Shel Silverstein
b. Shelby Silverstein, 1932, Chicago, Illinois, USA. A former artist with STARS AND STRIPES magazine, Silverstein joined the staff of PLAYBOY at its inception during the early '50s and for almost two decades his cartoons were a regular feature of the publication. He later became a successful illustrator and author of children's books, including UNCLE SHELBY'S ABZ BOOK, UNCLE SHELBY'S ZOO and GIRAFFE AND A HALF. Silverstein was also drawn to the folk scene emanating from Chicago's Gate Of Horn and New York's Bitter End, latterly becoming a respected composer and performer of the genre. Early '60s collaborations with Bob Gibson were particularly memorable and in 1961 Silverstein completed INSIDE FOLK SONGS which included the original versions of The Unicorn and 25 Minutes To Go, later popularized, respectively, by the Irish Rovers and Brothers Four. Silverstein provided ‘novelty’ hits for Johnny Cash (A Boy Named Sue) and Loretta Lynn, (One's On The Way), but an association with Dr. Hook proved to be the most fruitful. A series of successful singles ensued, notably Sylvia's Mother and ‘The Cover Of Rolling Stone’, and a grateful group reciprocated by supplying the backing on FREAKIN’ AT THE FREAKER'S BALL. This ribald set included many of Silverstein's best-known compositions from this period, including Polly In A Porny, I Got Stoned And I Missed It and Don't Give A Dose To The One You Love Most, the last-named of which was adopted in several anti-venereal disease campaigns. THE GREAT CONCH ROBBERY, released on the traditional music outlet Flying Fish, was less scatological in tone, since which Silverstein has adopted a less-public profile.