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Sherman Brothers

The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in musical films, made up of brothers Robert B. Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012)[1] and Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928). Together they received various accolades including two Academy Awards and three Grammy Awards. They received nominations for a Laurence Olivier Award, a BAFTA Award, and five Golden Globe Awards. In 1976, they received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the National Medal of the Arts in 2008.

The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history.[2] Their work includes the live-action films The Parent Trap (1961), Mary Poppins (1964), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and the animated films The Sword in the Stone (1963), The Jungle Book (1967, except “The Bare Necessities,” which Terry Gilkyson wrote), Charlotte's Web (1973), The Aristocats (1970), and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977). Among their most famous works are the theme park songs There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow and It's A Small World (After All). According to Time magazine, the latter song is the most performed song of all time.[3][4]


The Shermans have earned nine Academy Award nominations (with two wins), two Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations, and 23 gold- and platinum-certified albums.

Life and work[edit]

1950s[edit]

Sons of Russian-Jewish immigrants, Robert and Richard Sherman began writing songs together in 1951 on a challenge from their father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman. The brothers wrote together and with different songwriting partners throughout the rest of the decade.


In 1958, Robert founded the music publishing company Music World Corporation, which later enjoyed a landmark relationship with Disney's BMI-affiliated publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. That same year, the Sherman Brothers had their first top-ten hit with "Tall Paul", sung by Mouseketeer Judy Harriet on the Surf Records label and then covered by Mouseketeer Annette Funicello. They wrote the international hit "You're Sixteen," first recorded in 1960 by rockabilly singer Johnny Burnette, and a chart success again in 1973 for Ringo Starr.[5] They also wrote the title song for Doris Day's album Bright and Shiny, recorded in 1960 and released a year later.

1960s[edit]

The success of these songs gained the attention of Walt Disney, who eventually hired the Sherman Brothers as staff songwriters for Walt Disney Studios. The first song they wrote on personal assignment by Walt Disney was "Strummin' Song" in 1961. It was used in the Annette Funicello made-for-television movie called The Horsemasters. The first song that the Sherman Brothers contributed to a Disney movie was "Medfield Fight Song" from the film The Absent-Minded Professor (1961).


While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical scores than any other songwriters in the history of film. They also wrote what is perhaps their best-known song, "It's a Small World (After All)", for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, some have claimed that this has become the most translated and performed song on Earth, although this is largely due to the fact that it is played continuously at Disney's theme park "It's a Small World" attractions of the same name.[6]


In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won two Academy Awards for Mary Poppins, which includes the songs "Feed The Birds," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," and the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee."


Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly for Walt Disney, completing the scores for the live-action musical films The Happiest Millionaire and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band until Disney's death in 1966.


Their first non-Disney assignment came with Albert R. Broccoli's motion picture production Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for United Artists in 1968, which garnered the brothers their third Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for its particularly memorable titular song.

1970s[edit]

In 1970, the Shermans returned to Disney for a brief stint where they completed work on The Aristocats and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. The latter film garnered the brothers their fourth and fifth Oscar nominations. 1972 saw the release of Snoopy Come Home, for which the brothers received a Grammy nomination.


In 1973, the Sherman Brothers also made history by becoming the only Americans ever to win First Prize at the Moscow Film Festival for Tom Sawyer, for which they also authored the screenplay.


In 1976, The Slipper and the Rose was picked to be the Royal Command Performance of the year. The performance was attended by Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. A modern musical adaptation of the classic Cinderella story, Slipper also featured songs, score, and screenplay by the Sherman Brothers. Two further Academy Award nominations were garnered by the brothers for the film. That same year the Sherman Brothers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame directly across from Grauman's Chinese Theatre.


The Sherman Brothers' numerous other Disney and non-Disney top box office film credits include The Jungle Book (1967), The Aristocats (1970), The Parent Trap (1961), The Parent Trap (1998), Charlotte's Web (1973), Huckleberry Finn (1974), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), Snoopy, Come Home (1972), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), and Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1989). Outside the motion-picture realm, their Tony Award-nominated hit Over Here! (1974) was the biggest-grossing original Broadway musical of that year and broke box-office records for its Off-Broadway revival (2019).

2000s[edit]

In 2000, the Sherman Brothers wrote the song score for the Disney film The Tigger Movie. This film marked the brothers' first major motion picture for the Disney company in over 28 years, and was also their final film credit as duo because of Robert's death in 2012.


In 2002, Chitty hit the London stage, receiving rave reviews. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is currently the most successful stage show ever produced at the London Palladium, boasting the longest run in that century-old theater's history. On April 28, 2005, a second Chitty company premiered on Broadway (New York City) at the Foxwoods Theatre. The Sherman Brothers wrote an additional six songs specifically for the new stage productions.


In 2003, four Sherman Brothers' musicals ranked in the Top 10 Favorite Children's Films of All Time in a British nationwide poll reported by the BBC. Most notably, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) topped the list at #1. In later years, with Robert's move to London, the brothers wrote new songs for the stage musical presentation of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. For their contributions to the motion picture industry, the Sherman brothers have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Blvd. and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 9, 2005. On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway.


On November 17, 2008, the Sherman Brothers received the National Medal of Arts, which is the highest honor conferred on artists or patrons of the arts by the United States Government. The award was presented by United States President George W. Bush in an East Room ceremony at The White House.


