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Rod McKuen

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Rod McKuen

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.

Career

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, he turned to live poetic performance. McKuen began in the 1950s to give poetry readings, appearing with 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. During the early 1960s he spent most of his time in France. There he began to translate the work of Belgian 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]

McKuen enjoyed commercial success unusual in the field of modern popular poetry. His poems have been translated into eleven languages and his books have sold over 65 million copies.[2][unreliable source?] Throughout his career he has continued to enjoy sell-out concerts around the world and appears regularly at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Edward Habib's liner notes for McKuen's Amsterdam Concert [citation needed]album make the often-repeated claim that Rod McKuen is the best-selling and most widely read poet of all time (however, the aggregate sales of works by major poets like Shakespeare and Dante in hosts of editions over centuries of publication in scores of languages easily surpass McKuen's impressive though more recent sales figures).

McKuen's work has never been taken seriously by the literary academy. Michael Baers observes in Gale Research's St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture that "through the years his books have drawn uniformly unkind reviews. In fact, criticism of his poetry is uniformly vituperative..."[3] Other critics, like poet Linda Sue Grimes, find McKuen's songs appealing but refer to his efforts at poetry as those of a "poetaster," or inferior writer with pretensions to serious consideration.[4]

Songwriting

McKuen wrote over 1500 songs, accounting for over 100 million records.[2] His material has been recorded by 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 best-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 were listed as the artists. In 1961, he had a hit single titled "Oliver Twist". He has collaborated with numerous composers, including Henry Mancini and John Williams, and a successful series of albums with Anita Kerr. His symphonies, concertos, and other classical works have been performed by orchestras around the globe.[citation needed] His work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations.[citation needed]

Activism

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.[citation needed]

Discography

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

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

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

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

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

Greatest Hits & Compilations

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]

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

References

  1. ^ "Flight Plan". Rod McKuen. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  2. ^ a b "Rod McKuen - Biography". Mckuen.com. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
  3. ^ Michael Baers, "Rod McKuen" from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_bio/ai_2419200821/?tag=content;col1
  4. ^ Linda Sue Grimes, "Rod McKuen: An American Success Story - But Not As A Poet" retrieved from http://poetryandpoetsinrags.blogspot.com/2007/04/great-regulars-but-somewhere-in-readers.html
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