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Shari Lewis Biography

shari-lewis
  • Born: January 17, 1933 in New York, NY
  • Years Active: 1950s-1990s
  • Genre: Miscellaneous

Shari Lewis has provided generations of children with wholesome entertainment. With her trusty puppet Lamb Chop, Lewis has performed on television and in recordings since the 1950s. There is simply no other woman in America more identified with quality preschool entertainment. Lewis was raised in a show business family in New York City. After winning Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts at the age of 18, Lewis went on to host her own TV program, Fact 'n' Fun, on NBC. This was followed by several other programs, including The Shari Lewis Show, which introduced Lamb Chop, Hush Puppy, Charlie Horse, and others. Lewis started releasing recordings soon after. Her first album, Fun in Shariland, released in 1958, featured a mix of activity and rhyming songs that were introduced on television. Numerous releases followed, including One Minute Bedtime Stories, an album that showcased Lewis' renowned sense of comic timing. Lewis also authored over 22 books for children and was showered with awards, including numerous Emmys and a Peabody award. Although she was not on television during the '70s and '80s, Lewis continued to add to her discography with releases such as Lamb Chop In the Land of No Manners and Don't Wake Your Mother on A&M Records. She also tried her hand as a symphony conductor. In 1983, Lewis was named one of the ten most influential women in America and was honored at the Kennedy Center. In the early '90s, Lewis returned to television, hosting Lamb Chop's Play Along twice a day on PBS. The program featured Lewis's easygoing singing style, activities, and simple projects for kids. Proving that children's music keeps you young, Lewis continued to release videos and recordings, including a video called Lamb Chop's Special Chanukah. ~ P.J. Swift, Rovi

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