Rod McKuen, Prolific Poet and Lyricist, Dies at 81

The New York Times ^ | January 29, 2015 | Margalit Fox

[EveningStar]

Rod McKuen, a ubiquitous poet, lyricist and songwriter whose work met with immense commercial success if little critical esteem, died on Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif. He was 81...

Mr. McKuen, whom The St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture described as having been, at his height, “the unofficial poet laureate of America,” was the author of dozens of books of poetry, which together sold millions of copies...

[EveningStar]

Wikipedia

[EveningStar]

ping

[Zuben Elgenubi]

“the unofficial poet laureate of America,”

I thought that honor went to the singer/poet, Jewel.

[CrazyIvan]

My older sister went through a phase where she played his records continuously. I seriously considered killing her.

[a fool in paradise]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5-HlUAOjGE
Beat Generation

(became the starting point for Richard Hell & The Voidoid’s Blank Generation).

[ScottinVA]

“the unofficial poet laureate of America,”
I thought that honor went to the singer/poet, Jewel.

---

No, no.. that was Muhammad Ali.

[dfwgator]

I thought it was Nipsey Russell.

[katana]

Sorry to hear he’s died and condolences to the family and friends. But “Poet Laureate”? Please. My high school English teacher, Mr. Lewis, thought Rod McKuen’s poetry and song lyrics were utter dreck. And after listening to them more closely I had to agree. They were emblematic of the 70’s, a time of exhaustion and excessively successful mediocrity (”Jesus Christ Superstar” and “Love Story” ... need I say more?). The girls in our class were appalled but old Arnie Lewis was right. He also considered Dylan’s lyrics near genius and on this I also had to agree.

[hlmencken3]

America’s most understood poet.

[KevinB]

Am I gay? Let me put it this way, Collectively I spend more hours brushing my teeth than having sex so I refuse to define my life in sexual terms. I've been to bed with women and men and in most cases enjoyed the experience with either sex immensely. Does that make me bi-sexual? Nope. Heterosexual? Not exclusively. Homosexual? Certainly not by my definition.

I am sexual by nature and I continue to fall in love with people and with any luck human beings of both sexes will now and again be drawn to me. I can't imagine choosing one sex over the other, that's just too limiting. I can't even honestly say I have a preference. I'm attracted to different people for different reasons.

Link

[KevinB]

I guess I should have put my previous post in quotes so people don't get the wrong idea about me. :-)

Link

[shadeaud]

Rod McKuen was on one side of the bell curve of life after 4 years serving proudly. The other side of the curve was the Rolling Stones. Life is all about balance.

[elcid1970]

A lot of eyebrows here at FR were starting to lock into the full upright position!

;^)

[dfwgator]

My Dad had a bunch of his stuff when I was growing up. He would play “The Sea” “The Earth” and “The Sky” constantly.

[catbertz]

My mom was really into him when I was a teen. She played his records constantly. I was into heavy metal at the time, but I strangely accepted his shtick. I remember his voice as being mesmerizing.

[namvolunteer]

Ya think? I think you’re right.

[Finny]

RIP Rod.

[vetvetdoug]

Dave Guard, Nick Reynolds, John Stewart and Bob Shane thought well of his lyrics and songs. They recorded "Seasons In The Sun", Ally Ally Oxen Free", "Love's Been good to Me", "Doesn't Anybody Know My Name", "Rusting In The Rain", "The Summer's Long", and "Isle In The Water". Now only Bob Shane is still with us. RIP Rod.

[KevinB]

A lot of eyebrows here at FR were starting to lock into the full upright position!

LOL! I can never find that edit button when I need it.

[OrangeHoof]

The world became a little less pretentious...