Gregory Corso

Date of Birth: March 26, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Aries

Date of Death: January 17, 2001

Biography

Gregory Corso was a seminal American poet and a key figure in the Beat Generation, a literary movement that emerged in the 1950s. Born on March 26, 1930, in New York City, Corso’s early life was marked by hardship. He spent much of his childhood in foster homes and orphanages after his mother abandoned the family, and his father proved unable to care for him. Despite these challenges, Corso’s intellectual curiosity and passion for literature blossomed during a stint in jail for theft, where he discovered the works of Percy Bysshe Shelley and other Romantic poets. After his release, Corso became involved with the burgeoning Beat movement in Greenwich Village, where he formed close relationships with other iconic figures such as Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William S. Burroughs. Corso’s poetry is known for its vivid imagery, wit, and philosophical depth, exploring themes of love, death, and the human condition. His notable works include “Gasoline” (1958), “The Happy Birthday of Death” (1960), and “Elegiac Feelings American” (1970). He continued to write and perform his poetry until his death on January 17, 2001. Corso’s contributions to American literature have left an indelible mark, influencing generations of poets and writers.

5 Interesting Facts about Gregory Corso

1. Gregory Corso was a self-taught poet, having educated himself while incarcerated in Clinton State Prison.

2. He was briefly married to a woman named Sally, with whom he had a daughter named Miranda.

3. Corso was one of the youngest members of the Beat Generation and was often referred to as the “enfant terrible” of the group.

4. He collaborated with musician Bob Dylan, who admired his work.

5. Corso had a cameo in the 1983 film “The Beat Generation,” which explores the lives of the movement’s key figures.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gregory Corso

1. “They, that unnamed ‘they,’ they’ve knocked me down but I got up.”

2. “The joy of existence must be asserted in each instant.”

3. “You see, I don’t believe that the poet can be a poet without the gift of prophecy.”

4. “My poetry is born between the street and the heaven.”

5. “I feel I want to write poems for all mankind, if possible.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Gregory Corso’s highest net worth was never publicly disclosed, but his estate and literary contributions have valued him as one of the more financially modest members of the Beat Generation.

Children

Gregory Corso had one known child, a daughter named Miranda, from his brief marriage to Sally. Miranda has kept a relatively low profile and little is publicly known about her life.