Profile in Callers and Cuers

Elmer has lived in Tallahassee, Florida since 1938. He married his childhood sweetheart, Margie, in 1959; they have two children and five grandchildren.

Elmer and Margie, along with their children, have owned and operated Sheffield Auto and Truck Body Shop since 1965.

Even before they graduated from their first square dance class in 1969, the urge to become a caller had already hit Elmer. With the help and encouragement of club caller Johnny Everett, Elmer launched his career.

Elmer called his first dance in October 1970. Blessed with a pleasant singing voice Elmer was invited to become a recording artist for Red Boot Records. In 1971 his first record, "Good Morning Country Rain" was released and the rest is history. He enjoyed hit after hit with many #1 records. He started his own label, ESP (Elmer Sheffield Productions) in 1980. Elmer has recorded well over 400 records in his career and has been a guest artist on several other labels. He was a featured artist twice on the Sets in Order documentary series.

Elmer has been the featured caller at most of the major festivals in the United States and has also performed in numerous foreign countries.

In 1975 Elmer was invited to join Callerlab; this was only the second year after Callerlab was founded. During his membership he has served on the board of governors, the executive committee, and was elected chairman of the board for 2011-2012.

Elmer and Margie are blessed to have met and made so many friends over the years through his traveling and calling, and they look forward to making many more friends in the years to come.