From What I Know About Shel...

There seems to be some conflict on Shel's year of birth.  I'm seeing both 1930 and 1932 listed as his birth years.  (I guess only Shel, his Mom, and The Only Other Guy Above Shel's Immortality, know for sure)   He was born in Chicago on September 25. (He was on that cusp of Virgo/Libra!)  Although most of the world sees him as a "Children's Writer" he was so much more.  

(Update:  It has been recently brought to my attention that the correct birth date is *definitely* September 25, 1930.  It's listed in the Cook County (Illinois) records office.)

An American icon! He was a story writer, songwriter, cartoonist, illustrator, musician and yet more.  He began drawing cartoons as a young child and then professionally in the 1950's during his service with the armed forces.  His cartoons first appeared  in Stars and Stripes, the Pacific edition of the military's newspaper. In 1956 when Shel met Hugh Hefner, he began working as a cartoonist and writer for Playboy™. 

 In 1963 he met Ursula Nordstrom of Harper and Row (now Harper/Collins) Children's Books, who published his first children's book Lafciado the Lion who Fought Back.  His second children's book, The Giving Tree named Shel best selling author and illustrator in 1964.  

From there his children's book writing career snowballed!  Shel's children's books have sold over 18 million copies in hardcover and have been translated into 20 different languages and they are still being introduced to children in schools all over the world today.  In 1984 he won a Grammy for his recorded version of Where the Sidewalk Ends.  

Shel has recorded nine more albums (which are more on the adult themed side) as well as written and co-written several plays and screenplays.  Many, many other artists have performed Shel's work, include Johnny Cash, Dr. Hook, Loretta Lynn, the Irish Rovers, Gordon Lightfoot and many more. 

His accomplishments are enough for him to be  the Hall of Fame.

In May of 1999 the world felt a great loss and sacrifice when Shel Silverstein suffered a massive heart attack at his home in Key West Florida.   Even though 'the man" is no longer with us physically, his legacy will continue to flourish and grow throughout history.  After all, he is in the encyclopedia now!