Shel Silverstein (1930 - 1999)
Created | Updated Jan 28, 2002
Shel Silverstein was a modern renaissance man. Best known for his children's books, he also illustrated his own books, was a songwriter and a performer. He also wrote many things for an, uh, more adult audience, as well as being a playwright.
Early Years
Sheldon Allen was born in Chicago on September 25, 1930 to Nathan and Hellen Silverstein. From an early age, he enjoyed writing and drawing, which is a good thing because he had no talent for anything else.
Shel was in the armed forces durring the Korean conflict. It was there he honed his skills, writing for The Pacific Stars and Stripes.
Going Professional
After the service, Shel started writing and cartooning professionally. He was one of the early contributors to Playboy, being published regularly through the 60s, and irregularly even into the 90s.
It was during the 60s that he discovered a niche. His first children's book, Lafcadio (The Lion Who Shot Back), was published in 1963. In 1964, he published The Giving Tree. This proved to be his most famous piece, and firmly entrenched him as a children's author. Over the years, he published over 20 books, including three books of children's poetry. His style and subject matters were not the usual children's fare. A couple of his more famous poems are "Dreadful (Someone Ate the Baby)" and "Boa Constrictor"
I'm being eaten by a Boa Constrictor,A Boa Constrictor,
A Boa Constrictor.
I'm being eaten by a Boa Constrictor,
And I don't like it one bit.
Oh no, it's nibblin' my toe.
Oh gee, it's up to my knee.
Oh my, it's up to my thigh.
Oh fiddle, it's up to my middle.
Oh heck, it's up to my neck.
Oh dread, it's mm-mm-mm-mm...
Music
In the late 50s, Shel started his folk singing career. With his raspy, often off-key, voice, he fit right in. Shel would record 12 records over the course of his life, but his success came in what was performed by others. Probably his most famous song was "A Boy Named Sue", popularized by Johnny Cash. He also wrote songs performed by Jerry Lee Lewis, Buck Owens, Brenda Lee, The Irish Rovers, and Loretta Lynn.
Shel's most prolific song writing was for / with Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show. Shel was the principal composer on most of their popular songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone" and "Sylvia's Mother". Shel also had long standing relationships with Bobby Bare, Bob Gibson, and Steve Goodman.
Etc.
During the 80s, Shel lived in Key West, Florida. While there, he took to writing plays. Over the course of 20 years, he wrote 18 plays, many to good reviews. None of them were anywhere near as popular as his poems or his songs.
The End
Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack May 10,1999. Shel was survived by his son, Matthew. He had a daughter, Shoshanna, who had died in 1982.
Bibliogrophy
I have included all titles I have found, along with publishing year and publisher when listed.
Books:
Take Ten (1955)
Grab Your Socks! (1956)--a paperback version of "Take Ten"
Report From Practically Nowhere: illustrated by Shel Silverstein
Now Here's My Plan: A Book of Futilities (1960)
Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book: A Primer for Tender Young Minds (1961) Simon & Schuster
Lafcadio, the Lion Who Shot Back (1963) HarperCollins Children's Books
A Playboy's Teevie Jeebies (1963)
A Giraffe and a Half (1964) HarperCollins Children's Books
The Giving Tree (1964) HarperCollins Children's Books
Who Wants a Cheap Rhinoceros? (1964, later revised in 1983) Simon & Schuster Children's
Uncle Shelby's Zoo: Don't Bump the Glump! (1964)
More Playboy's Teevie Jeebies: Do-It-Yourself Dialogue for the Late Late Show (1965)
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1973) HarperCollins Children's Books
The Missing Piece (1976) HarperCollins Children's Books
Different Dances (1979) HarperTrade
A Light in the Attic (1981) HarperCollins Children's Books
The Missing Piece Meets the Big O (1981) HarperCollins Children's Books
Falling Up (1996) HarperCollins Children's Books
Poetry Galore and More (1993) Highsmith Press
Plays:
The Lady and the Tiger (1981): part of "Marathon 1981"
Gorilla (1983)
Wild Life (1983)
Remember Crazy Zelda?(1984): part of "Marathon 1984"
The Happy Hour (1985)
The Crate (1985)
One Tennis Shoe (1985): part of "Marathon 1985"
Wash and Dry (1985)
Very, Very Serious Plays (1985)
Little Feet (1986): part of "Marathon 1986"
Happy Endings (1986)
The Empty Room and Other Short Plays(1986)
Feeding the Baby: part of Urban Blight (1988)
The Devil and Billy Markham (1989)
Hamlet (1990): part of "Marathon 1990"
New Living Newspaper (1992)
The Bed Plays(1993)
The Trio (1998): part of "Marathon 1998"
The Lifeboat Is Sinking (1999): part of "Octoberfest '99
Screenplays:
"Things Change" (1988), with David Mamet
Discogrophy
Hairy Jazz (1959) Elektra Records
Inside Folk Songs (1962) Atlantic Recording Corporation, Atlantic
(Reissued as "Inside Shel Silverstein" (1970) Atlantic)
I'm So Good That I Don't Have to Brag (1965) Cadet Records
(Reissued as part of "Crouchin' on the Outside")
Drain My Brain (1967) Cadet
(Reissued as part of _Crouchin' on the Outside)
A Boy Named Sue and His Other Country Songs (1969) RCA Records
Ned Kelly : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (1970) United Artists
Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? (1971) Columbia
Freakin' at the Freaker's Ball (1972) Columbia Records
Crouchin' on the Outside (1973) Janus Records
Songs & Stories (1978) Parachute
The Great Conch Train Robbery (and other songs) (1980) Flying Fish
Where the Sidewalk Ends (1984) Columbia
A Light in the Attic (1985) Columbia
Sources and Links
Sources:
http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/mya2000/shel/index.html - Kim Monroe's page
http://www.banned-width.com/shel.html - Carol's Banned-Width
http://php.indiana.edu/~jbmorris/FAQ/shel.disco.html - The Shel Silverstein Discography
artists he recorded with:
Bobby Bare: http://www.bobbybare.mcmail.com/
Bob Gibson: http://www.stringbender.com/Gibson/default.html
Dr. Hook: http://www.drhook.freeserve.co.uk/
