Author, cartoonist, composer, guitarist, pianist, poet, saxophonist, screenwriter, singer, and trombonist, who made his mark by writing children's literature, including the enormously successful books The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends. His books have sold over eighteen million copies. Not bad for a fellow whose claim to fame had been selling more hot dogs than anybody else at Chicago baseball games. Shel, like many of his generation, served in the U.S. military in the '50s, when he was stationed in Japan and Korea. During this time, he drew cartoons for the Pacific Stars and Stripes. Upon his return home, he worked as a cartoonist for Playboy magazine, which seems a strange springboard for writing and illustrating children's books, but merely exemplifies his extraordinary versatility as an artist. In addition to these early efforts, he also dabbled in songwriting, penning the hits "A Boy Named Sue" for Johnny Cash, "Cover of the Rolling Stone" for Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, and "Queen of the Silver Dollar" for Emmylou Harris. He composed scores for the movies Ned Kelly, Postcards from the Edge, and Who is Harry Kellerman and Why is He Saying Such Terrible Things About Me?. He also collaborated with David Mamet on the screenplay Things Change. Shel Silverstein died of a heart attack in 1999. Three years later, he was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His magnanimous spirit lives on through his website for children that includes e-cards, games, puzzles, and creative learning tools for parents and teachers.

Bobby Bare recordings

Food Blues (Shel Silverstein)

Earl Scruggs recordings

If I'd Only Come and Gone (Shel Silverstein)

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