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HENRY AND BOBBIE SHAFFNER
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MUSICAL COUPLE SALUTE TED TURNER'S BISON BISTRO Husband and wife songwriting team Henry and Bobbie Shaffner have written a rip-roaring musical ode to Ted Turner's burgeoning new bisonburger restaurant chain, Ted's Montana Grill, slated to open a branch next fall in the Time-Life Building in New York City. The Shaffners, who hail from Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and much prefer the bisonburgers over regular hamburgers, have taken the beloved old standard, "Home on the Range," and transformed it into "Ted Turner's Range," with these contemporary lyrics for gourmands from West to East:
click here to hear this musical tribute The Shaffners joined Turner recently at the official opening of Ted's Montana Grill in Philadelphia. The veteran members of ASCAP first sampled the bisonburgers at Ted's Montana Grill in Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, instantly fell in love with them and decided to write a song immortalizing the culinary delights and their latest move to the Big Apple. Besides writing "Ted Turner's Range," the Shaffners wrote a singing telegram for Turner for his 65th birthday. They met the media mogul last year at the premiere of Turner's Civil War movie, "Gods and Generals" in Washington, D.C. Henry Shaffner's great great grandfather was the legendary Confederate General Stonewall Jackson featured in the film.
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'Wallenberg' Theme Song Marks The haunting "Wallenberg" theme song composed by Henry and Bobbie Shaffner of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania was the kickoff event at an emotionally charged salute to World War 2 Holocaust Hero Raoul Wallenberg on January 17th at the Merkaz Hatarbuyot (Cultural Center) in Jerusalem. Similar tributes are scheduled in other world capitols. Larry Pfeffer, chairman of the "International Rescuer Day" sponsored by the Jerusalem Working Group for Recognition of Major Jewish Rescuers during the Shoah, announced that the Shaffners' song with lyrics by Lillian Lewis of New York City, will be one of the highlights of a multi-media tribute to Wallenberg, who is credited by historians with saving the lives of some 100,000 Jews in Budapest during the Nazi Holocaust. Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, disappeared in the Soviet Union 60 years ago, never to be heard from again. It is presumed that he perished in prison. The Shaffners' musical tribute to Wallenberg has been in the forefront of official Wallenberg observances in New York and in Washington, DC. The United States Army Band performed the Shaffners' "Wallenberg" theme song in the Capitol Rotunda during the dedication of the Raoul Wallenberg bust. The song was also played at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington on the occasion of the official dedication of the Raoul Wallenberg commemorative stamp by the United States Post Office. The same "Wallenberg" tune by the veteran ASCAP husband and wife songwriting team is currently part of the official Heroes Curriculum of the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States based in New York City. The Heroes Curriculum is in use in hundreds of schools throughout the nation. Radio stations in Israel, the United States, Sweden and Hungary are expected to broadcast the Shaffners' song, "Wallenberg," to an international audience comprised of millions of listeners. A CD containing the song will also be released in conjunction with the Wallenberg event in Jerusalem.
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LOCAL COUPLE'S PHILADELPHIA SONG FEATURED IN "URBAN EXPLORER" DOCUMENTARY Henry and Bobbie Shaffner's celebrated song for Philadelphia, "Philadelphia (Philly, I Love You)" serves as the upbeat musical climax for Producer Ron Avery's new 90-minute film documentary titled "Urban Explorer," which is headed for major film festivals. The husband and wife songwriting team, who hail from Bala Cynwyd and are longstanding members of ASCAP, first released their much loved Philadelphia song in 1972. Since that time, it has become the city's unofficial official song and has been performed at mayoral inaugurations and at events at the old Veterans Baseball Stadium and at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Former Mayor Frank Rizzo was so fond of the Shaffners' tune that he reportedly sang it in the shower. "Philadelphia (Philly, I Love You)," a fun filled musical tour of the city, is the perfect compliment to Avery's movie, which explores not only well known tourist attractions, but also sites that are off the beaten track and relatively unknown to most visitors. The Shaffners met Avery, a historian, when he was a reporter at the Philadelphia Daily News and interviewed them for an article about their colorful songwriting career. They presented him with a framed copy of their Philadelphia song, which came in handy when he was looking for music for the film that captured the spirit of the city. |
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Ted Turner, "Father of
Cable TV", Dennis Frye, Associate Producer of the epic Civil War film, "Gods and Generals," joined friends and relatives of legendary Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson in sending a surprise singing telegram to Ted Turner on his 65th birthday, which will be celebrated on Friday, November 21st in Atlanta. Henry Shaffner, the great great grandson of Stonewall Jackson and his wife, Bobbie, who live in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, penned the song, "A Special Tribute to Ted Turner," to honor Turner, who was Executive Producer of "Gods and Generals," the recent film that paid tribute to General Jackson and other leading figures of the Civil War. The Shaffners, who are veteran members of ASCAP, met Turner in Washington, D.C. at a party at the Ronald Reagan Center celebrating the film's premiere in the nation's capital. Turner was delighted to see that Henry Shaffner was sporting a tie featuring the Confederate flag. Turner himself wore a Confederate uniform in the film he produced. Sung to the tune of "Cain't Say No," from the classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, "Oklahoma," the singing telegram to Turner features these lyrics:
