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. April 29 is the 119th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (120th in leap years). ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

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 Ginsburg; during this time, he often used the pseudonym "Dor". He 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. 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. Image File history File links Rodsmall. ... View of downtown Oakland looking west across Lake Merritt. ... State nickname: The Golden State Official languages English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) Senators Dianne Feinstein (D) Barbara Boxer (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 3rd 410,000 km² 4. ... Lumberjack is the traditional name of a person, almost always a man, who makes his living cutting down trees. ... Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922 – October 21, 1969) was an American novelist, writer, poet, artist, and part of the Beat Generation. ... Photo of Allen Ginsberg by Robert Birnbaum Allen Ginsberg (June 3, 1926 - April 5, 1997) was an American Beat poet born in Paterson, New Jersey. ... A pseudonym (Greek: false name) is a fictitious name used by an individual as an alternative to his or her legal name. ... The Empire State Building (right) and the Chrysler Building (left) are easily recognized symbols of New York City to the world. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ... Brel on a cover of Les Adieux á lOlympia concert album (1966) Jacques Brel (April 8, 1929 – October 9, 1978) was a Belgian French-speaking author-composer, considered by many a poet as well, for the strong power of expression in his lyrics. ... The Vietnam War or Second Indochina War was a conflict between the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRVN, or North Vietnam), allied with the National Liberation Front (NLF, or Viet Cong) against the Republic of Vietnam (RVN, or South Vietnam), and its allies — notably the United States military in support of...

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.

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, Waylon Jennings, The London Philharmonic, Greta Keller, Perry Como, and Madonna. 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. 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. Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer who is considered by many to have been the finest male vocalist of all time. ... Waylon Jennings (June 15, 1937 – February 13, 2002) was a respected and influential American country music singer and guitarist, born in Littlefield, Texas. ... The London Philharmonic Orchestra (frequently abbreviated to LPO), based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom. ... Greta Keller-Bacon (February 8, 1903 – November 11, 1977) Vienna-born cabaret singer and actress. ... Perry Como, born Pierino Ronald Como (May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian American crooner during the latter half of the 20th century. ... Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone Ritchie, (born on August 16, 1958 in Bay City, Michigan) is a famous United States pop singer, Pop icon, author, dancer, fashion icon, actress, composer and producer. ... The original members of Bill Haley and His Comets, c. ... A voice actor (also a voice artist) is a person who provides voices for animated characters (including those in feature films, television series, animated shorts), voice-overs in radio and television commercials, audio dramas, dubbed foreign language films, video games, puppet shows, and amusement rides. ... Henry Mancini (April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994), was a noted American composer and arranger. ... There have been a number of noteworthy men named John Williams: John Williams (actor) (1903–1983), actor John Williams (archer) American archer and Olympic gold medallist John Williams (author) (1922—), wrote historical novel Augustus John Williams (accordionist), Chicago-born accordion player John Williams (archbishop) (1582–1650), archbishop John Hot Rod... Listen to this article (help) Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-04-13, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ...

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 1960s, 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. Sammy Davis, Jr. ... Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917 – June 15, 1996), also known as Lady Ella (the First Lady of Song), was one of the most influential jazz singers of the 20th Century, the winner of thirteen Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Art presented by President Reagan and the Presidential Medal... The Red Ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS. AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and is defined as a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the depletion of the immune system caused...

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 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

In-Concert 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

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

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

External links

The Official Rod McKuen Website

• 1986 audio interview with Rod McKuen by Don Swaim of CBS Radio, RealAudio