Sherm Feller
Encyclopedia
Sherm Feller was an American musical composer and radio personality, perhaps best known for serving as the public address announcer for the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
for 26 years.
), where he began to study law, but left before graduating (Long, 26).
. They married in 1945. By this time, Feller was not only known as an announcer; he had begun writing songs, several of which would be sung by Valentine (Droney, 45). The duo became known on air as "A Feller and His Girl." By 1948, Feller was on the air in Boston, at station WEEI, where he became well-known as host of "Club Midnight," and also wrote a music column for the Boston American newspaper ("Vox Jox," 20). Some sources say he was the first Boston announcer to do a call-in talk show ("Sherm Feller Dies" 4), although back then, it was not possible to put callers on the air. Announcers would repeat or paraphrase what the caller was saying. As was the custom in that era, announcers frequently left one station to work for another. Among the stations where Feller worked were WLAW in Lawrence, beginning in August 1952, where he did a dance music and interview program; he was also the host of a live program from the station's Boston studio ("Boston DJ," 24). After WLAW left the air in the summer of 1953, Feller moved to WVDA in Boston, where he continued to write songs, and work as an announcer, frequently interviewing celebrities. Among the famous performers he knew and counted as friends were Frank Sinatra
, Nat King Cole
, and Tommy Dorsey
("Sherm Feller Dies," 4).
While Feller would later become known for his work with the Red Sox, he was a prolific song-writer, credited with writing or co-writing more than 1,000 songs. Among his pop hits were "Snow Snow Beautiful Snow," recorded by Fred Waring
; "Francesca," named for his mother, and recorded by Arthur Fiedler
and the Boston Pops; "She Was Five and He Was Ten," a hit for the Mills Brothers
; and "It's Easter Time," recorded by Vaughn Monroe
(Long, 26). In the top-40 era, he became known for a hit he co-wrote with Tom Jameson in 1958, "Summertime Summertime" by The Jamies
). " In addition, Feller composed numerous orchestral tunes including "Ode to JFK". And even after he became the Public Address announcer for the Red Sox, Feller continued to do a big-band oriented radio program, on station WROL from 1970 till 1985 (Santosuosso, 61).
Feller was also closely associated, in the minds of many Red Sox fans, with Fenway Park organist John Kiley
during his public address announcing career.
Feller was known to be a particular favorite of current ESPN
baseball
broadcaster Jon Miller
who, while serving as the Baltimore Orioles
' broadcaster, often impersonated Feller, both on-air and over the Fenway Park public address system, while broadcasting games between the Orioles and Red Sox.
Feller died suddenly at his home in Stoughton MA, of heart disease (Long, 26). He was 75.
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
for 26 years.
Early Years
Sherman (Sherm) Feller was born to Harry and Fannie Feller, both Russian immigrants. While born in Brockton, Sherman and his sister were raised in Roxbury, then a predominantly Jewish neighborhood. While census data identified his father as a stitcher in a shoe factory, his father also served as a cantor in a synagogue ("Sherm Feller Dies," 4). Sherm graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School, and then attended Suffolk College ( today Suffolk UniversitySuffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...
), where he began to study law, but left before graduating (Long, 26).
Pre Red Sox Years
Sherm Feller decided he wanted to work in radio, and he first worked in Manchester NH at WMUR. His first radio job in greater Boston was in Lowell, where he was hired by WLLH in late 1941 (Variety, December 31, 1941). It was there where he met the woman who became his wife, vocalist Judy ValentineJudy Valentine
Judy Valentine , an American singer and actress, was born 1923 in Boston, Massachusetts. While still a teenager, Valentine began singing professionally in local nightclubs...
