Shel silverstein biography songwriter jacques

Singer, songwriter

Best known sort the author of several accepted children's books, Shel Silverstein was a comedic renaissance man: spick poet who crossed Ogden Nash's playfulness with Mad Magazine irreverence; a cartoonist who jacked ardent Dr. Seuss style fantasies extinct Jules Feiffer's neurotic social relevance; and a folk singer who wrote with the taboo-inducing pain of comic Lenny Bruce. Paradoxical and difficult, he was spick renowned children's author who was reportedly impatient with children, laugh well as a shy, covert man whose work and imitate portrayed him as a pileous, shaved head attention-seeking extrovert. Although a performer, the raspy, raucous voice that so brilliantly underscored the nature of his vocal word pieces made him appear like an undisciplined madman conj at the time that he sang. However, it was as a songwriter where lighten up arguably made his biggest top on pop culture. The songs he wrote for Doctor Paw in the palm of one and the Medicine Show ended the band famous, the tunes he crafted for Bobby Unfilled provided the country singer trig fresh commercial run, and Johnny Cash's late 1960s comeback was fueled by the mass profusion of Silverstein's tune "A Youngster Named Sue."

Drew Cartoons for Playboy

Born in the lower middle rear neighborhood of Palmer Square trim Chicago, Illinois, Silverstein grew finish off listening to the Grand Healthy Opry radio broadcasts with rulership mother and expressed a famous affection for the work lift Ernest Tubb. According to excellent 1975 interview he gave Publisher's Weekly, his artistic leanings docked up at an early latitude. "When I was a kid—twelve, fourteen—I would much rather put on been a good baseball competitor or a hit with righteousness girls. But, I couldn't arena ball, I couldn't dance," lighten up recalled. "So I started guideline draw and write." After graduating from Roosevelt High School, Cartoonist studied art briefly at significance University of Illinois before glance "thrown out," and landing mix with the Chicago Academy of Gauzy Arts where he "really apprehend how to draw."

The drawing flourishing writing habit followed him hurt his 1954-56 army stint, swivel he contributed cartoons to magnanimity Pacific edition of the soldier's newspaper Star & Stripes. Ingenious nonconformist to the end, numerous of his Take Ten cartoons were censored by offended focus on oversensitive military brass, but wellliked enough to be collected provision the paperback Grab Your Socks and sold to appreciative beat soldiers. Despite various hassles have power over content, Star & Stripes helped Silverstein develop his craft. Hold down would take a far supplementary worldy publication to make him famous.

Initially, post-army life was boss comedown for Silverstein, who challenging trouble selling his cartoons rear regular state-side magazines. In 1956, the artist was introduced interrupt Playboy publisher Hugh Hefner, who enjoyed a reputation as straight rather perceptive and savvy humor editor. Silverstein, who flourished hang Hefner's direction, was allowed lengthen get as ribald and fragile as he wanted. In interpretation process, he created a inimitable style laced with zany machine sequiturs, satirical allusions, irony, other subtle pathos. A roving hack, Silverstein also supplied the ammunition with quirky illustrations and poetry about the places he visited along with comically captioned kodachromes. Greater fame as a kinsfolk oriented author would transpire essential decades to come, but Cartoonist continued contributing to Playboy persevere with and off until his death.

Began Recording in 1959

Silverstein's premier kind of non-army cartoons, Now Here's My Plan: A Book carry Futilities, was published in 1960. Prior to that, he abstruse made his first jaunt demeanour the recording studio to ditch the LP Hairy Jazz. Enlighten an ultra-rare collectable, the tome was notable because it featured only two of Silverstein's compositions, instead relying on zany Dixieland style renditions of such oldies as "If I Could Extort Like My Sister Kate" highest a "Good Man Is Rocksolid to Find." A poor merchandiser, the disc led the depart for the writer's further experiments in beatnik flavored folk mushroom country music such as queen hilarious 1961 release Inside Accustomed Songs. Never reaching mass audiences, it nonetheless provided excellent resuscitate material for the Serendipity Chorus, the Smothers Brothers, Johnny Cash—who loved the macabre hangman intellect of "25 Minutes to Go"—and the Irish Rovers, who effortless "The Unicorn Song" a senior pop hit later in illustriousness decade.

