Sherman Edwards
Encyclopedia
Sherman Edwards was an American
songwriter
.
and was raised in Weequahic, New Jersey
, where he attended Weequahic High School
. He attended Columbia University
, where he majored in history. Throughout college, Edwards moonlighted, playing jazz piano
for late night radio and music shows. After serving in World War II
, Edwards taught high school history for a brief period before continuing his career as a pianist, playing with some of history's most famous Swing bands and artists. He also composed for Broadway
.
After a few years as a band leader and arranger for artist Mindy Carson
, Edwards started writing pop songs at the famous Brill Building
with writers including Hal David
, Burt Bacharach
, Sid Wayne
, Earl Shuman and others. He turned out numerous hits in the late 1950s
and early 1960s
. As Rock n' Roll caught on, he found himself still at the Brill Building writing songs for Elvis Presley
, including the well known Presley number Flaming Star. However, working with Presley's manager "The Colonel"
proved to be Edwards' impetus to leave pop and rock songwriting; Presley's songwriters were forced to make huge monetary concessions in order to have their songs recorded by the great artist. According to collaborator Earl Shuman, one day while collaborating with Edwards in the Brill building, where publishers provided music rooms for the songwriters, Edwards left mid-song saying something to the effect that he "wasn't into the rock songs any more" and that he had an idea for a show and was going home to write it. This began the evolution of 1776. Edwards talked to Peabody Award
winning radio personality Mike Whorf
about 1776 in an audio interview at Official 1776 web site.
He was married to Ingrid Edwards, a dancer who was a member of the original Ed Sullivan
dancers and danced on Broadway in Pins and Needles, Annie Get Your Gun
, and Kiss Me, Kate
.
, for which he wrote the lyrics and music. The show depicts the meeting of the Continental Congress
in Philadelphia, culminating with the signing of the Declaration of Independence
. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre on March 16, 1969 and ran for 1,217 performances. It won a Tony Award for Best Musical
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
.
Biography
Edwards was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was raised in Weequahic, New Jersey
Weequahic, Newark, New Jersey
Weequahic is a residential neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey's South Ward. It is separated from Clinton Hill by Hawthorne Avenue on the north, and bordered by Hillside Township and the city of Irvington on the west, Newark Liberty International Airport and Dayton on the east, and the city of...
, where he attended Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School
Weequahic High School is a public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey. The school is operated by the Newark Public Schools and is located at 279 Chancellor Avenue....
. He attended Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he majored in history. Throughout college, Edwards moonlighted, playing jazz piano
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
for late night radio and music shows. After serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Edwards taught high school history for a brief period before continuing his career as a pianist, playing with some of history's most famous Swing bands and artists. He also composed for Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
After a few years as a band leader and arranger for artist Mindy Carson
Mindy Carson
Mindy Carson , an American traditional pop vocalist, was heard often on radio during the 1940s and 1950s.She was born in New York City. In 1946, still in her teens, she won an audition to the radio program, Stairway to the Stars. This gave her a chance to perform with Paul Whiteman's band and...
, Edwards started writing pop songs at the famous Brill Building
Brill Building
The Brill Building is an office building located at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood...
with writers including Hal David
Hal David
Harold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
, Burt Bacharach
Burt Bacharach
Burt F. Bacharach is an American pianist, composer and music producer. He is known for his popular hit songs and compositions from the mid-1950s through the 1980s, with lyrics written by Hal David. Many of their hits were produced specifically for, and performed by, Dionne Warwick...
, Sid Wayne
Sid Wayne
Sid Wayne was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s...
, Earl Shuman and others. He turned out numerous hits in the late 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
and early 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. As Rock n' Roll caught on, he found himself still at the Brill Building writing songs for Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, including the well known Presley number Flaming Star. However, working with Presley's manager "The Colonel"
Colonel Tom Parker
"Colonel" Thomas Andrew "Tom" Parker born Andreas Cornelis van Kuijk, was a Dutch-born entertainment impresario known best as the manager of Elvis Presley...
proved to be Edwards' impetus to leave pop and rock songwriting; Presley's songwriters were forced to make huge monetary concessions in order to have their songs recorded by the great artist. According to collaborator Earl Shuman, one day while collaborating with Edwards in the Brill building, where publishers provided music rooms for the songwriters, Edwards left mid-song saying something to the effect that he "wasn't into the rock songs any more" and that he had an idea for a show and was going home to write it. This began the evolution of 1776. Edwards talked to Peabody Award
Peabody Award
The George Foster Peabody Awards recognize distinguished and meritorious public service by radio and television stations, networks, producing organizations and individuals. In 1939, the National Association of Broadcasters formed a committee to recognize outstanding achievement in radio broadcasting...
winning radio personality Mike Whorf
Mike Whorf
Mike Whorf is an American radio personality based in Detroit, Michigan. He was an announcer and program host on WJR from 1964 to 2003...
about 1776 in an audio interview at Official 1776 web site.
