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Rod & Sunny: Photo by Bob Gentry
8/5/1999
A Thought for Today
Be careful with your confidences and thrifty with your secrets.
LOS ANGELES
APPEARANCE NOVEMBER 4th
On November 4th I'll be part of an all star tribute "Kurt Weill: The Centennial" put together by David Galligan, the producer who did such a terrific job honoring Bobby Fryer a couple of months back. It's an evening to benefit The Actor's Fund and will be held
at The Luckman Auditorium on the campus of Cal-State.
Here's a list of the performers in alphabetical order; Eileen Brennan, Alan Campbell, Carole Cook, Loretta Devine, Pam Dowber, Nancy Dussault, Gogi Grant, Kim Hoy, Jane A. Johnstone, Dale Kristien, Shirley Jones. Sharon Lawrence, Rod McKuen, Jack Noseworthy, Hugh Panaro, Brock Peters, Linda Purl and Charlotte Rae.
I love being asked to be part of this evening and having the chance to sing my favorite Kurt Weill song at a time in my life when it has great personal meaning. Ticket prices are $30.00 (rear balcony,) $60.00 (front balcony,) $100 (orchestra) and VIP orchestra seating at $250.00 which includes a post performance reception. Again it's a benefit for The Actors Fund produced by Michael Kearns, musical direction by Ron Abel and will be staged by David Galligan
As I mentioned last Thursday, 5 days later on Thursday November 9th I'll be performing "Jean" at the Broadhurst theatre in New York City as part of the East Coast celebration of Bobby Fryer's life. That event takes place at noon, is free and open to the public. Also scheduled to appear are Gwen Verdon, Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Neil Simon, among others. Sam Crothers of Producers Circle is the producer.
Several of today's letters concern past performances.
CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
Dear Rod, Hi once again. Hope you enjoyed the
Olympics.
On the off-chance you might remember me, which is frankly doubtful taking into account the number of people you must actually meet: Way back in about 73 or possibly 4 (though I doubt 5 but maybe) you did a show in Workworth Ontario (or Warkworth) at the local penitentiary. Thanks again, I enjoyed that. And it wasn't just because the first sound from your mouth
wasn't Johnny Cash. Nothing against Johnny Cash. I think he's fine, but every week new Johnny Cash was getting to me. And when he shows up with a piano
and wearing a beard, I guess that's about as much as a guy could stand. I suppose the worst thing would have been a woman doing Johnny Cash.
I was released not long after you did your show there, so I can't really say for sure either way. Wouldn't put it past them though. Probably a black woman. Obviously no racism intended. Just might tend to stretch a point is all.
Anyway, while everyone else was milling around you on the stage after the show trying to shake your hand and bend your ear, I gambled on maybe still having a chance to do the same, if I lost time in picking up your
song routine list from the floor in front of your microphone stand and asked you to autograph it. To my surprise, you did. Also said hi to me.
Due to getting into more trouble, I ended up getting shipped back to England in 78 and lost the paper with the autograph. Didn't push my luck by trying for a handshake too. Just as well I suppose seeing as I've lost the hand too, in an accident about 8 or 9 years ago. Well, 3 1/2 fingers and a bit more of it. Anyway, easy come, easy go. Damn shame about the autograph though. I suppose the hand had it's uses too. You can't win 'em all. At least I don't think so anyway. So for what it's worth, I guess you could say, that's the news from way back.
And on the other hand (if you'll pardon the expression that is), I don't get in trouble nearly so much any more. That and the fact that I find you're alive and kicking equals good news as far as I can see. Good to know. I guess that's all I really wanted to say. And although it might be a bit soon to say, all the best for Christmas and so on. Bye. Best wishes from Ian.
P.S.I hope you don't mind that I've done a screen capture of your photographs for my personal archives. One must
preserve ones stars I think. God bless.