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STONEWALL JACKSON'S KIN
Descendants of Stonewall Jackson. the legendary Confederate General immortalized in Ted Turner's current $90 million dollar movie epic about the Civil War, "Gods and Generals," have joined musical forces for a new song that pays tribute to the man and his indelible role in American history. Two of Jackson's great great grandsons--Henry Shaffner of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and John Creech of Advance. North Carolina-are leading the charge. Shaffner and his wife, Bobbie, who are both veteran ASCAP songwriters and composers, invited Creech to record their song, "Stonewall Jackson's Day.' Creech and his two sons, Hansel and Johnathan, who go by the name The Hardtack Boys, took the Shaffners up on their offer and soon found themselves in the recording studio seeking to capitalize on the sudden surge of interest in Stonewall Jackson created by the release of "Gods and Generals." The music is based on George Root's famous Civil War song, "Rally 'Round The Flag," ironically used by both the Gray and the Blue to rally the troops. The Shaffners believe that demand for the song "Stonewall Jackson's Day" will be huge and are making preparations to have it performed at Civil War programs and reenactments throughout the country. "I was struck by the human face that 'Gods and Generals' put on . Stonewall Jackson." said Henry. "It is quite different from the rather one-sided treatment frequently accorded my great great grandfather in the mass culture. He was a devoutly religious man whose faith and courage made him an outstanding soldier and General Robert E. Lee's most trusted lieutenant." . |
Stonewall Jackson's Day Verse
We've got
something to cheer about
Little
Sorrel astride, Chorus
Hurrah,
hurrah,
Let's
give a rousing cheer, |
The high point in the Shaffners' celebration of "Gods and Generals" came at the reception for the film's world premiere at the Ronald Reagan Center in Washington, D.C., when they met Ted Turner, the film's Executive Producer and longtime Civil War buff, who exclaimed, "I love your tie!," looking at the Confederate flag tie worn by Henry especially for the occasion. The Shaffners also had the privilege of meeting Stephen Lang, the actor who portrayed Stonewall Jackson in the movie. Later, at the Virginia premiere of "Gods and Generals" held at the Virginia Military Academy, the Shaffners met James I. "Bud" Robertson, the well known Jackson biographer and rubbed shoulders with VMI cadets. Beginning April 25 at the Plaza Hotel in Hagerstown, Maryland. the Shaffners are planning to walk in the footsteps of Stonewall Jackson, accompanied by Dennis Frye, the film's associate producer; Ron Maxwell, the film's producer; and Stephen Lang. They expect to visit Manassas, Harpers Ferry, Sharpsburg, Winchester and other sites associated with Jackson. |
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SINGING TELEGRAM BRINGS NEW YEARS CHEER
ASCAP songwriters Henry and Bobbie Shaffner of Bala Cynwyd, PA arranged |
 MUSICAL DIPLOMACY United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife, Nane (couple left) renew acquaintances with ASCAP members Henry and Bobbie Shaffner of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, who composed "WALLENBERG", a song that pays tribute to Mrs. Annan's uncle, World War II Holocaust Hero Raoul Wallenberg. The Annans and the Shaffners attended a recent dinner given by the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. |
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UN CHIEF JOINS SONGWRITERS IN SALUTE A week before accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his wife, Nane, joined songwriters Henry and Bobbie Shaffner of Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania and several hundred others who gathered at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to pay tribute to Holocaust Hero Raoul Wallenberg and heroes of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The Annans expressed gratitude to the Shaffners for composing the song, "Wallenberg," written along with lyricist Lillian Lewis of New York City, that has become the anthem of the movement to learn the true fate of the Swedish diplomat credited with saving the lives of several hundred thousand Jews during World War II. The song, which was performed at the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States' gala tribute by pianist and conductor Sandy Valerio, has special meaning for Mrs. Annan since Wallenberg is her uncle. The Shaffners presented Swedish Prime Minister Goram Persson with a copy of their "Wallenberg" song, which is part of the highly acclaimed Heroes Curriculum of the Raoul Wallenberg Committee of the United States, currently in use in classrooms in 48 states and also in foreign countries. Prime Minister Persson, who received the Raoul Wallenberg Hero of Our Time Award at the dinner, made international headlines when he rejected an official Russian-Swedish Working Group report claiming Wallenberg had died in a Soviet prison. Persson refused to close the Wallenberg case, insisting that "no unequivocal evidence had been found" to support such a position.