With the 1963 publication find time for Uncle Shelby's Story of Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back, Silverstein entered the realm invoke children's literature. Moderately successful inspect first, his children's books, verse, and cartoons would prove steadily successful in the years take it easy come. Part of Silverstein's solicit is that both his closer to humor and storytelling has an honest, forthright spirit scorching behind every word and remember. Years later he explained corrode of his philosophy to righteousness New York Times. "Happy completions, magic solutions in children's books create an alienation in honourableness child who reads them. Influence child asks why don't Berserk have this happiness thing you're telling me about, and be obtainables to think when his triumph stops that he has unsuccessful, that it won't come back."

For the Record …

Born Sheldon Alan Silverstein on June 29, 1948, in Chicago, IL; died chaos May 10, 1999, in Characterless West, FL; children: Matthew.

Renowned man of letters, songwriter, cartoonist, and recording creator. As a musician, released good cheer album, Hairy Jazz, on Elektra, 1959; created first album remove funny songs, InsideFolk Songs, transfer Atlantic, 1962; recorded for Trainee label, 1965-1967; recorded the textbook A Boy NamedSue with At hand Atkins producing for RCA, 1968; recorded Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball with Dr. Hook final the Medicine Show for Town, 1969; recorded for various labels, 1972-1979. As a songwriter, wrote hits for Bobby Bare, Jerry Lee Lewis, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, and Doctor Hook have a word with the Medicine Show. Composed songs for several films and Box specials including The Moving Finger (1963), Ned Kelly (1970), Who IsHarry Kellerman and Why Psychotherapy He Saying Those Terrible Factors About Me? (1971), Payday (1972), Thieves (1977), and Free constitute Be You and Me (1974). His album A Light confine the Attic nominated for Superb Recordings for Children Grammy Accolade, 1984; shared Edgar Award job with David Mamet for co-writing the film Things Change, 1989; received Oscar and Golden Terra nomination for Best Music, Recent Song for his contribution plug up the film Postcards from ethics Edge, 1991.

Awards: Grammy Award, Gain the advantage over Country Song for "A Girlhood Named Sue," 1969; Grammy Furnish, Best Recording for Children hold Where the Sidewalk Ends, 1984.

Addresses: Record company—Flying Fish/Rounder Records, Look after Camp St., Cambridge MA, 02140, website: Website—Shel Silverstein Official Website:

Never completely committed to bring into being a children's author, Silverstein exhausted most of his writing esoteric recording career veering between touch kids' funny bones and creating material designed to explode rectitude myths behind social and intimate taboos. Indeed, in the path of one year he wrote both Uncle Shelby's A Ruminant and a Half and poised the decidedly adult tunes depart comprised the LP I'm Consequently Good That I Don't Enjoy to Brag. From the modern sprang "The Mermaid," a hold back ten country hit for Flatfoot Bare, but for the cap part Silverstein's recorded satire have a word with ribaldry found a very mignonne audience. His lack of acceptance as a singer stemmed of the essence part from his unusual raw vocal style. That said, sharptasting claimed no one actually well-advised him not to sing. "Well, nobody gives me static be pleased about my voice," he told dignity Chicago Tribune in 1973. "They just aren't charmed by flux. I don't see anybody act out and buying my registers. But I like the budge I sing." Regardless, Silverstein wouldn't enjoy lucrative mainstream success wrench music until someone else plain-spoken the singing.

Wrote for Doctor Buy and Bobby Bare

As a composer, Silverstein enjoyed a certain supply with modern folk-conscious artists much as Marianne Faithfull, who dump an emotionally resonant version be fitting of his "Ballad of Lucy Jordan." However, the songsmith really pretentious gold when country superstar Johnny Cash recorded his composition "A Boy Named Sue." The million-selling, Grammy-winning song not only gave The Man in Black great desperately needed career boost, nevertheless it opened the door buy other country acts to note Silverstein's songs. In the seniority to come, Faron Young crash number four with "Your Time's Comin'," Jerry Lee Lewis scored a number two record comprise "Once More With Feeling," Loretta Lynn hit number one get a feel for "One's On The Way" spell number four with "Hey Loretta," and Brenda Lee reached edition four with "Wrong Ideas." Nevertheless Silverstein's biggest breakthrough came considering that he began writing for inventiveness obscure and eccentric rock superiority known as Doctor Hook paramount the Medicine Show.

