Rod McKuen
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Rod McKuen (born April 29, 1933) is a bestselling American poet, composer, and singer, instrumental in the revitalization of popular poetry that took place in the 1960s and early 1970s.
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[edit] Biography
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 lumberjack, 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 has 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. On his official website, McKuen claims also to have recorded a single in the 1950s backed by Bill Haley's Comets ("The Beat Generation", with vocal by voice actor Bob McFadden), but this has not been confirmed. McKuen has proven to be a prolific songwriter, penning over 1500 songs. He has 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 suite for narrator and orchestra, The City, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Music. His work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations.
Throughout his multi-award-winning career, McKuen has 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 has also spearheaded efforts to raise AIDS awareness and fund charities for children and senior citizens. His humanitarian efforts have twice won him the prestigious Freedoms Foundation Award.
[edit] Bibliography
- And Autumn Came • Pageant Press, 1954
- Stanyan Street & Other Sorrows • Stanyan Music, 1966
- Listen to the Warm • Random House, 1967
- Lonesome Cities • Random House, 1968
- And Autumn Came (Revised Edition) • Cheval Books, 1969
- In Someone's Shadow • Cheval Books/Random House, 1969
- With Love... • Stanyon Books/Random House, 1969
- Twelve Years of Christmas • Cheval Books/Random House, 1969
- Caught in the Quiet • Stanyan Books, 1970
- Fields of Wonder • Cheval Books/Random House, 1971
- And to Each Season • Simon & Schuster, 1972
- Moment to Moment • Cheval Books, 1972
- Come to Me in Silence • Simon & Schuster, 1973
- Moment to Moment (Revised Edition) • Simon & Schuster, 1974
- Beyond the Boardwalk • Cheval Books, 1975
- Celebrations of the Heart • Simon & Schuster, 1975
- The Sea Around Me . . . • Simon & Schuster, 1975
- Finding My Father (prose) • Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1976
- Coming Close to the Earth • Simon & Schuster, 1978
- We Touch the Sky • Simon & Schuster, 1979
- The Power Bright and Shining • Simon & Schuster, 1980
- A Book of Days • Harper & Row, 1980
- An Outstretched Hand (prose) • Cheval Books/Harper & Row, 1980
- The Beautiful Strangers • Simon & Schuster, 1981
- Book of Days and a Month of Sundays • Harper & Row, 1981
- The Sound of Solitude • Harper & Row, 1983
- Suspension Bridge • Harper & Row, 1984
- Intervals • Harper & Row/Cheval Books, 1986
- Valentines • Harper & Row/Cheval Books, 1986
- Rusting in the Rain • Stanyan Books, 2004
[edit] Discography
[edit] Vocal Albums
- SR 6029 • CD STZ 105 • After Midnight / Rod McKuen
- BS 2817 • Alone / McKuen
- DL 8946 • Alone After Dark / Rod McKuen
- DL 3882 • Anywhere I Wander / Rod McKuen
- WS 1722 • Rod McKuen / The Beautiful Strangers
- 2SR 5087 • The Black Eagle, A Gothic Musical / Rod McKuen
- SR 5005 • Blessings in Shade of Green / Rod McKuen
- BDS 5138 • Cycles / Rod McKuen
- DJF 20537 • For Friends & Lovers / Rod McKuen
- SR 5102 • Global / Rod McKuen
- BS 2861 • Rod McKuen / Goodtime Music
- SR 5032 • Have a Nice Day / Rod McKuen
- KA 3226 • In a Lonely Place / Rod McKuen
- DID M20 • It Had To Be You / Rod McKuen
- PS 1380 • CD 113 • Jerome Kern Revisited Vol. IV / McKuen/Ballard/Short/Cook
- BR 0034 • Lonely Summer / Rod McKuen
- RCA 3508 • The Loner / Rod McKuen
- ST 2838 • The Love Movement /Rod McKuen
- SR 5009 • Love's Been Good To Me / Rod McKuen
- BS 2931 • McKuen Country
- ST 2079 • Rod McKuen Sings Rod McKuen
