Gavin Geoffrey Dillard bound his first collection of wisdom poems, couplets, and koans in 2nd grade. In 11th grade, at the North Carolina School of the Arts, his English professor, a regional poet, pulled him from class and spent the next two years tutoring him in poetry poetry poetry. By his senior year Gavin was flown to New York for the publishing of his first book, and spent time under the auspices of Allan Ginsberg, Harold Norse, Ian Young, and other icons of the day. Dillard has published nine additional collections, two anthologies, and his infamous memoir, In The Flesh (undressing for success). Branded by the Los Angeles Times The Naked Poet for his in-the-buff poetry readings, his poems have been recorded by James Earl Jones and published in anthologies and periodicals worldwide.Gavin studied playwriting with Tom Eyen, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert Patrick. He has written comedy patter with and for Joan Rivers, Peggy Lee, Vincent Price, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton. With Peter Allen he wrote a theme song for the LA Olympics. He wrote book and lyrics for BARK! (the musical), which has played all over the Americas, and OMFG!!! (an iLove story), which premiered in San Francisco in 2014; Gavin has written themes and jingles for Disney, Ralph Edwards Studios, and Chanticleer.Two of Dillard's poems, set by Jake Heggie and recorded endlessly, were performed at Lincoln Center by Jennifer Larmore. Many classical art songs have ensued, and recently John de los Santos fashioned an opera entirely from Dillard's verse, composed by Clint Borzoni. Winning the prestigious Frontiers Award, When Adonis Calls premiered in 2015 at the Fort Worth Opera, followed by OPERA America's best new work award in 2017, followed by a full production with the Asheville Lyric Opera in 2018. The poet lives with six cats and two bunnies on his small tea plantation in Black Mountain, NC.
