Rod McKuen

Rod McKuen

Infobox musical artist
Name = Rod McKuen


Landscape = yes
Background = solo_singer, composer, songwriter, poet
Birth_name = Rodney Marvin McKuen
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1933|4|9
Origin = Oakland, California
Instrument = Vocals, piano
Genre =
Occupation = Singer-songwriter, musician, poet
Years_active =
Label =
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.mckuen.com/]

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.

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 Jacquesdeath came I stayed locked in my bedroom and drank for a week. That kind of self pity was something he wouldnt have approved of, but all I could do was replay our songs (our children) and ruminate over our unfinished life together." [ [http://rodmckuen.com/flights/161002.htm Rod McKuen - Flight Plan ] ]

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 Yorks 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 demandedmixed seatingamong 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.

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

Discography

Vocal Albums


* SR 6029CD STZ 105After Midnight / Rod McKuen
* BS 2817Alone / McKuen
* DL 8946Alone After Dark / Rod McKuen
* DL 3882Anywhere I Wander / Rod McKuen
* WS 1722Rod McKuen / The Beautiful Strangers
* 2SR 5087The Black Eagle, A Gothic Musical / Rod McKuen
* SR 5005Blessings in Shade of Green / Rod McKuen
* BDS 5138Cycles / Rod McKuen
* DJF 20537For Friends & Lovers / Rod McKuen
* SR 5102Global / Rod McKuen
* BS 2861Rod McKuen / Goodtime Music
* SR 5032Have a Nice Day / Rod McKuen
* KA 3226In a Lonely Place / Rod McKuen
* DID M20It Had To Be You / Rod McKuen
* PS 1380CD 113Jerome Kern Revisited Vol. IV / McKuen/Ballard/Short/Cook
* BR 0034Lonely Summer / Rod McKuen
* RCA 3508The Loner / Rod McKuen
* ST 2838The Love Movement /Rod McKuen
* SR 5009Love's Been Good To Me / Rod McKuen
* BS 2931McKuen Country
* ST 2079Rod McKuen Sings Rod McKuen
* SR 5092More Rod McKuen 77
* JU 5013Mr. Oliver Twist / Rod McKuen
* WS 1837New Ballads / Rod McKuen
* SR 5045New Rod McKuen Carols for Christmas
* VE 1612New sounds in folk Music / Rod McKuen
* BS 2638Odyssey / Rod McKuen
* RCA 3635Other Kinds of Songs / Rod McKuen
* 2WS 1894Pastorale / Rod McKuen
* SR 5047Pastures Green / Rod McKuen
* SR 5098Roads / Rod McKuen
* SR 5025Rod / Rod McKuen
* SR 5006The Rod McKuen Folk Album
* SR 6028WB 2785Rod McKuen Sings The McKuen/Brel Songbook
* WS 3015The Rod McKuen Show
* RCA 3424Rod McKuen Sings His Own
* SR 5093Rod 77 / Rod McKuen
* SR 5003Seasons In The Sun / Rod McKuen
* SR 5004Seasons In The Sun, 2 / Rod McKuen
* SR 5046Seasons In The Sun, 1&2 / Rod McKuen
* LSP 4010The Single Man / Rod McKuen
* BS 2889Sleep Warm / Rod McKuen
* 2SR 5081Sleep Warm / Rod McKuen
* DS 7017Slide . . .Easy In / Rod McKuen
* DIS 60 531Slide . . .On the Move / Rod McKuen
* HJS 180Soldiers Who Want To Be Heroes / Rod McKuen
* SR 6050Someone To Watch Over Me / Rod McKuen
* LRP 3011Songs For The Lazy / Rod McKuen
* BL 754056Songs Our Mummy Taught Us / Rod McKuen (as Dor) & Bob Mac Fadden
* KS 3538Stranger In Town / Rod McKuen
* WP 1632There's A Hoot Tonight / Rod McKuen
* LSP 3786Through European Windows / Rod McKuen
* SR 5100Turntable / Rod McKuen
* PH 6641 057Two Against The Morning / Rod McKuen & Liesbeth List
* DE 4603Very Warm / Rod McKuen

Spoken Word


* R 419Beatsville / Rod McKuen
* 3BS 2906The Essential Rod McKuen
* BN 613In Search Of Eros / Rod McKuen
* LSP 3863SR 5052Listen to The Warm / Rod McKuen
* SR 5048Listen To The Warm / Rod McKuen
* WS 1758Lonesome Cities / Rod McKuen
* SR 5110Pushing The Clouds Away / Rod McKuen
* SR 5078Time Of Desire / Rod McKuen
* DS 7000The Word / Rod McKuen
* LP 12036The Yellow Unicorn / Rod McKuen with Tak Shindo & Julie Merredith

