Tiger Beat - August 1969

The Bobby Sherman Story - Chapter 6

My high school days are some of the happiest of my life. But I never imagined then that they would be stepping stones to all the wonderful and exciting things I'm doing today!

My high school days are some of the happiest days in my memory. By the time I'd reached high school, I'd begun to draw out of my shell and I was really beginning to make friends. My first year of high school I joined the junior varsity football team and from then on it seemed like all my problems were over.

Being on the football team gave me a chance to really work hard on something. All through my life I'd dreamed up little work project of my own, but this was something new, because I didn't work on it alone. Everyone knows that you win through teamwork and I really liked the challenge.

By the time I reached my senior year, I was elected captain of the varsity football team and was I proud! This wasn't an honor that was bestowed upon me by an adult or anything, it was an honor given to me by my fellow teammates and this meant more than anything.

DIFFERENT WITH ME - It seems like high school days are the ones when teenagers begin to grow up; and in many cases grow away from their parents. But in my case I found myself becoming closer with my family. Friday afternoons were very special in our home. I'd go to school Friday morning and I'd always be excited because we'd be having our Friday afternoon football games. The whole school would turn out and cheer us on (usually to victory!) and it was really a thrill!

Then after the game all my close friends and some that I hardly knew would show up at my house for T.G.I.F. parties. T.G.I.F. stands for "Thank Goodness It's Friday." What was so wonderful is my parents would go all out trying to make everyone feel welcome. I think they had just as much fun at my parties as I did. The word got around school "party at Sherman's" and one Friday my mom said she counted over 200 kids going and coming all Friday afternoon and evening.

STRICT RULES - My parents were always fun-loving, but they also set some rules. One rule I agreed with completely was that we'd have no liquor at my parties. I didn't drink, though some of my friends did, but it was illegal and after all my parents had done, I couldn't see them getting in trouble for the foolishness of some of my friends.

I remember one afternoon we were having a pretty wild time. People were talking and laughing and having a gay old time and as the party grew we moved about half of the people into the music room to dance. I was on my way into the kitchen to check on the refreshments when one of my friends stumbled by me and I could tell he'd been drinking.

WENT TO DAD - That was it. I went straight to my dad and told him that one of my buddies had a bottle. Well, we figured the guy might get mad if I asked him to leave, so my dad, in his usual good-natured way just had a few words with this boy and pretty soon he was on his way home.

That was about the only time we ever had any trouble. Everyone knew that if they were coming to my house it was to have a good time, and that was it. No one's parents ever bugged us either, because they knew the parties were always chaperoned by my folks, if you can call it that. My mom was always so great, she'd cook up a bunch of hamburger or bacon and tomato sandwiches and we'd feast the night away.

EARLY MUSIC - These parties were also some the first where I performed before my friends. I had gotten a trumpet and drums when I was about 12 and I'd been playing in the school band all through grade school and junior high. So by the time I got into high school I was very interested in music and my dad helped me convert my bedroom into a combination bedroom and music room.

I hadn't taught myself to play guitar yet, so when my friends would come over, I'd play my trumpet or I'd play the drums along with the records I had and the kids would all dance. It was really a groove. Before you'd know it, we'd all be singing along with the records that were popular and then we'd do some numbers on our own. I'd fiddle around with the small tape recorder I had and would it be fun to see how different our voices sounded on that little machine!

ENCOURAGED BY FRIENDS - It was during these get-togethers that I first became aware of how much fun it was to entertain. To see smiles light up on my friends' faces when I'd sing or joke around was just so groovy. I began to think, "Maybe this is what I'd like to do for a living." I went to my mom and dad, and I was about 17 at the time and said, "What would you say if I wanted to go into show business?"

They said, "Well, you've never acted before, but you have played around in the sound room so why don't you start by taking some voice lessons." I thought it was a good idea and I started taking vocal lessons. I didn't know then it was ever going to lead to anything like I have today, but that's another story which I'll tell you about next month.