A month ago, we lost singer-songwriter-poet, Rod McKuen… I lost an old friend. Over the last few weeks I’ve been wanting to write a journal entry, acknowledgment, grief, Appreciation, and perhaps little bit about the decade I spent hanging out with Rod, but I really have no idea where to begin. Looking back, let me say that I’m grateful that we shared a chapter in each other’s lives.

When I first met Rod, I admit I had no idea who he was and I certainly had no clue of the mega-fame he earned and lived through. Most people my age and younger probably don’t even know his name, and judging by the lack of tribute by the “stars” of today, I doubt they even know it now. Though I bet some might recognize his songs like “Seasons In the Sun,” “If You Go Away,” and the Oscar nominated “Jean,”…  I was wildly impressed learning that he wrote and performed the song “A Boy Named Charlie Brown” since it was a cartoon I remember watching yearly as a kid. I never read poems but since songwriting is the cousin of poetry, I had great appreciation for it. Little did I know I would become close friends with the best selling American Poet.

In a way, it was good that I didn’t know about all his success when we met because It eliminated me being starstruck. It allowed for more of an equal friendship and working relationship to develop. That being said, Rod cast a huge shadow so it was really impossible to share a single spotlight – that never stopped him from being a generous performer and sharing the stage though.

Eventually I became amazed with his achievements and talent. When walking into Rod’s Beverly Hills mansion it was impossible not to notice… his Gold and Platinum records lined throughout the hallways, awards, Grammy, full vintage recording studio, and some of the most valuable art I’ve ever seen on the walls (Picasso, Andy Warhol, Charles Schulz, etc). Hell, Rod even had Picasso drawings OF Rod by Picasso on his wall. From the eyes of a poor starving artist fresh off the bus from Detroit, seeing all this was surreal. But more than just “neat things” to show, Rod had millions of stories of Old School Hollywood that were priceless to hear [one in particular about David Janssen smoking a lot of weed always amused me – HA!].

I can’t truly describe the honor I felt knowing that McKuen wanted to work with me… but during that time, we were as thick as thieves.

I wrote/recorded many songs with Rod and performed a bunch of concerts. He seemed to feed off of partnership with music though he never required it. I think it was just more fun for him. I’d like to think that I inspired him to get out and perform again (before I came along, he was living the life of a hermit and hiding from the spotlight-other than posting daily blurbs on his website). I know he worked with some monstrously talented people so to be one of his last collaborators, I know I’m a lucky guy.

I learned quite a bit from Rod(including how to make a martini), though looking back, I know I was stubborn and I’m surprised I was able to learn anything at all (young people always think they have all the answers – the curse of youth). And now? I’m left with memories…some good, some bad, some funny, some sad. I guess a little turbulence always makes for more exciting ride though. Perhaps some day I might share more (like how Rod gave me the secret identity of Dwight Michaels while running his mail order for a short time), but right now the only thing that makes sense to share is the loss I feel and my good fortune to be able to call Rod my friend. Like any true artist, his body of work will keep him alive forever.

I should mention the biggest thing Rod taught me… That success is possible. I may not have achieved or produced a sliver of the art that he left on this Earth, but there aren’t many who will. There won’t be another Rod Mckuen folks.