The fastest engine on the Santa Fe Line?
On the 14th of April, she made a desperate dash!
And she got there on time and she DID NOT CRASH!"
- Shel Silverstein, R.I.P (May 11, 1999)
Noted author, illustrator, and songwriter Shel Silverstein died of heart attack May 10th. He was 66. Among his songwriting credits were such well known hits as "A Boy Named Sue," "The Unicorn," "Put Another Log on the Fire," "Sylvia's Mother," and "Cover of the Rolling Stone." He recorded a number of albums on his own and was awarded a Grammy in 1984 for Best Recording for Children. He was also a best-selling children's author, whose books included The Giving Tree, Falling Up, A Light in the Attic, and The Missing Piece. Silverstein began his career as a writer and cartoonist for Playboy in the early 50s. Chet Atkins helped him to get established in Nashville in the 60s, where he wrote a number of hit songs for country artists. He also scored music for film and most recently wrote songs for a Bobby Bare, Mel Tillis, Jerry Reed, and Waylon Jennings project called Old Dogs, a collection of songs poking fun at getting older.