Dear Ian, I remember that concert vividly. You guys may have been a captive crowd, but you were certainly a thoughtful and appreciative audience. Though our conversation was brief, I've often wondered what happened to you in the intervening years. You seemed excited and full of plans about the coming end of your incarceration.
Sorry to hear things haven't gone all that well for you in the time since we were last in touch. The only thing that tempers that view is your self depreciating sense of humor, which seems to have gotten you through it all. I hope the comment "I don't get in trouble nearly so much any more" was said with a smile and that you're staying out of trouble, period.
Life isn't easy for any of us, though it often seems that some are dealt tougher hands than others. You've certainly had your share of travails. You neglected to tell me what you're up to as far as work goes and what's going on in your personal life. I hope you'll write me again soon in more detail. Meanwhile I send my affection and of course warm wishes for the future. Thanks again for your letter, Ian. Rod
FALL 1971 IN AMSTERDAM
Dear Rod, I want to ask you if you remember when you were in Amsterdam for your concert in The Concertgebouw back in 1971. At that time a radio station make it possible for fans to make a phone call to you. My elder sister and I called you.
This is what I said: "My name is Nicolet Pronk, I'm seven years old, and I love your songs". Now we are several years (29) later and it never slipped my mind, I still love your songs!
Maybe you do remember a bit from those days. What was it like to experienced all that you did in Amsterdam in 1971?
I hope that you soon find the time to answer this mail, I'll wait for it and thanks for all the years of music and poetry you've given us. Thank you and good bye, Nicolet
Dear Nicolet, I'll never forget arriving in Amsterdam for the 1971 concert and discovering that my recording of "Without A Worry in the World" was the number one record in the country. Not only did it portend good vibes for the concert but it made three #1's in a row for me in your country and that remains one of the high points in my career.
I'm so grateful that the concert was recorded because it makes the time period tangible and of course singing at The Concertgebouw , so steeped in history and one of the great venues in the world is a reward in itself.
"How did it all feel," I was shell-shocked. I don't think anyone going through events like those fully appreciate them at the time because living the moment doesn't offer much time for introspection. It's only afterward that you can look back and say "Wow." I had a steak, a racehorse and a tulip named after me on that trip, imagine!
I'm delighted you were part of all that went on in that period, Nicolet and that despite your age at the time you remember it so vividly. Thanks for a letter that brought back a wonderful memory. Love, Rod
APRIL 29, 1969 CARNEGIE HALL
Dear Rod: I'm happy to take this opportunity to write you and tell you how pleased I am to re-discover your work, and to know you are "alive and well" as they say still doing what you love and by the looks of your Safe Place To Land website, doing very well. Everyone is looking forward to your new book and enjoying reading new poems on this site. I work as a R.N. on the nightshift, and whenever I can I will take a look and enjoy the
poetry. I don't have a PC at home, so this is the way for me to update myself on a very favorite writer, you!
I first saw you in concert April 29, 1969 in Carnegie Hall from my front row seat. I was only 19, very
naive and took that trip to NYC alone on a bus from Baltimore. I was thrilled to see you there and I guess like an early groupie (which I had no idea about), I got your attention by yelling ROD ROD and handed you a
post a note explaining how I discovered your music (The Sea) after a trip to Ocean City, Md. and a date showed me the record once back in Baltimore.
I was really thrilled when a year later, your live concert album came out and it verified your sweet comment you made to me after the audience sang Happy Birthday to you and you said to the audience, "you're
very nice", then you looked down at me and said, "mmm, you are nice."
When you came to Baltimore in October that year and performed at the Morris Mechanic, I saw your early show and later a girl who worked at the Omni Hotel told me you where staying there. She and I tried to meet you after your second concert at that hotel once
you were back in your room by interrupting the room delivery boy cart and trying to meet you that way.
