“I can be somebody's and still be my own.”

American writer, cartoonist, songwriter, and musician

Shel Silverstein was an American writer, cartoonist, songwriter, and musician. Born in 1930 and raised in Chicago, he became known for work that moved easily between humor, music, and illustration. He briefly attended college before being drafted into the United States Army. In the 1950s, his drawings appeared in newspapers and magazines, including Playboy, and he wrote the satirical adult coloring book Uncle Shelby's ABZ Book. His work is best known for its wit and offbeat, often playful edge.