Al Sherman
Al Sherman, born Avrum Sherman on September 7, 1897, in Kyiv, then part of the Russian Empire, was a prominent American songwriter and composer associated with the Tin Pan Alley era. He was born into a musical Jewish family; his father, Samuel Sherman, was a violinist who fled to Prague following a Cossack pogrom. Samuel found success as a concertmaster in the Royal Court of Emperor Franz Josef, which greatly influenced young Al's musical inclinations.
In 1909, the Sherman family relocated to New York City, where Al's father struggled to find work, eventually leaving the family. At 13, Al became the primary breadwinner, quitting school to support his family. He taught himself to play the piano and quickly gained a reputation as a talented "mood music" pianist, providing accompaniment for silent films and working with notable stars of the era.
Al Sherman's professional composing career began in 1918 when he became a staff pianist for the Remick Music Company, working alongside legends like George Gershwin. He joined ASCAP in 1919 and collaborated with many prominent songwriters, producing hits such as "You Gotta Be a Football Hero" and "Lindbergh (The Eagle of the U.S.A.)."
In 1923, Al married Rosa Dancis, and they had two sons, Robert and Richard, who would become the famous Sherman Brothers, known for their contributions to family entertainment with works like "Mary Poppins" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang."
Throughout the 1920s to the 1940s, Al Sherman was a sought-after songwriter, collaborating with various artists and contributing significantly to the music of the Vaudeville era. He passed away on September 16, 1973, in Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy of musical innovation and a family tradition of songwriting excellence.
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