Your manager came to the door, explained how exhausted you were, but went in and came back with a small book of poetry, signed by you for each of us, and I must say you found your poem called Susan and autographed that one for me. I say thank you, belatedly and want to let you know, your creativity speaks for so many people at times in their lives where sometimes
words are hard to come by or expressions are hard to convey, or we are able to share feelings so universal when we sometimes feel its just us, alone, in this hardass world. (I love to hear Sinatra's version of your song "A Single Man")
Now at 52, married a second time to a man from Syria, converted to Islam, and dealing with rather rigid social customs, I think back about the times I was trying to
find the right man in my life and through the hurtful times, remember your poem, "I have no special bed, I give myself to those looking for love. Lonely rivers going to the sea and back give themselves to many
brooks in passing. So it is with me, undiscovered and alone until someone says the magic word, hello."
I look forward to catching up on your wonderful work and hopefully, enjoying you in concert in the near future. Thanks for the opportunity to talk with you personally this way. You've made me smile many times and that's always been what people have said is one of the nicest things about me. I would feel privileged to hear from you sometime. Stay very well, Rod. your lifelong fan, and a friend, Susan Sands Pharoan
Dear Susan, Thanks for being so persistent. I loved your story regarding New York and the one about our evening together (sort of) in
Baltimore. Yes, these things happen on the road and I remember them.
I don't know if the New York City Birthday Concerts will ever resume but they became a tradition that I looked forward to fulfilling for ten years in a row.
I will go back on tour though, but please no more midnight visits to hotel rooms. Usually I'm so exhausted after a concert that I'm in bed and asleep as soon as possible, especially since more likely than not, I've a plane trip early in the morning to another city.
The very best thing about having a Website is that I get to hear from old friends and those I've encountered while concretizing around the world. Love and appreciation, Rod
APRIL 29th, 1973 IN NEW YORK
Rod, April 29, 1973, Carnegie Hall, I was there. Happy Belated Birthday. Sometime in the summer later that year. Louisville, Ky. at the premier of one of your symphonies, I was there. You wore a tuxedo and Tennis shoes-Pretty Cool.
What am I saying? When I found your Web page the other day, it was like finding an old friend that for some period of time lurked in the back of one's mind, but was hard to find.
And while you've not 'been away' it is wonderful to have you here again. Please come to Cincinnati. Mike
Dear Mike, Thanks for the memories. I really miss the annual birthday concerts and to have had a couple of commissions from The Louisville Orchestra is something every American composer dreams of. I hope I do come to Cincinnati, so I can say thanks and hello personally.
Glad you discovered A Safe Place To Land and I hope you won't be a stranger to it. All the best, Mike, and thanks again. Warmly
CONCERT IN ATLANTA
Rod, I've been advised before that tour plans for you next year do not include Atlanta. Shame on you! Was told you'd be in Florida somewhere, maybe closest stop to Atlanta. Fine ~ I can travel, but Atlanta has a huge population of mid-50's folks (cringe), just like me!
We have a great neighborhood area ... Virginia Highlands and adjoining Little Five Points. A funky lil' theatre in Little Five Points, the Variety Playhouse, would be an ideal ' spot for you.
Over many years, I've seen/heard you perform (at Atlanta's no-personality Civic Center), and at the Masonic Auditorium in San Francisco.
The Variety Playhouse, The Fox Theatre (a beautiful, historic theatre, but maybe too large?) OR Chastain Park (outdoor
venue ... truly beautiful arena, in-town park setting, and great acoustics . . . would all be good places for you to play. Sincerely, Shari
Dear Sheri. I've no idea where the rumor that I wouldn't be appearing in Atlanta next fall started. It isn't true and it isn't false.
No cities, dates or venues have been set for the fall tour yet.
I would hope that if a promoter in Atlanta wants me, I'll be booked there. My concert manager, Jerry Lonn, has ruled nothing out as far as when and where I'll perform and he loves Atlanta as much as I do.
I don't have much to say about where I perform; other than "No" if it's somewhere I'd rather not go. As far as I know my booking agents are open to all offers and, again, if a promoter from Atlanta wants me and it can be worked out, I'm sure I'll be there. Jerry's not a concert promoter, nor am I, that remains the province of your local booking organizations.