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Henry and Bobbie Shaffner, who are
both veterans
of ASCAP and partners in Keynote Associates based
in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, wrote "Shh! We're
Writing The Constitution." The song was first
performed at the Please Touch Museum in
Philadelphia.
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PRESIDENTIAL MUSIC IS IN THEIR BLOOD: Writing songs about the rough and tumble world of politics and all out races for the White House comes naturally to Henry and Bobbie Shaffner, a husband and wife songwriting team from Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, who sound a high note in "Presidential Sheet Music" by Danny O. Crew (McFarland & Co.) -- the first book ever devoted to music as an instrument of political expression. The Shaffner's inaugural song for President Jimmy Carter so impressed Carter that he and his wife Rosalynn spent time with them at the White House and signed their songsheet, which is pictured in the book. The Carter melody is based on the famous Civil War song, "Rally 'Round the Flag." Politics and the music that drives it is in Henry Shaffner's blood. He is a cousin of Thomas Jefferson and the great, great grandson of Civil War General Stonewall Jackson. Among literally hundreds of songs featured in "Presidential Sheet Music," is "Dukakis Has Got It," a tune written by the Shaffners back in 1988 to support the Democratic Presidential campaign of Michael Dukakis. Later, in 1991, the veteran ASCAP members composed "The Search for a Likely Candidate" on behalf of New York Governor Mario Cuomo, also a Democratic contender for the White House. This year the Shaffners wrote "Hillary O' Hillary," a parody of the classic Groucho Marx song, "Lydia O' Lydia, the Tattooed Lady." The Shaffners even arranged for the song to be recorded and performed in Yiddish to assist the former First Lady in getting the all-important Jewish vote in Mrs. Clinton's successful run for the United States Senate in New York. Hundreds of radio stations throughout the nation have aired "Hillary O' Hillary" and the requests keep on coming in even though she has been elected to office. Hillary, Oy! Hillary, say have you met
Hillary, Chappaqua's in, D.C.'s out is the spin, ... |
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HILLARY'S PAL SINGS PRAISES OF THE FIRST LADY IN NEW TUNE ABOUT MRS. CLINTON'S CAMPAIGN FOR U.S. SENATE
John Wallowitch, a well known cabaret performer who once regaled Hillary Clinton and a few of her friends for six hours in his New York studio in 1991, has just recorded "Hillary O! Hillary," a tune about the First Lady's campaign for the United States Senate. The song, a parody of "Lydia O! Lydia, the Tattooed Lady" immortalized by Groucho Marx, calls Hillary "a first class lady" and was written by Henry and Bobbie Shaffner, a husband and wife songwriting team from Bala Cynwyd,Pennsylvania. Speaking of the First Family the song declares, "Chelsea and Hil and a fellow named Bill are a family we've grown to know/ Now she is the star, on her own she'll go far and, right now, she is the show. Wallowitch recalled that Bill Clinton delivered Hillary to his studio in 1991 after the couple attended a performance by Dixie Carter at the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan. Bill could not stay because he had to attend to the business of running his Presidential campaign. The Shaffners met Wallowitch, a fellow native of Philadelphia, at the New York Sheet Music Society, where they are members. President Jimmy Carter personally thanked the Shaffners at the White House for writing a song for his inauguration. The United States Army Band performed the Shaffners' song "Wallenberg" in the Capitol Rotunda in ceremonies honoring the World War II Holocaust hero.
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