we had traveled, toured and written - together and apart - the events of our lives as if they were songs, and I guess they were. When news of Jacques’ death came I stayed locked in my bedroom and drank for a week. That kind of self pity was something he wouldn’t have approved of, but all I could do was replay our songs (our children) and ruminate over our unfinished life together."[1]He became an icon across college campuses for his ability to capture in verse the feelings of anxiety, love, confusion, and hope that were common during the Vietnam era. His public readings had the drawing power of a rock concert.McKuen's commercial success is unparalleled in the field of modern poetry. His poetic works have been translated into a dozen languages and sold over 65 million copies. Throughout his career he has continued to enjoy sell-out concerts around the world and appears regularly at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.Edward Habib's liner notes for McKuen's Amsterdam Concert album make the often-repeated claim that Rod McKuen is the best-selling and most widely read poet of all time. This claim is probably rooted in the fact that McKuen's works -- unlike those of Shakespeare or Dante Alighieri -- are copyrighted, and his total sales can be more readily quantified.As a songwriter, he contributed to the sale of over 100 million records. His material has been recorded by such artists as Frank Sinatra (who in 1969 recorded A Man Alone, an album of McKuen's songs), Johnny Cash who (just before his death) recorded McKuen's "Love's Been Good To Me", Waylon Jennings, The London Philharmonic, Greta Keller, Perry Como, and Madonna. Perhaps his most well-known song is "Jean", recorded by Oliver in 1969 for the soundtrack to the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. In 1959, McKuen released a novelty single on the Brunswick label called "The Mummy". Bob Mcfadden and Dor was listed as the artist.. In 1961, he had a hit single titled "Oliver Twist".. McKuen has proven to be a prolific songwriter, penning over 1500 songs. He collaborated with a variety of internationally renowned composers, including Henry Mancini and John Williams, and a highly successful series of albums with Anita Kerr. His symphonies, concertos, and other classical works have been performed by orchestras around the globe. His work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations.Throughout his multi-award-winning career, McKuen paired his artistic endeavors with a spirit for social reform. Before a tour of South Africa in the 1970s, McKuen demanded “mixed seating” among white and black concert-goers, opening the doors for successful tours by a variety of African-American performers, including Sammy Davis, Jr. and Ella Fitzgerald. He also spearheaded efforts to raise AIDS awareness and fund charities for children and senior
He has had two children with his live in girlfriend.
Suffered from clinical depression from 1982-1992.
He is a poet-songwriter.
Claims to have been a psychological warfare script writer during the Korean War.
His autobiographical book "Finding My Father: One Mans Search for Identity", dealt with his search for his biological father, and was the subject of a nationwide debate on illegitimate births.
Prior to becoming known as a poet and songwriter, he worked as a day laborer, stunt man, disc jockey, newspaper columnist and actor.
Although a favorite target of both critics and non-admirers, who have routinely dismissed his verse as not much above the level of greeting-card poetry, he is the most financially successful poet of all-time. At the height of his popularity (roughly 1967-1973), his books, such as "Listen to the Warm," "Stanyan Street and Other Sorrows," and "In Someones Shadow," regularly appeared on the best-seller lists and sold in the millions, as did his albums, primarily for RCA Victor and Warner Brothers Records.
Developed his distinctively scratchy voice in the late 1950s when, as an aspiring rock n roll singer, he had to make himself heard over an especially loud band, night after night, for weeks.
According to legendary guitar sessioneer Vic Flick , he loved the sound of the ukulele in his music, but was never happy with the sound on his recording sessions in London. So, on the first morning of a new series of sessions, he handed Vic a brand new Martin uke hed brought straight in from Los Angeles. He insisted Vic kept it after the session so he would always know where to find a decent instrument in London.
At the height of his popularity, his songs were recorded by a wide variety of artists, including The Kingston Trio , Bing Crosby , Jimmie Rodgers , The Smothers Brothers (Tom Smothers & Dick Smothers ), Perry Como , Glenn Yarbrough , Oliver , and Frank Sinatra. The latter recorded an entire album of McKuen songs in 1969, entitled "A Man Alone." Soft rocker Terry Jacks had a number-one single in 1974 with McKuens best-known song, "Seasons in the Sun.".
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1501 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
While speaking at a meeting of the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse in 1982, McKuen told a packed room of 600 people how he was sexually molested by an aunt and uncle when he was seven years old. He advises victimized children to "tell somebody immediately".
Portrayed one of the impostors on "To Tell the Truth" {(1962-06-18)} . He was an impostor for gambler Donald Harris, who claimed never to have had a losing day at the roulette table. McKuen introduced himself as, "a published poet and a twist singer, currently appearing at the Versailles in New York.".
The journey back is always longer than the forward run.
I have fallen in love with the worldAnd I am aware that I have chosenthe most dangerous lover of them all.
I went back to look for you. Not understanding the language of hello,I thought I’d speak it just the same.
No map to help us find the tranquil flat lands, clearings calm, fields without mean fences. Rolling down the other side of life our compass is the sureness of ourselves. Time may make us rugged, ragged round the edges, but know and understand that love is still the safest place to land.
Cats have it all - admiration, an endless sleep, and company only when they want it.
We need sex education in schools, but we need it at home first. We need parents to learn the names of the teachers who are teaching their children. We need families to question day-care centers, to question other children and their own as to what goes on. .