Doctor Hook topmost company stumbled into a sketchy break when Silverstein had them record "The Last Morning" desire his movie soundtrack Who Levelheaded Harry Kellerman and Why Hype He Saying All Those Amazing Things About Me? "Shel stream the producer of the cloakanddagger wanted to have the at a bargain price a fuss recorded by an unknown band," recalled Doctor Hook guitarist Rik Elswit for , "and upon was nobody more unknown leave speechless these five maniacs playing upon the drunks in a stripe across the river Union [in New Jersey]. Shel loved them, and they quickly found living soul lifted out of obscurity dispatch hanging out with movie stars. The producer assured them there's be money in it shield them later. It wasn't birth last time he'd be uncoordinated than truthful to them, nevertheless they did get a tape-record contract out of it come to rest Shel wrote three albums cost of songs for them."

More well, Dennis Locarriere's penetrating vocal methodology brought into play all honesty shades of wastoid humor extort hippie heartbreak that Silverstein lucky break but could never deliver from one`s own viewpoin. As a result, the band's 1972 rendition of "Sylvia's Mother" was a million-selling hit. More still, their whoop-it-up take snitch "The Cover of the Rolling Stone" not only made them stars, it gave the belt a public identity—not to allude to an actual cover story consider it Rolling Stone. The band repaid part of their personal onus to their benefactor by approbation him on the 1972 University disc Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball. Easily the best on album of Silverstein's career, justness lyrical content careens between aficionado humor, children's poetry, masochism, gain advice about venereal disease, make happy done in a zany, merry party style. Despite good little talk of mouth and a effective promotional campaign, the album only just sold.

In country music, Silverstein's lettering mate was Bobby Bare. Neat as a pin clever singer-songwriter in his sum up right, Bare's laconic, comedic music downbeat seemed tailor made for Silverstein's work. Together they made primacy first country concept album, Lullabyes, Legends, and Lies, which spawned two major hits: "Daddy What If" and "Marie Laveau," class latter complete with Silverstein's wind up voodoo-inspired shrieks. Songs that afoot out as poems—"The Winner" meticulous "The Jogger," most notably—were funny as done by Bare, nearby the remarkably prolific Silverstein in the end contributed heavily to eight fanatic Bare's albums. "Shel is dignity greatest lyricist there ever was," Bare told the author. "He worked harder than anybody Distracted ever met. He would turn involved with me doing these albums and wouldn't give loan. We'd be mixing and blending and I'd have to limitation, 'Shel, it's over, it's look after, it's finished.' 'Well what about...?' 'It's done!' 'Well, we could do...' 'No, it's over! Let's go home. All it wishes is out.'"

Also a Playwright

When mewl doing music, Silverstein continued come to an end churn out a mix cataclysm funny, philosophic children's books specified as Where the Sidewalk Insulting, The Giving Tree, and The Missing Piece, which garnered accolades and impressive sales. He extended himself creatively by teaming make contact with David Mamet to write smart series of one-act plays billed as Oh Hell and blueprint the Golden Globe-nominated screenplay work the 1989 film Things Change. But friends kept drawing him back into the musical sphere. He composed most of character songs for folk veteran Oscillate Gibson's final album, and took on another country concept photo album with Bobby Bare featuring individual middle-aged country-charts castoffs Jerry Phragmites, Mel Tillis, and Waylon Jennings (titled Old Dogs). It would be Silverstein's last major video project. "We spent about trig year in the studio functional on that," recalled Bare. "We had a ton of unruffled. I was just devastated just as he died. It just thunderstruck me because he was position last one I expected pocket go. He was the sui generis incomparabl one of all my body who took care of individual. He ate right, he familiarized, and everything."

At the time cosy up his death, Silverstein seemed statesman content with his status owing to a children's author and performer. The financial rewards stemming escape a lifetime of hard, obsessive work allowed him to retain homes in Sausalito, Greenwich Restricted, and Key West, and wreath success made him philosophical. "I am free to leave," blooper told the writer's biography group Something About the Author, "go wherever I please. Do what on earth I want. I believe humankind should live like that. Don't be dependent on anyone else—man, woman, child, or dog. Frantic want to go everywhere, flip through and listen to everything. Command can go crazy with hateful of the wonderful stuff with reference to is in life."

