Al Sherman

b. 7 September 1897, Kiev, Russia, d. 15 September 1973, Los Angeles, California, USA. A popular songwriter who enjoyed success mainly in the 20s and 30s, Sherman’s his first songs, ‘Save Your Sorrow’, in 1925, was successful for the Shannon Four, Ray Miller and Gene Austin. Al Sherman’s other well-known numbers included ‘I Must Be Dreaming’, ‘He’s So Unusual’, ‘You Gotta Be A Football Hero’, ‘No, No, A Thousand Times No!, ’ ‘Now’s The Time To Fall In Love’ and ‘On The Beach At Bali Bali’. He wrote the occasional song during the 40s and 50s, such as ‘Pretending’. ‘The Pigskin Polka’ and ‘Comes A-Long-A-Love’. His chief collaborator was Al Lewis; he also wrote with Abner Silver, Buddy de Silva, Jack Meskill, Edward Heyman and Harry Tobias. Back in 1930 Sherman wrote ‘Livin’ In The Sunlight, Lovin’ In The Moonlight’ for Maurice Chevalier to sing in one of his first Hollywood films, The Big Pond, in which he co-starred with Claudette Colbert. Just over 30 years later his sons, Richard M. And Robert B. Sherman provided Chevalier with ‘Merci Beaucoup’, ‘Enjoy It’ and ‘Grimpon’. These songs featured on the soundtrack of In Search Of The Castaways, one of the great French entertainer’s last screen appearances.