Theatre                    Film                     Music

 

Carl Sigman

 

The Sigman Brothers are related (Great Uncle) to song-writing Hall of Fame member Carl Sigman who had a six-decade career with works recorded by such musical giants as Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, Sammy Davis Jr., Jerry Lee Lewis, Merle Haggard and Sony & Cher. Born in 1909 and raised in Brooklyn, Carl Sigman’s career had humble beginnings. While giving piano lessons, he began composing his own melodies. He met Johnny Mercer, well-known for working with Duke Ellington, who became his lifelong friend and mentor.  He quickly became as adept as a lyricist as well and began searching the vernacular trying to write songs that sounded like conversation. All Too Soon, What Now my Love?, Losing You would soon be the fruit of his labors, and it didn’t hurt to have Nat King Cole imploring his disappointed lover to Come Out of the Rain “ He always said that if you come up with a fantastic title, you’re halfway there,” recalls his son (coincidentally?) Michael Sigman. Right up until his death at 91 in 2000, Carl continued writing new songs, all the while reaping the rewards of his many jazz standards. Many people and artists have recorded his songs over the years, including rock and reggae acts. Carl Sigman’s catalogue numbers some 800 songs and is regarded as “one of the most important US catalogues”