Ray Sipherd (1935-2020) was an early Sesame Street writer, working on the show from 1969 to 1986. His work on Sesame Street earned three Emmy awards. He wrote song lyrics and authored several Sesame Street books.

Sipherd, a graduate of Yale University, previously served as a writer and producer for the New York City TV station WNDT (later known as PBS affiliate WNET, or "Channel Thirteen"), creating programs including the weekly arts program All Things Considered (not to be confused with the later NPR program). In addition, he penned a number of mystery novels for adult audiences, such as Dance of the Scarecrows, and published a collection of short stories titled The Christmas Store. Sipherd later served as a senior staff editor for Reader's Digest Condensed Books.

Sesame Street writing credits

Episodes

• Episode 0070
• Episode 0410
• Episode 1451
• Episode 1580
• Episode 1593
• Episode 1597
• Episode 1609
• Episode 1666
• Episode 1717
• Episode 1745
• Episode 1756 (R)
• Episode 2170
• Episode 2181
• Episode 2185
• Episode 2188
• Episode 2208

Segments

• The Story of Ira and Inez (First: Episode 0034)
• Ernie and Bert: Ernie's Telephone Call (First: Episode 0305)
• The King's Problem (First: Episode 0407)
• The King's Picnic (First: Episode 0419)
• Ernie and Bert: Electric Fan (First: Episode 0544)
• Ernie and Bert: Rhyming Game (First: Episode 0798)
• Ernie and Bert: Life Without Bert (First: Episode 1034)
• Forgetful Jones: Bath Time (First: Episode 1666)

Song lyrics

• "Big and Small"
• "Blow Like the Wind"
• "Can Do"
• "Children of the World"
• "Elevator Song"
• "Evensong"
• "Home Is"
• "How Do You Walk"
• "It Takes Some Time"
• "Just a Little Baby"
• "Just Around the Corner"
• "May I Be Your Friend"
• "Mud"
• "My Home is the Country"
• "Plink-a-Plink-a-Plink"
• "Tell a Joke"
• "Trashbag Waltz"
• "Trying Song"
• "You Are the Car I Adore"

Books

• The Sesame Street Storybook (1971)
• The Count's Poem (1978)
• Ernie's Telephone Call (1978)
• Down on the Farm with Grover (1980)
• Sherlock Hemlock and the Creatures from Outer Space (1981)
• Big Bird's Animal Alphabet (1987)
• When Is My Birthday? (1988)

External links

• Newtown Bee obituary
• Newtown Bee, May 3, 2024
• 1996 bio