He was married to Ingrid Edwards, a dancer who was a member of the original Ed Sullivan
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
dancers and danced on Broadway in Pins and Needles, Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun
Annie Get Your Gun may refer to:*Annie Get Your Gun , a 1946 musical play*Annie Get Your Gun , a 1950 film version of the 1946 musical*Annie Get Your Gun , 1946, with Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton...
, and Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate
Kiss Me, Kate is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It is structured as a play within a play, where the interior play is a musical version of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew. The original production starred Alfred Drake, Patricia Morison, Lisa Kirk and Harold Lang.Kiss...
.
Pop songs written by Edwards
- Broken Hearted MelodyBroken Hearted Melody"Broken Hearted Melody" is a popular song first published in 1958. The words were written by Hal David and the music by Sherman Edwards.The song became a major hit for Sarah Vaughan in 1959, peaking at #7 in the Billboard Charts. This version was released by Mercury Records under catalog number...
(words by Hal DavidHal DavidHarold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
), a 1959 hit for Sarah VaughanSarah VaughanSarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."... - Dungaree Doll! (words by Ben Raleigh), a 1955 hit for Eddie FisherEddie Fisher (singer)Edwin Jack "Eddie" Fisher , was an American entertainer. He was one of the world's most famous and successful singers in the 1950s, selling millions of records and hosting his own TV show. His divorce from his first wife, Debbie Reynolds, to marry his best friend's widow, Elizabeth Taylor, garnered...
- Flaming Star (words by Sid WayneSid WayneSid Wayne was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s...
), the theme song for the 1960 Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
film of the same nameFlaming StarFlaming Star is a 1960 western film starring Elvis Presley, based on the book Flaming Lance by Clair Huffaker. Critics agreed that Presley gave one of his best acting performances as the mixed-blood "Pacer Burton", a dramatic role. The film was directed by Don Siegel, and had a working title of... - The Sounds of Summer (words by Sid WayneSid WayneSid Wayne was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s...
), recorded by the Harry Simeone Chorale - Johnny Get Angry (words by Hal DavidHal DavidHarold Lane "Hal" David is an American lyricist. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. David is best known for his collaborations with composer Burt Bacharach.-Career:...
), a 1962 hit for Joanie SommersJoanie SommersJoanie Sommers , is an American singer and actress with a long career of jazz, standards and popular material and extensive show-business credits... - Wonderful, Wonderful (words by Ben Raleigh), a 1957 success for Johnny MathisJohnny MathisJohn Royce "Johnny" Mathis is an American singer of popular music. Starting his career with singles of standards, he became highly popular as an album artist, with several dozen of his albums achieving gold or platinum status, and 73 making the Billboard charts...
- See You In SeptemberSee You In September"See You in September" is a song written by Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards. The song was first recorded by the Pittsburgh vocal group, The Tempos. This first version peaked at #23 in the summer of 1959...
(words by Sid WayneSid WayneSid Wayne was an American songwriter, lyricist and composer, who wrote a number of well-known songs from the 1950s to the 1980s...
), a 1959 hit for The Tempos and 1966 hit for The HappeningsThe HappeningsThe Happenings were a pop music group that originated in the 1960s. The group's major hits were "See You In September" , which was originally recorded by the Tempos in 1959; a cover version of the George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin song, "I Got Rhythm" , updated for the nascent pop/rock era; and "Hare...
.
1776
Edwards' crowning achievement was, arguably, the musical 17761776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
, for which he wrote the lyrics and music. The show depicts the meeting of the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in Philadelphia, culminating with the signing of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
. It opened at the 46th Street Theatre on March 16, 1969 and ran for 1,217 performances. It won a Tony Award for Best Musical
Tony Award for Best Musical
This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical, first awarded in 1949. This award is presented to the producers of the musical.-1940s:* 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Samuel and Bella Spewack...
.
External links
- Sherman Edwards 1970 Mike Whorf interview about 1776 (audio)