The venues you've suggested all have merit and sound interesting. Thanks for your continued campaign to bring me to the land of peach trees and
Vidalia onions. I hope it happens. Thanks for wanting to help. Affectionately, Rod
PS Glad you mentioned the "Fifties Folks" but don't ignore the Seventies Something's, and the Seventeen year olds, etc. This kid's an equal opportunity performer
OTTAWA PERFORMANCE
Hi, Having always been a fan of your words and thoughts, I have seen you perform in various American cities when I lived there. The philosophies expressed in your writing have helped me tremendously throughout some very difficult
times, and I thank you for that.
I have since returned to my home country of Canada, and I am wondering if there are any plans for you to appear here, specifically Ottawa, Ontario? If not, are you planning to appear in Canada at all? I will watch your web site for schedules of your appearances and will travel to wherever you do appear that is close enough for me to get to. I, along with your large following, am very happy that you are writing
and appearing again - we have missed you. Donna MacMillan
Dear Donna, as far as I can remember, when it comes to touring, we always treated Canada the same as the USA. In other words if you're in Seattle, Detroit or New York, why not hop over the
border if a Canadian promoter is willing to present you there? Have a feeling it won't be that much different this time around, so Ottawa might happen. Warmly, Rod
ROD McKUEN SIGHTING
Lo and behold on 20/20 tonight (Friday), as they were dissing PETA, for about 5 seconds we saw a clip of celebrities at "The Animal Ball"--and there stood a familiar face with a dark-haired young man to your right and a blond lady to your left...posing for pictures (it looked like it was near a board with a zebra on it).
Unfortunately, it was a piece that probably ran under five minutes and definitely was slander journalism. As they say here in Illinois, "you sure do clean up pretty well!" ;-)
Have a very wonderful weekend and take care! Eric
Dear Eric, I'm glad you saw the quick glimpse of me on 20/20 Friday night. I was beginning to think it was only me and I was having a serious senior moment.
I had just gotten in from an autograph party for Jackie De Shannon's new album at our local Tower Records and turned on the TV just before the piece on PETA ran. I had no idea it was coming and least of all that I'd be on it momentarily.
The video footage was take during the week of the first Clinton/Gore inauguration and must have been hanging around in ABC's video vaults. The chance to see me in a tux and sneakers doesn't come often and that, by the way, is how I turned up at several of the inaugural balls that night.
By the way I didn't get the pilot of the radio show on tape this week, but hope to do so in the coming one. It'll go straight to DAT & will have a CD copy made for you so that you can decide how to code it for broadcast from the site. Cheers, Rod
A NOTE ON THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES
To many television viewers last Thursday night's vice presidential debates between candidates Joseph Lieberman and Dick Cheney may have seemed deadly dull, but they certainly were high on character and civility. Better still both men presented their views intelligently and with passion - sans rancor. Despite the fact that they are political opponents locked in a fierce battle, the debate was marked by an absence of personal attacks. Not much fodder for the pundits and comedians but thoughtful stuff for you and me.
These guys could certainly teach both of the candidates at the top of their respective tickets a lot about decorum. Let's hope their deportment will set a standard for the two remaining presidential debates.
CNN's Bernard Shaw did a great job as moderator, by eliciting and inciting a couple of sharp but not derisive exchanges.
I've had some letters asking who I though won the first presidential debate last Tuesday. In my opinion it was pretty much a toss up. I don't think either candidate changed anyone's mind. This race will remain close till the election on November 7th. I urge you to stay informed as much as I urge you to vote. Tomorrow is the deadline for registering if you haven't done so yet.
Since I'll be away from home on Election Day, I've already put in for my absentee ballot.
More Ask Rod tomorrow. To those celebrating Columbus Day in the USA and Thanksgiving in Canada, happy holiday and to Jews everywhere a thoughtful and hopeful Yom Kippur. Sleep warm.
- RM 10/8/00
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