ROD McKUEN A Man Alone Part 5-5

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• Description : ROD McKUEN A Man Alone Part 5-5 D...(more)ocumentairy about the great artist/composer/poet/writer/record collector/workaholic Rod McKuen. It features an in depth interview about his life & carreer plus some great old footage. Mister Rod McKuen talks about his passion for music, running away from home at and early age to escape his abusive stepfather, his start as a jazz singer in Lionel Hamptons band, his life vision, his future plans, his working relationship with Jaques Brel and Frank Sinatra plus his work with newer artist such as Kurt Cobain. Also features his brother Edward McKuen (about his brother Rod working for Bing Crosby) and behind the scenes footage with the lovely singer Petula Clark. I love the part when hes talking about his extremely large record collection (its considered the largest private record collection in the whole world). My favourite quote from him: anyway, if it was a choice when I was a kid between buying a steak or buying a record I always bought some record...always. His love & passion for music & life is way beyond compare. Please visit his website for more information: http://www.mckuen.com/ Rod McKuen (born April 29, 1933) is a bestselling American poet, composer, and singer/songwriter, 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. During the early 1960s he spent most of his time in France. This began his project 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 wouldnt have approved of, but all I could do was replay our songs (our children) and ruminate over our unfinished life together." Rod McKuens books became popular on many 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 were frequently sold out. McKuen's commercial success is unparalleled in the field of modern popular poetry. His poems have been translated into a dozen languages and his books have 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 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 (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 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 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 work as a composer in the film industry has garnered him two Academy Award nominations. Throughout his 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. (less)