. They married in 1945. By this time, Feller was not only known as an announcer; he had begun writing songs, several of which would be sung by Valentine (Droney, 45). The duo became known on air as "A Feller and His Girl." By 1948, Feller was on the air in Boston, at station WEEI, where he became well-known as host of "Club Midnight," and also wrote a music column for the Boston American newspaper ("Vox Jox," 20). Some sources say he was the first Boston announcer to do a call-in talk show ("Sherm Feller Dies" 4), although back then, it was not possible to put callers on the air. Announcers would repeat or paraphrase what the caller was saying. As was the custom in that era, announcers frequently left one station to work for another. Among the stations where Feller worked were WLAW in Lawrence, beginning in August 1952, where he did a dance music and interview program; he was also the host of a live program from the station's Boston studio ("Boston DJ," 24). After WLAW left the air in the summer of 1953, Feller moved to WVDA in Boston, where he continued to write songs, and work as an announcer, frequently interviewing celebrities. Among the famous performers he knew and counted as friends were Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole
Nathaniel Adams Coles , known professionally as Nat King Cole, was an American musician who first came to prominence as a leading jazz pianist. Although an accomplished pianist, he owes most of his popular musical fame to his soft baritone voice, which he used to perform in big band and jazz genres...
, and Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
("Sherm Feller Dies," 4).
While Feller would later become known for his work with the Red Sox, he was a prolific song-writer, credited with writing or co-writing more than 1,000 songs. Among his pop hits were "Snow Snow Beautiful Snow," recorded by Fred Waring
Fred Waring
Fredrick Malcolm Waring was a popular musician, bandleader and radio-television personality, sometimes referred to as "America's Singing Master" and "The Man Who Taught America How to Sing." He was also a promoter, financial backer and namesake of the Waring Blendor, the first modern electric...
; "Francesca," named for his mother, and recorded by Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler
Arthur Fiedler was a long-time conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, a symphony orchestra that specializes in popular and light classical music. With a combination of musicianship and showmanship, he made the Boston Pops one of the best-known orchestras in the country...
and the Boston Pops; "She Was Five and He Was Ten," a hit for the Mills Brothers
Mills Brothers
The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed as The Four Mills Brothers, were an American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century who made more than 2,000 recordings that combined sold more than 50 million copies, and garnered at least three dozen gold records...
; and "It's Easter Time," recorded by Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Monroe
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was an American baritone singer, trumpeter and big band leader and actor, most popular in the 1940s and 1950s. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for recording and radio.-Biography:...
(Long, 26). In the top-40 era, he became known for a hit he co-wrote with Tom Jameson in 1958, "Summertime Summertime" by The Jamies
The Jamies
-Career:The group's 1958 single for Epic Records, "Summertime, Summertime", reached #26 on the US Billboard Hot 100.Both "Summertime" and its b-side, "Searching for You", are often described as doo-wop, because of their time period and their a-capella harmonies...
). " In addition, Feller composed numerous orchestral tunes including "Ode to JFK". And even after he became the Public Address announcer for the Red Sox, Feller continued to do a big-band oriented radio program, on station WROL from 1970 till 1985 (Santosuosso, 61).
Red Sox Years
Feller served as the Fenway Park public address announcer for 26 years beginning in 1967 and continuing till just before his death in early 1994 (Long, 26). Feller was known throughout baseball for his distinct voice which was described as being slow with a gravely, measured cadence. Feller attributed his unique sound to the fact that he spoke without his dentures while calling a game. He was also known for keeping his announcements simple, often giving the batter's uniform number, full name, his position, and his last name when the batter stepped up to the plate, such as "Number 26, Wade Boggs. Third base, Boggs." Feller was also known to generations of Red Sox fans for beginning each Red Sox home game with, "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park." Today, games broadcast on NESN begin with a soundclip of Feller making this announcement.Feller was also closely associated, in the minds of many Red Sox fans, with Fenway Park organist John Kiley
John Kiley
John Frederick Kiley was a Major League Baseball outfielder and pitcher, born in Dedham, Massachusetts, who played parts of two seasons in the majors. In , he played 14 games in the outfield for the Washington Nationals of the American Association...
during his public address announcing career.
Feller was known to be a particular favorite of current ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
broadcaster Jon Miller
Jon Miller
Jon Wallace Miller is an American sportscaster, known primarily for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball. He is currently employed as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants. He was also a baseball announcer on ESPN until the network chose not to renew his contract following the...
who, while serving as the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
' broadcaster, often impersonated Feller, both on-air and over the Fenway Park public address system, while broadcasting games between the Orioles and Red Sox.
Feller died suddenly at his home in Stoughton MA, of heart disease (Long, 26). He was 75.