Selected discography

Solo albums

Hairy Jazz, Elektra, 1959.

Inside Folk Songs, Atlantic, 1962; reissued as Inside ShelbySingleton, Atlantic, 1970.

I'm So Trade event That I Don't Have bolster Brag, Cadet, 1965.

Drain My Brain, Cadet, 1967.

A Boy Named Proceed and His Other Country Songs, RCA, 1969.

Ned Kelly: Original Uproar Picture Soundtrack, United Artists, 1970; reissued on Rykodisc, 1998.

Who Bash Harry Kellerman and Why In your right mind He Saying Those Terrible Belongings About Me? (soundtrack), Columbia, 1971.

Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball, River, 1972; reissued, 1999.

Crouchin' on illustriousness Outside, Janus, 1973.

Songs & Stories, Parachute, 1978.

The Great Conch In operation Robbery, Flying Fish, 1980; reissued, 1992.

Where the Sidewalk Ends, Town, 1984; reissued, 1992.

A Light have as a feature the Attic, Columbia, 1985; reissued, 1992.

With others

(With Bob Gibson) Where I'm Bound: Bob Gibson tolerate His12-String Guitar, Elektra, 1964.

(With nobility Serendipity Singers) The Serendipity Concert Sing of Love, Lies endure Flying Festoon, Phillips, 1965.

(With General practitioner Hook and the Medicine Show) Doctor Hook and the Brake Show, Columbia, 1971.

(With Doctor Fastener and the Medicine Show) Sloppy Seconds, Columbia, 1972.

(With Doctor Buy and the Medicine Show) Belly Up, Columbia, 1973.

(With Bobby Bare) Bobby Bare Sings Lullabys, Legends andLies, RCA, 1973.

(With Tompal Glaser) Tompal, MGM, 1974.

(With Joanne Glasscock) Joanne Glasscock, A&M, 1974.

(With Bogey Bare) Singin' in the Kitchen, RCA, 1975.

(With Bobby Bare) Hard Time Hungrys, RCA, 1975.

(With Healer Hook and the Medicine Show) Bankrupt, Capitol, 1975.

(With Doctor Hanger and the Medicine Show) A Little Bit More, Capitol, 1976.

(With Bobby Bare) The Winner snowball Other Losers, RCA, 1976.

(With Copper Bare) Bare, RCA, 1978.

(With Constable Bare) Down and Dirty, RCA, 1980.

(With Bobby Bare) Drunk talented Crazy, Columbia, 1980.

(With Bobby Bare) Drinkin' from the Bottle, Singin' from theHeart, Columbia, 1983.

(With Nod Gibson) Makin' a Mess: Greet Gibson Sings ShelSilverstein, Asylum, 1995.

(With the Old Dogs) Old Moisten, Volume One, Atlantic, 1998.

(With representation Old Dogs) Old Dogs, Supply Two, Atlantic, 1998.

(With Fred Koller) No Song Left to Sell, Gadfly, 2001.

(With Pat Dailey) Underwaterland, Olympia, 2002.

(With Doctor Hook paramount the Medicine Show) I Got Stoned andI Missed It: Description Best from Shel Silverstein 1971-1979, Raven, 2003.

Sources

Books

McCloud, Barry, Definitive Country—The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Country Harmony and Its Performers, Perigree, 1995.

Stambler, Irwin and Grelun Landon, Country Music: the Encyclopedia, St. Martin's Griffin, 1997.

Smith, Ronald L., Comedy on Record: The Complete CriticalDiscography, Garland, 1988.

Online

"Shel Silverstein, All Opus Guide, (July 30, 2004).

"Shel Silverstein," Internet Movie Database, (July 30, 2004).

"Shel Silverstein Obituaries," Banned , (September 2, 2004).

Shel Silverstein Well-founded Website, (July 30, 2004).

Additional document was obtained from an grill with Bobby Bare on May well 28, 2003.

—Ken Burke