Sherm Feller

Sherm Feller (born Sherman Feller, July 29, 1918 in Brockton, MA, died January 27, 1994), 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.

Pre Red Sox Years

During his lifetime, Feller composed more than 1,000 songs including "Snow Snow Beautiful Snow," and 1950's hits "Summertime, Summertime" (by the The Jamies) and "My Baby"s Coming Home." [http://www.savefenwaypark.com/news_detail.cfm?ID=95&SORTBY=ID%20DESC] . At the time, Feller was married to vocalist Judy Valentine who performed many Feller-penned tunes. [http://www.fenwayfanatics.com/content/2007/01/27/this-day-in-history-sherm-feller-passes/] Feller was also a radio personality at WEEI in Boston.

In addition to pop tunes, Feller composed numerous orchestral tunes including "Ode to JFK". [http://www.shermfeller.com/] Many of his tunes were performed regularly by the Boston Pops. [http://www.savefenwaypark.com/news_detail.cfm?ID=95&SORTBY=ID%20DESC] Feller's musical abilities allowed him to count Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole among his friends. [http://www.savefenwaypark.com/news_detail.cfm?ID=95&SORTBY=ID%20DESC]

Red Sox Years

Feller served as the Fenway Park public address announcer for 26 years beginning in the late 1960s and continuing through the early 1990s. Feller was known throughout baseball for his distinct voice which was described as being slow with a gravely, measured cadence. [http://www.savefenwaypark.com/news_detail.cfm?ID=95&SORTBY=ID%20DESC] 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 just giving the batter's last name, his position, and his last name again when the batter stepped up to the plate, such as "Boggs, third base, Boggs." Feller was also known to generations of Red Sox fans for beginning each Red Sox home game with, "Attention please, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to Fenway Park." [http://www.shermfeller.com/Sherm%20Feller%20audio_files/WELCOME.WAV] 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 John Kiley during his public address announcing career. [http://www.shermfeller.com/Sherm%20Feller%20audio_files/Anthem.mp3]

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. [http://www.shermfeller.com/letters.htm]