Bobby Sherwood

Born Robert J. Sherwood Jr. on May 30, 1914 in Indianapolis, IN

Died Jan. 23, 1981 of complications from throat cancer in Auburn, Mass.

Bobby Sherwood took on many roles in his long career: musician, arranger, composer, singer, bandleader, actor, disc jockey and emcee for radio and television. Sherwood once said he'd done "everything but deliver bird calls."

The son of vaudevillians Bob and Gayle Sherwood, Bobby at 7 took his banjo and joined their act in the Roaring '20s. By 1927, the self-taught 13-year-old musical whiz had switched to guitar and trumpet. And when vaudeville folded, Sherwood became Bing Crosby's accompanist, backing "Der Bingle" on his earliest Decca recordings.

In 1954, well before the development of multitrack recording equipment, Sherwood made a unique recording that featured him in four vocal parts, four trumpet parts, and on mellophone, vibes, trombone, piano, guitar, bass and drums.

— Kristina Lindgren in the Los Angeles Times Jan. 26, 1981

One thought about Bobby Sherwood

“

If I actually had ever met Mr. Sherwood it was at a very young age and sadly unappreciated for me for good reason. With blind luck on my part and through a talented brother that befriended their son Michael in younger and more tender years of their lives, I remember mostly his distinctive voice. I remember the family he had and special wife I affectionately remember as "The fun and funny lady at the pool" that so many of other women couldn't seem to do without.
I remembered for years two distinctive moments that will forever ring in my mind with an addition of one more. The first was "I believe?" was an introduction for his wife as she exploded on to a stage in Las Vegas, the very first show I ever remember going to. The second played in my head as song well remembered however he simply was helping out a young artist with a radio commercial voice over. The music as I remember was created by Michael his son who in my mind was a celebrity. And very possibly Billy as well? The third came late in life as technology progressed and gave us a superpower of communication. e.g. Facebook. That gave me incite to more of who Mr. Sherwood was, including is classically trained musical parents. Billy and Michael's grandparents on dad's side. (If memory serves me properly?) More important than that is gave me hope. I see how after so many years the love and pride in the Sherwood family who has carried his traits and continues on. Though I don't really remember Mr. Sherwood, I sure would have like to have known him better. Oddly being a Vegas kid who happened to be in a certain place at an extraordinary time, I grew up for love of Mr. Sherwood's era of music. I don't believe it was because of that fact, but who knows? I certainly never have forgotten the so very talented family he has left behind which certainly has left me with an impact on an appreciation of music I may not have had. I don't have the privilege of really any people of my era who are sentimentally attached to those great creations. It was always strange to others my age. I had a talent of my own however it was a perishable type. Music however is timeless. With that said so is the name Bobby Sherwood.

” — David M., June 11, 2013 at 3:32 a.m.

Share a thought about Bobby Sherwood

Did you ever meet Bobby Sherwood? Share your memory.
Which other stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame have connections to Bobby Sherwood?
Are other places in the world important to Bobby Sherwood?
Does Bobby Sherwood deserve this star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Bobby Sherwood

Related stars

Points of interest

One thought about Bobby Sherwood

Share a thought about Bobby Sherwood