Classical


* SR 9005Rod McKuen: Symphony No. 1 in 4 Movements
* SR 9006Rod McKuen: Concerto For Guitar & Orchestra: 5 Orchestral Pieces
* SR 9007Rod McKuen: Concerto For 4 Harpsichords: 4 Orchestral Pieces
* SR 9008Rod McKuen: Piano Variations: 6 Piano Sonatas
* SR 9010Rod McKuen: Conducts McKuen
* SR 9012Rod McKuen: Concerto No. 3 For Piano & Orchestra
* SR 9015Rod McKuen: The Plains Of My Country: Seascapes for Solo Piano
* SR 9021Rod McKuen: Concerto For Cello & Orchestra; Music For Strings
* SR 9023Rod McKuen: Concerto For Balloon & Orchestra: 3 Overtures
* WB 2WS 2731Rod McKuen: The Ballad Of Distances: Symphonic Suite, OP. 40
* SR 9060Rod McKuen: Piano Quartets: Piano Trios
* LS 732Rod McKuen: The City: I Hear America Singing, 2 Cantatas
* CRL 57339Rod McKuen: Written In the Stars (The Zodiac Suite)
* LST 7537Rod McKuen: Something Beyond: Suite For Orchestra

Soundtracks

* SRQ 4014The Borrowers / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* SR 5010A Boy Named charlie Brown & Other Rod McKuen Film songs
* OS 3500A Boy Named Charlie Brown / Soundtrack
* SRQ 4025Emily / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* SR 4202Joanna / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* SR 10094Lisa Bright & Dark / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* OS 3350Me Natalie / Henry Mancini/Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* TC 4207The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* WB 1853The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie / Rod McKuen Sings & Conducts His Score
* DL 8429Rock Pretty Baby / Rod McKuen/Henry Mancini Soundtrack
* SR 5004Scandalous John / Rod McKuen Soundtrack
* DL 8714Summer Love / Rod McKuen/Henry Mancini Soundtrack
* 2SR 9201McKuen/Gueviksman/Guidravitchus: The Unknown War Soundtrack

Live Recordings


* 2SR 5051The Amsterdam Concert / Rod McKuen
* 2WB 2732Back To Carnegie Hall / Rod McKuen
* SR 5040Evening In Vienna / Rod McKuen & Greta Keller
* 2BR 1947Grand Tour / Rod McKuen
* SR 5042Grand Tour, Vol. 3 / Rod McKuen
* SR 5001Rod McKuen In Concert
* SR 6031Rod McKuen Live Across Australia & Around The World
* SR 5075Rod McKuen Live At The Sydney Opera House
* L 70041/2Rod McKuen Live At The Sydney Opera House
* SYD 11000Rod McKuen Live In Africa
* 2SR 5016Rod McKuen Live In London
* WS 1794WBC 1100BRod McKuen Live / Sold Out Carnegie Hall

Greatest Hits & Compilations


* R2 70281The Beat Generation / McKuen/Kerouac/Ginsburg/ Bruce
* RCA 4127Best Of Rod McKuen, The
* DL 75078Bits & Pieces / Rod McKuen
* SYC 2901The Early Years / The Best Of Rod McKuen
* PW 6026Greatest Australian Hits / Rod McKuen
* WS 1772Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 1
* BS 2560Rod McKuen's / Greatest Hits, Vol. 2
* SR 5031Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 3
* BS 2688Rod McKuen / Greatest Hits, Vol. 4
* SLS 96083In The Beginning / Rod McKuen
* 2SR 5073Love Songs / Rod McKuen
* SR 5072A Portrait Of Rod McKuen
* SR 5104Rod On Record
* SR 5020Try Rod McKuen In The Privacy Of Your Own Home
* BR 408TIXD 420Without A Worry In The World / Rod McKuen

Works with Anita Kerr & San Sebastian Strings

"Lyrics & Book & Musical Storyline by Rod McKuen. Music Composed, Arranged & Conducted by Anita Kerr"

* WBL 1047WB 1670The Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
* WBL 1046WB 1705The Earth / The San Sebastian Strings
* WB 1720The Sky / The San Sebastian Strings
* WBC 1080WS 1764Home To The Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
* WS 1839The Soft Sea / The San Sebastian Strings
* SR 10043La Mer / The San Sebastian Strings
* WB 1795For Lovers / The San Sebastian Strings
* BS 2768Bouquet / The San Sebastian Strings
* Spring / The San Sebastian Strings
* BS4 2707Summer / The San Sebastian Strings
* Autumn / The San Sebastian Strings
* BS 2622Winter / The San Sebastian Strings
* BS 2837With Love/ The San Sebastian Strings
* 3WS 1730The Sea / The Earth / The Sky: The San Sebastian Strings [3]
* 3WS 1827The Complete Sea: The San Sebastian Strings (3)
* 4WS 2754The Seasons: The San Sebastian Strings [4]

Promotional Albums


* IM 100017 New Songs By Rod McKuen
* PRO 451Short Cuts From Pastorale
* SPS 33-554Some Of The Best Of Rod McKuen
* SML 10220 New Rod McKuens Songs

Trivia

*A part of McKuen's "Listen to the Warm" is used to introduce the "News of the Warm" segment of "Le Show".
*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.
*McKuen also appeared on the dating game. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC9Ko5Wy71o YouTube - Rod McKuen - Dating Game (Pt 1) ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.rodmckuen.com The Official Rod McKuen Website]
* [http://wiredforbooks.org/rodmckuen/ 1986 audio interview with Rod McKuen by Don Swaim of CBS Radio, RealAudio at Wired for Books.org]
* [http://www.kruegerbooks.com/books/sig/mckuen-rod.html Signature of Rod McKuen]
* [http://rodmckuen.heavenforum.com/index.forum Rod McKuen Message Board]


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