Sherwood, Vincent M.

Music publisher, publicity agent, and songwriter Vincent M. Sherwood (1889-1972) was a veteran of the music industry who worked in many capacities during the course of a long career.

Born in De Smet, South Dakota, he operated theatres early on and traveled extensively, becoming a road representative and song plugger for several music publishing houses. Sherwood settled in New York and became the office manager for McKinley Music Company and later began his own business, the Sherwood Music Company. The company (also known variously as Sherwood Music House and Sherwood Music Service), which he operated for many years with his wife, Giselle Sherwood, primarily was a retail and mail order supplier of vocal and dance arrangements. Committed to staying connected to his South Dakota roots, Sherwood also served as the president of the South Dakota Society of New York and collected material on notable South Dakota natives. He also collaborated with Richard Howard on a few popular songs, including, I Believe in the Man in the Sky, which was recorded by Elvis Presley on his first gospel album, His Hand in Mine (1960).