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Marymount College Tarrytown Marymount University

SHEILA DAVIS Obituary

DAVIS--Sheila, Songwriter, author, and teacher of lyric writing, on October 22, 2021, age 94. Born in Manhattan, educated at Marymount College, she began her songwriting career with "Who Will Answer?" a gold-record hit for Ed Ames in 1967. More records followed, by Shirley Bassey, Laurindo Almeida, Al Martino, Carolyn Hester, the Peppermint Rainbow, and other artists. In the late 1970s, as vice president of the Songwriters Guild, she taught a popular lyric-writing course there; as adjunct professor at New School University she taught classes on song forms and figurative language. Teaching led her to write three best-selling books: "The Craft of Lyric Writing" (1985), "Successful Lyric Writing" (1988), and "The Songwriter's Idea Book" (1992). In later years she pursued neurolinguistic research on brain dominance and the use of figurative language, which she published and presented at international conferences. She is survived by her son Zack, daughter Tracy, and granddaughter Morgan. Her husband of 59 years, Harold Davis, died in 2013. Memorial donations may be made to the NYU Langone Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

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Published by New York Times on Nov. 7, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for SHEILA DAVIS

20 Entries

Eileen Valentino

July 27, 2025

I met Sheila in 1986 for her songwriting course and took it several times. We became colleagues and also friends and I valued her place in my life highly. Even when I moved across the country we stayed in touch but marriage and motherhood made me fall out of touch, which I regret. Sheila had such talent and expertise and patience - oh the patience - with all of us ambitious and IMpatient songwriters! I've been thinking of her and googled her name today to see if i could find what's she's up to (she was always up to something) and send loving condolences to her family.

Dan McCaughern

May 31, 2025

I never knew Sheila, but respected her amazing insights into the language and craft of songwriting. Her book, The Craft of Somgwriting is The Book on the subject. Listening to her words, albeit only in my head, I was listening to wisdom,wit and insight -plus a work ethic that has carried me through my works since reading her books. Thank you Sheila.

Kolby

November 1, 2024

06 November 2016

Trade & Tryon
Belk Theatre @ BPAC
Uptown Charlotte, NC

Bob Dylan is sitting inside the Prevost tour bus behind me, smoking a cigarette, as one of his bodyguards kindly took this picture for me.

May God bless more of these talented songwriting souls!

You were loved and remembered still by many, Sheila!

R.A. Olmstead

July 21, 2024

Looking for more help from you as your books have changed my life and Songwriting. I guess, and trust you are now getting and resting peacefully, after fulfilling the dreams of so many, and of us who wish we had known you!

Ivy Landsman-slevin

November 1, 2023

Sheila Davis was my teacher for over ten years. She mentored me and told me I would be a professional songwriter one day. Thanks to you, dearest Sheila, I´m going on my 5th song signed ! I love and thank you. I am who I am today, because of you

Tom Seidita

October 9, 2023

It's probably been some years since I read The Craft of Lyric writing. It fundamentally changed the way I write songs. I tried a couple of times to track you down to tell you how much I appreciated your work. Hopefully, this will suffice. Thank you.

Steve

May 27, 2023

Steve

May 27, 2023

Steve

May 27, 2023

With words, and only crafted words,
Can I make this day less Grey?,
You taught with words... as sublime spells,
emotive charms for Hearts to Sway.

But Sheila, you are gone now,
A giant fades away.
But in the echos of what you taught me,
We´ll surely meet again.... some Day.
We´ll all meet again....some day.

Eileen Valentino

May 1, 2023

I'd taken songwriting courses before - even from celebrity writers - and none could hold a candle to Sheila Davis. One needs more than talent, one needs craft. Sheila provided that, along with heart, humor, stellar feedback and inspired suggestions. A caring teacher as well as artist. There was no one remotely like her.

Mark Behrens

March 26, 2023

Sheila Davis had a huge impact on my life through her books, The Craft of Lyric Writing and Successful Lyric Writing. I learned so much through her teaching and I am truly grateful for God gifting her to the world. I am sure that one day I will meet her in Heaven. May God comfort all those who loved her and were close to Sheila.

Kolby Andrews

February 14, 2023

Mine and many others´ prayers have gone up for the immortal soul of this wonderful woman.

I hadn´t realized that I´ve been in possession of some of her authored books and will be learning all I can from her work in the coming days and weeks.

She passed away on my 38th birthday and I found her books in one of my cabinets on this, St. Valentine´s Day 2023.

Thanks be to God and to Sheila Davis for the guidance, inspiration and encouragement to be true to thine own self.

RIP

Kerry L. DeLizio

December 31, 2022

Her words for "Who will answer" haunted me as a 13 year old boy when I first heard them, and continue to haunt me today. I wish that more people would listen to and hear those words. Rest in peace Sheila Davis.

Carrie Mills (formerly Carrie Starner)

December 6, 2022

Sheila had a profound affect on my life. I studied the craft of lyric writing with her in NYC for several years eventually leading me to Nashville. Several of my lyrics are including in her second and third books. I stayed in touch with Sheila through the decades. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. I know she lives on in the countless lives she touched.

Maureen Brill

September 30, 2022

I have her Successful Lyric Writing book and The Songwriter´s Idea book. These two books are the best thing that ever happened to me. Rest in Power, MS. Davis.

Joe Waldbaum

July 14, 2022

I was truly saddened to learn of Sheila´s recent passing. She was the best lyrics teacher on the planet, hands down. I took courses with her many times at the Songwriter´s Guild as well as privately. No one else even came close. I was truly flattered when she included my songs in her books. She was one of a kind and will be missed.

Ivy Landsman-slevin

July 11, 2022

I loved Sheila Davis. She was my teacher for ten years and she made a profound difference in my life . Rest gently, my mentor and savior !

Julie Wehmeyer

March 1, 2022

I was fortunate enough to take two classes in Manhattan in the late 80s with Sheila, and to say this class has changed my life would be an understatement I'm so sorry for your loss

June Rachelson-Ospa

February 15, 2022

Sheila Davis was the teacher who changed my life in the 70's. She taught me how to write lyrics. Now at 70 I still write lyrics and even have a number 1 country hit on Apple music. I also have written award winning musicals. Sheila opened my heart to who I was meant to be. She gave me the right path to feed my passion. I am still deeply devoted to the memory of Sheila,

Norman Dolph

December 22, 2021

Shelia was my friend and colleague at AGAC in the 1970's. She was such a warm, engaging and helpful person, who as a teacher could simultaneously redact, correct, buoy-up, and encourage a person, "out of steerage without steering". She did not teach the student to write the songs she would write, but 'to each his own' style and manner. Every student she had, either in person, or vicariously by book, will have taken to heart one or more of her suggestions. Doubtless there will be some correlation between the more successful songwriting students and the number of her suggestions they took to heart.

A child and patron of many decades...She will be missed by those who knew her... And if you missed her, she's there ... on Amazon.

Affectionately,
Norman Dolph

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