Occupation author, poet Name Gavin Dillard | Role Poet | |
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Born November 28, 1954 (age 69) ( 1954-11-28 ) Asheville, North Carolina, United States Education California Institute of the Arts Books In the Flesh: Undressing for Success Nominations Lambda Literary Award for Gay Biography/Autobiography | ||
Rainbow Bridge
Gavin Geoffrey Dillard (born November 28, 1954) is an American poet and songwriter. He is the author of seven books of homoerotic poetry, two anthologies of poetry, and several popular songs. He wrote many of the lyrics for Bark! The Musical.
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Early life
Dillard was born in Asheville, North Carolina, on November 28, 1954. He was in the high school program at the North Carolina School of the Arts and also attended California Institute of the Arts. His first chapbook of poetry, Twenty Nineteen Poems, was published by Ian Young's Catalyst Press when Dillard was 20 years old.
Hollywood Years
During the late 1970s, Dillard lived in Hollywood, California, and his experiences there figured heavily in his autobiography, In the Flesh: Undressing for Success, published in 1997 by Barricade Books. Dillard's portraits have been drawn by Tom of Finland and Don Bachardy. Photos of Dillard have appeared in Playgirl and many gay publications.
Songwriting
Dillard wrote many of the lyrics for Bark! The Musical. His songwriting work (as lyricist) also includes "The Rescue," recorded by Sam Harris, and art songs set to music by composer Jake Heggie. Dillard wrote the lyrics for "OMFG!!! -- an iLove Story," which opened at the ODC Theater in San Francisco on July 8, 2011. The music was written by Christopher Winslow.