- SR 5092 • More Rod McKuen 77
- JU 5013 • Mr. Oliver Twist / Rod McKuen
- WS 1837 • New Ballads / Rod McKuen
- SR 5045 • New Rod McKuen Carols for Christmas
- VE 1612 • New sounds in folk Music / Rod McKuen
- BS 2638 • Odyssey / Rod McKuen
- RCA 3635 • Other Kinds of Songs / Rod McKuen
- 2WS 1894 • Pastorale / Rod McKuen
- SR 5047 • Pastures Green / Rod McKuen
- SR 5098 • Roads / Rod McKuen
- SR 5025 • Rod / Rod McKuen
- SR 5006 • The Rod McKuen Folk Album
- SR 6028 • WB 2785 • Rod McKuen Sings The McKuen/Brel Songbook
- WS 3015 • The Rod McKuen Show
- RCA 3424 • Rod McKuen Sings His Own
- SR 5093 • Rod 77 / Rod McKuen
- SR 5003 • Seasons In The Sun / Rod McKuen
- SR 5004 • Seasons In The Sun, 2 / Rod McKuen
- SR 5046 • Seasons In The Sun, 1&2 / Rod McKuen
- LSP 4010 • The Single Man / Rod McKuen
- BS 2889 • Sleep Warm / Rod McKuen
- 2SR 5081 • Sleep Warm / Rod McKuen
- DS 7017 • Slide . . .Easy In / Rod McKuen
- DIS 60 531 • Slide . . .On the Move / Rod McKuen
- HJS 180 • Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes / Rod McKuen
- SR 6050 • Someone To Watch Over Me / Rod McKuen
- LRP 3011 • Songs For The Lazy / Rod McKuen
- BL 754056 • Songs Our Mummy Taught Us / Rod McKuen (as Dor) & Bob Mac Fadden
- KS 3538 • Stranger In Town / Rod McKuen
- WP 1632 • There's A Hoot Tonight / Rod McKuen
- LSP 3786 • Through European Windows / Rod McKuen
- SR 5100 • Turntable / Rod McKuen
- PH 6641 057 • Two Against The Morning / Rod McKuen & Liesbeth List
- DE 4603 • Very Warm / Rod McKuen
[edit] Spoken Word
- R 419 • Beatsville / Rod McKuen
- 3BS 2906 • The Essential Rod McKuen
- BN 613 • In Search Of Eros / Rod McKuen
- LSP 3863 • SR 5052 • Listen to The Warm / Rod McKuen
- SR 5048 • Listen To The Warm / Rod McKuen
- WS 1758 • Lonesome Cities / Rod McKuen
- SR 5110 • Pushing The Clouds Away / Rod McKuen
- SR 5078 • Time Of Desire / Rod McKuen
- DS 7000 • The Word / Rod McKuen
- LP 12036 • The Yellow Unicorn / Rod McKuen with Tak Shindo & Julie Merredith
[edit] Classical
- SR 9005 • Rod McKuen: Symphony No. 1 in 4 Movements
- SR 9006 • Rod McKuen: Concerto For Guitar & Orchestra: 5 Orchestral Pieces
- SR 9007 • Rod McKuen: Concerto For 4 Harpsichords: 4 Orchestral Pieces
- SR 9008 • Rod McKuen: Piano Variations: 6 Piano Sonatas
- SR 9010 • Rod McKuen: Conducts McKuen
- SR 9012 • Rod McKuen: Concerto No. 3 For Piano & Orchestra
- SR 9015 • Rod McKuen: The Plains Of My Country: Seascapes for Solo Piano
- SR 9021 • Rod McKuen: Concerto For Cello & Orchestra; Music For Strings
- SR 9023 • Rod McKuen: Concerto For Balloon & Orchestra: 3 Overtures
- WB 2WS 2731 • Rod McKuen: The Ballad Of Distances: Symphonic Suite, OP. 40
- SR 9060 • Rod McKuen: Piano Quartets: Piano Trios
- LS 732 • Rod McKuen: The City: I Hear America Singing, 2 Cantatas
- CRL 57339 • Rod McKuen: Written In the Stars (The Zodiac Suite)
- LST 7537 • Rod McKuen: Something Beyond: Suite For Orchestra
[edit] Soundtracks
- SRQ 4014 • The Borrowers / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- SR 5010 • A Boy Named charlie Brown & Other Rod McKuen Film songs
- OS 3500 • A Boy Named Charlie Brown / Soundtrack
- SRQ 4025 • Emily / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- SR 4202 • Joanna / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- SR 10094 • Lisa Bright & Dark / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- OS 3350 • Me Natalie / Henry Mancini/Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- TC 4207 • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- WB 1853 • The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie / Rod McKuen Sings & Conducts His Score
- DL 8429 • Rock Pretty Baby / Rod McKuen/Henry Mancini Soundtrack
- SR 5004 • Scandalous John / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
