Allan Sherman was a musical comedian who became famous in the early 1960s for his song parodies. He had a number one hit with “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh”, a humorous letter from a boy at summer camp to the tune of Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours”. He also released several successful albums, such as My Son, the Folk Singer and My Son, the Nut. He was known for his witty and satirical lyrics, often poking fun at Jewish culture, American politics, and popular trends.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Allan Sherman was born on November 30, 1924, in Chicago, Illinois, to Percy Copelon and Rose Sherman. His parents divorced when he was seven, and he adopted his mother’s maiden name. He attended 21 public schools in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Miami, due to his parents’ frequent moves. He graduated from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles in 1941.
He later attended the University of Illinois, where he wrote a humor column for The Daily Illini, the college newspaper. He was expelled for breaking into the Sigma Delta Tau sorority house with his girlfriend and future wife, Dolores “Dee” Chackes.
Sherman started his career as a writer and producer for television and radio shows. He created the game show I’ve Got a Secret, which ran on CBS from 1952 to 1967. He also wrote scripts for The Steve Allen Show, The Jack Paar Program, and The Jackie Gleason Show.
Rise to Fame as a Song Parodist
Sherman’s talent for song parody was discovered by Harpo Marx, who invited him to perform at a party in 1961. Among the guests were George Burns, who helped him get a record deal with Warner Bros. Records. His first album, My Son, the Folk Singer, was released in 1962 and became the fastest-selling record album up to that time. It featured parodies of folk songs, such as “Sarah Jackman” (to the tune of “Frère Jacques”) and “The Streets of Miami” (to the tune of “The Streets of Laredo”).
His second album, My Son, the Celebrity, was also a hit and included parodies of classical music, such as “Harvey and Sheila” (to the tune of “Hava Nagila”) and “Won’t You Come Home Disraeli” (to the tune of “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey”). His third album, My Son, the Nut, was his most successful one and reached number one on the Billboard charts in 1963. It contained his most famous song, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh”, which won a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Performance.
Sherman also appeared on several TV shows, such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and The Judy Garland Show. He also starred in a Broadway musical called The Fig Leaves Are Falling in 1969, which flopped after only four performances.
Personal Life and Decline
Sherman married Dee Chackes in 1945 and had two children with her: Robert and Nancy. However, his marriage was strained by his fame and infidelity. He divorced Dee in 1966 and married Joan Warner in 1967. He also had a son with her: Christopher.
Sherman’s popularity declined in the late 1960s as musical tastes changed and his style became outdated. He also suffered from health problems due to his obesity and heavy smoking. He developed pulmonary emphysema, a lung disease that causes shortness of breath and fatigue.
He tried to revive his career with a comeback album called Togetherness in 1971, but it was poorly received by critics and fans. He also wrote an autobiography called A Gift of Laughter in 1973, which revealed his personal struggles and regrets.
Death and Legacy
Sherman died on November 20, 1973, at the age of 48, from respiratory failure caused by emphysema. He was buried at Hillside Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Sherman is remembered as one of the pioneers of musical comedy and song parody. He influenced many comedians and musicians who followed him, such as Weird Al Yankovic, Tom Lehrer, Monty Python, Mel Brooks, and Billy Crystal.
According to Wikipedia, Sherman’s songs have been used in movies such as National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), Shrek (2001), Madagascar (2005), and Despicable Me 2 (2013). His song “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh” was also adapted into an animated TV special in 1988 and a musical revue in 1992.
