Album Notes

My Father was a Storyteller

Sam Schuman was a songwriter, musician, poet, and storyteller who made his living as an electrician. He lived through most of the last century in the developing urban landscapes of Philadelphia and New York City, striving to achieve his dreams, making the best of what he had, and keeping the spark of hope alive. His stories, retold by his son, Sandy, are an ironic, inspiring, chronicle of one man's life and a by-gone age.

"My Father was a storyteller. It was his everyday way of communicating important values and ideas. I work as a group facilitator and educator, and didn't realize I'd followed his example until, a few years ago, I read the evaluation forms from a training session I conducted. In response to the question, "What did you like best about the program?" several people responded, "Sandy's stories." That's how I found out I was a storyteller."

- Sandy Schuman

These stories are the legacy of Samuel Schuman, who died in 1988. May his memory be a blessing to us all.

Lucky Numbers was recorded at Tellabration 2001 at the New York State Performing Arts Center (The Egg), November 17, 2001. All other stories were recorded at The Glenn Sanders Mansion, Scotia NY, June 9, 2002 at a benefit for Habitat for Humanity.

Cover: Samuel Schuman, age 21; photograph by Roberts Studio, Astoria, Long Island, 1925

All of the stories are original and true.
© Copyright 2002 Sandy Schuman All rights reserved.