I started the biography of Shel Silverstein (A Boy Named Shel) that author Lisa Rogak sent me. Quickly discovered that there was little the man couldn't do if it involved the written word : cartoons, books, essays, plays, songs, poems.
I knew he wrote A Boy Named Sue, but didn't realize that he had also written The Unicorn, the Irish Rovers hit. Or that in addition to writing for Johnny Cash, he also wrote hits for Loretta Lynn, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Bobby Bare, Marianne Faithful, and Emmylou Harris. Did you know he wrote Marie Laveau and Queen of the Silver Dollar? He also composed original music for several films and was nominated for an Oscar for the score of Postcards from the Edge.
Of course, the children's books will be the most long lasting of his accomplishments because they will never grow old. A Light in the Attic has actually been banned from some libraries for the very reason that children love it. I can pick up any one of Uncle Shelby's children's books and enjoy the silliness and the truth with fresh pleasure. Well, except for The Giving Tree, which I avoid because it makes me cry. Each and every time.
NPR has some audio clips from The Best of Shel Silverstein. And the link to his official site that I posted some time back -- great animation and Shel reciting poems. Another good link, Shel Silverstein Remembered.
I can't wait to read this! Hopefully sometime before Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLadytink-- The man was certainly a character!
ReplyDeleteAH HA ! I finally decided to have a look at your "alter-blog"...books - my obsession since childhood ! Great blog - are you posting here daily too??!! Wonder woman! I just got appointed to the Board of Trustees for our fabulous library - it's a 5 years term no less. I can't imagine life without books !
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize he wrote songs for such famous singers! I love his poetry - it's just so fun. I still have my copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends from when I was a kid. Thanks for all the links... I'll have to check those out over the weekend.
ReplyDeleteWow! Who knew! Hey, Happy T-day! Gobble, Gobble! :D
ReplyDeleteMarie - I alternate a lot; sometimes I'm too busy reading to sew and sometimes too busy sewing to read. My posts depend a lot on which guilty pleasure wins out. Haven't been reading much lately, so my posts have been more frequent on Bayou Quilts.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine life without books, either. You will be a great member of the Board!
iliana -- And was friends with Mel Tillis, Kris Kristoferson, Waylon Jennings, and Jerry Reed. The man knew everybody!
Maggie -- You Turkey! Lost your links, did you?! I've already signed back on.
Thanks for discussing the book. I did a Shel Silverstein blog entry about a year or two ago. It's in my archives somewhere. Probably 2005.
ReplyDeleteI love Shel and haven't cherished him enough in my life. I really need to read more of his work. Is the bio a good one?
ReplyDeleteYikes! I didn't know he wrote songs...especially those of Johnny Cash (I have a secret love of the Man in Black!)
ReplyDeleteVery cool!! Thanks for sharing!
That's all so very interesting. I did know that he had written some songs but not to that extent. Wow! Yep, I've definately added that bio to my TBR list!
ReplyDeleteBybee -- Lullabies, Legends, and Lies does have some great stuff on it. Gosh, I'd forgotten about The Mermaid's sister (the solution to a difficult situation). A man of many different facets, some of his songs were so dirty they were released only for adult audiences and others never recorded.
ReplyDeleteCarl -- I'm enjoying the bio. There are some drawbacks-- Shel was extremely private and quit giving interviews fairly early on. Some of his friends refused to talk about him as a matter of respect, so the author was denied two good sources of material. Sometimes the style is a bit disjointed, but the man was a fascinating character and still has the power to capture your imagination.
Stephanie -- I think it said he had 789 songs registered at BMI. That is a lot of songs!
Paula - :) It is certainly interesting!
I love Shel Silverstein's books, and so do my kids. But I avoid The Giving Tree, too--because it makes me cry!
ReplyDeleteGentle Reader -- Me, too. And long before the end... :/
ReplyDeleteI've got to read this. What an interesting man.
ReplyDeleteCamille -- It really is a good read!
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