Rodney Marvin McKuen was born April 29, 1933, at a Salvation Army hospital in
Oakland, California. His actual father remains unknown; his stepfather was an abusive
alcoholic who made the youngster’s life miserable. At age 11 he ran away from home,
supporting himself through odd jobs. After two years of Army service, he headed to
San Francisco’s blossoming North Beach club scene. Inspired by the Weavers and the
city’s literary culture, he read poetry at the Jazz Cellar and sang folk material at the
Purple Onion.
Later moving to Hollywood, he acted in three films and sang with Lionel
Hampton’s band. In 1959 he signed with Decca Records, recording folk singles
and ambitious thematic pop albums. His first record success was a novelty,
The
Mummy
, recorded with impressionist Bob McFadden. For a brief period McKuen
headed a short-lived, Los Angeles-based folk group that included Jack Elliott, who
recently returned from Europe.
In 1960 McKuen moved to New York, where he spent nearly four years writing
special material for established cabaret acts. He also recorded sporadically, including
a minor rock and roll hit,
Oliver Twist.
During an extended stay in France, McKuen
befriended Jacques Brel, whose sophisticated music and lyrics affected his own work.
He adapted Brel’s
Le Moribond
into
Seasons In The Sun
. Originally recorded by The
Kingston Trio, it became a 1973 pop hit for Terry Jacks.
Returning to Los Angeles in early 1964, he revisited his back catalog for a Capitol
album, ‘McKuen Sings McKuen.’
Love’s Been Good To Me
was a standout track; Frank
Sinatra covered it on his 1969 album of McKuen songs, ‘A Man Alone.’
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