|
Al Sherman (September 7, 1897 – September 16, 1973) was a popular songwriter active during the Tin Pan Alley era in American music history. Some of his most recognizable song titles include: "You Gotta Be A Football Hero", "Now's The Time To Fall In Love" and "Lindbergh (The Eagle of the U.S.A.)". Sherman is one link in a long chain of family members who were musical. Most notably, his sons, Robert and Richard (referred to popularly as the "Sherman Brothers") were to join the ranks of America's most highly regarded songwriters. Pairing up and mentoring the Sherman Brothers team has often been referred to as Al Sherman's greatest songwriting achievement.〔( The Walt Disney Company (Official Website) - Robert B. Sherman obituary )〕 ==Early life== Al Sherman was born into a Jewish musical family in Kiev, Ukraine in what was then the Russian Empire. His father, violinist Samuel Sherman, fled a Cossack pogrom in 1903. Samuel settled in Prague which was at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Samuel eventually found success working as a concertmaster, first violinist and intermittent court composer in the Royal Court of Emperor Franz Josef. Within a year or so of his arrival, Samuel's family came to live with him in Prague. As a young boy, Al attended concerts in the royal court. Conspicuously he hid in the gallery wings while his father performed for the Bohemian Emperor. Sherman would later remark that it was these moments which originally incited his interest in music.〔Sherman, Robert B. "Al's Time" in ''Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond''. Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, pg. 90.〕 In 1909 the Samuel Shermans relocated to New York City. In 1911, frustrated with the lack of work available, Samuel left his wife Lena and their five young children, Olga, Al, Edith, Regina and Harold. Harold had only just been born. At the age of 13, Sherman became the chief breadwinner of the family, quitting school in order to find work. By 16 Sherman had taught himself to play the piano and was able to find work playing in bands. Despite his parents' separation and the position it put him in, Sherman maintained a great respect for Samuel and kept in close contact with him until Samuel's death in 1947. Despite youth and scant knowledge of English, his natural talent for piano improvisation soon earned him a reputation as a top "mood music" pianist. His services to improvise inspirational music were sought by many silent film stars including Pauline Frederick, Mae Murray and Olga Petrova. In 1916, Universal signed Al to do bit parts in silent films as well. He later appeared in motion pictures with Mary Pickford, Mary Fuller, Clara Kimball Young and William Powell. Al's composing career began in 1918 when he became a staff pianist for the Remick Music Company. There, he worked alongside George Gershwin and Vincent Youmans. During this time Al also organized and directed a small orchestra which played in New York and Miami Beach. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Al Sherman」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|