- DL 8714 • Summer Love / Rod McKuen/Henry Mancini Soundtrack
- 2SR 9201 • McKuen/Gueviksman/Guidravitchus: The Unknown War Soundtrack
[edit] Live Recordings
- 2SR 5051 • The Amsterdam Concert / Rod McKuen
- 2WB 2732 • Back To Carnegie Hall / Rod McKuen
- SR 5040 • Evening In Vienna / Rod McKuen & Greta Keller
- 2BR 1947 • Grand Tour / Rod McKuen
- SR 5042 • Grand Tour, Vol. 3 / Rod McKuen
- SR 5001 • Rod McKuen In Concert
- SR 6031 • Rod McKuen Live Across Australia & Around The World
- SR 5075 • Rod McKuen Live At The Sydney Opera House
- L 70041/2 • Rod McKuen Live At The Sydney Opera House
- SYD 11000 • Rod McKuen Live In Africa
- 2SR 5016 • Rod McKuen Live In London
- WS 1794 • WBC 1100B • Rod McKuen Live / Sold Out Carnegie Hall
[edit] Greatest Hits & Compilations
- R2 70281 • The Beat Generation / McKuen/Kerouac/Ginsburg/ Bruce
- RCA 4127 • Best Of Rod McKuen, The
- DL 75078 • Bits & Pieces / Rod McKuen
- SYC 2901 • The Early Years / The Best Of Rod McKuen
- PW 6026 • Greatest Australian Hits / Rod McKuen
- WS 1772 • Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
- BS 2560 • Rod McKuen's / Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
- SR 5031 • Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
- BS 2688 • Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 4
- SLS 96083 • In The Beginning / Rod McKuen
- 2SR 5073 • Love Songs / Rod McKuen
- SR 5072 • A Portrait Of Rod McKuen
- SR 5104 • Rod On Record
- SR 5020 • Try Rod McKuen In The Privacy Of Your Own Home
- BR 408 • TIXD 420 • Without A Worry In The World / Rod McKuen
[edit] Works with Anita Kerr & San Sebastian Strings
Lyrics & Book & Musical Storyline by Rod McKuen. Music Composed, Arranged & Conducted by Anita Kerr
- WBL 1047 • WB 1670 • The Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
- WBL 1046 • WB 1705 • The Earth / The San Sebastian Strings
- WB 1720 • The Sky / The San Sebastian Strings
- WBC 1080 • WS 1764 • Home To The Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
- WS 1839 • The Soft Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
- SR 10043 • La Mer / The San Sebastian Strings
- WB 1795 • For Lovers / The San Sebastian Strings
- BS 2768 • Bouquet / The San Sebastian Strings
- Spring / The San Sebastian Strings
- BS4 2707 • Summer / The San Sebastian Strings
- Autumn / The San Sebastian Strings
- BS 2622 • Winter / The San Sebastian Strings
- BS 2837 • With Love/ The San Sebastian Strings
- 3WS 1730 • The Sea / The Earth / The Sky: The San Sebastian Strings [3]
- 3WS 1827 • The Complete Sea: The San Sebastian Strings (3)
- 4WS 2754 • The Seasons: The San Sebastian Strings [4]
[edit] Promotional Albums
- IM 1000 • 17 New Songs By Rod McKuen
- PRO 451 • Short Cuts From Pastorale
- SPS 33-554 • Some Of The Best Of Rod McKuen
- SML 102 • 20 New Rod McKuens Songs
[edit] Trivia
- A part of McKuen's Listen to the Warm is used to introduce the "News of the Warm" segment of Le Show.
- It's been said Rod was conceived at the Alpine Hotel (Now Alpine Apartments) in Oakland, California. Location: 1479 Fruitvale Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601
- McKuen wrote and sang the title song for A Boy Named Charlie Brown, the first feature film starring Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts characters. Schulz returned the favor by mentioning McKuen in one Peanuts strip, in which Sally Brown expresses her frustration to Charlie Brown that she was sent to the principal's office for throwing a tantrum in art class about drawing cows' legs, saying, "I bet Picasso couldn't draw a cow's leg when he was in the first grade! I'll bet even Rod McKuen couldn't draw a cow's leg!" Charlie Brown responds, perplexed, "Rod McKuen?"
- British band Arctic Monkeys covered his track "The Lovers" in December 2007 on the Jonathan Ross show on BBC Radio 2.