On May 22, 2009, The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story, a critically acclaimed documentary film about the pair, was theatrically released. The film was directed and produced by their sons, Gregory V. Sherman and Jeff Sherman, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. In October 2009, Disney released a 59-track, two-CD compendium of their work for the studio spanning 42 years. The CD is titled The Sherman Brothers Songbook. On March 11, 2010, the Sherman Brothers were presented with a specialized window on Main Street, U.S.A., at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, in honor of their contribution to Disney theme parks. On May 17, 2010, the Sherman Brothers received the "Career Achievement Award" at The Theatre Museum's 2010 Awards Gala in New York City.


From 2002, Robert Sherman lived in London, England. He moved from Beverly Hills, while Richard Sherman remained in California. Robert Sherman died in London on March 6, 2012.[1]

In 2000, the Sherman Brothers wrote the award-winning score to which achieved number-one status in both theatrical box office and video sales. They also composed a song for the movie called "Your Heart Will Lead You Home", co-written and performed by Kenny Loggins.

The Tigger Movie

The Sherman Brothers' motion picture was adapted into a London West End Musical in 2002 and premiered at the London Palladium on April 16, 2002, featuring many new songs and a reworked score by both Sherman Brothers. It was nominated for a 2003 Laurence Olivier Theatre Award for Best New Musical. The Sherman Brothers each received the Musical Theatre Award from the Variety Club of Great Britain that year as well for Chitty, which finished a record breaking three-and-a-half-year run at the Palladium, becoming the longest running show in the theater's century long history. In 2004, the premiere of Mary Poppins arrived on the stage. In 2005, Poppins was nominated for nine Olivier Awards. In 2005, Chitty went to Broadway and was nominated for nine Tonys and also began its nationwide (UK) tour.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

On June 9, 2005, both Shermans were inducted into the alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, John Fogerty, Isaac Hayes, and David Porter.

Songwriters Hall of Fame

On November 16, 2006, the /Disney production of Mary Poppins made its Broadway premiere at the New Amsterdam Theater featuring the Sherman Brothers' classic songs.

Cameron Mackintosh

In 2007, during the 40th-anniversary rerelease of The Jungle Book London press junket, the Sherman Brothers were witnessed by press working on a new song for Inkas (see below) in the same Brown's Hotel room where The Jungle Book was originally penned by British writer Rudyard Kipling over a hundred years earlier.[7]

DVD

In February 2008, began a second UK tour. In 2008 and 2009, Poppins premiered in numerous cities throughout the world including Stockholm, Copenhagen, Budapest, Toronto, Shanghai, Sydney, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, São Paulo, and Helsinki. Full UK and US tours of Poppins also commenced in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

On May 21, 2011, the Sherman Brothers were each awarded honorary doctorate degrees in Fine Arts from their alma mater, . This was Robert's second honorary doctorate. His first was granted by Lincoln College on May 12, 1990. Robert's critically acclaimed autobiography, Moose: Chapters From My Life was published posthumously by AuthorHouse Publishers on November 27, 2013, in anticipation of the release of the Walt Disney Pictures film Saving Mr. Banks. Set in 1961 and based on the stories behind the original development meetings for Disney's film version of Mary Poppins, Saving Mr. Banks features actors B. J. Novak as Robert Sherman and Jason Schwartzman as Richard Sherman.

Bard College

In 2014, the Sherman Brothers, alongside their father , were the subjects of a London musical concert titled A Spoonful of Sherman written, produced, and hosted by Robert's son, Robert J. Sherman. The concert received generally very positive reviews including four stars from The Times. A CD produced by Nick Lloyd Webber was released by SimG Records in 2015.[8]

Al Sherman

In 2017 was revived, playing at the venue, "Live At Zédel" in London.[9][10][11][12]

A Spoonful of Sherman

On July 31, 2018, the in Burbank, California renamed Soundstage A the Sherman Brothers Stage.

Walt Disney Studios

In 2018 the first A Spoonful of Sherman UK/Ireland Tour began with previews on February 14, 2018, at the EM Forester Theatre in . The tour played in 28 cities in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Cast members for the tour included Sophie-Louise Dann, Mark Read, Glen Facey, Jenna Innes and Ben Stock.[13][14][15][16]

Tonbridge, Kent

, 1961 - "Medfield Fight Song" only

The Absent-Minded Professor

, 1961

The Parent Trap

, 1962 - animated short

A Symposium on Popular Songs

, 1962

Moon Pilot

, 1962

Bon Voyage!

, 1962

Big Red

, 1962

The Legend of Lobo

, 1962

In Search of the Castaways

, 1963 - television film

Johnny Shiloh

, 1963

Miracle of the White Stallions

, 1963

Summer Magic

, 1963

The Sword in the Stone

, 1964

The Misadventures of Merlin Jones

, 1964

Mary Poppins

, 1965

Those Calloways

, 1965

The Monkey's Uncle

, 1965

That Darn Cat!

, 1966 - animated short

Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree

, 1966

Follow Me, Boys!

, 1967

Monkeys, Go Home!

, 1967

The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin

, 1967

The Gnome-Mobile

, 1967 (all songs except "The Bare Necessities")

The Jungle Book

, 1967

The Happiest Millionaire

, 1968

The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band

, 1968

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

, 1968 - animated short

Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day

, 1970

The Aristocats

, 1971

Bedknobs and Broomsticks

, 1972

Snoopy, Come Home

, 1973

Charlotte's Web

, 1973

Tom Sawyer

, 1974

Huckleberry Finn

, 1974 - animated short

Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too

, 1976

The Slipper and the Rose

, 1977

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

, 1978

The Magic of Lassie

, 1982 - theme park attraction

Magic Journeys

, 1983 - television series

Welcome to Pooh Corner

, 1983 - animated short

Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore

, 1992

Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland

, 1998

The Mighty Kong

, 1998

The Parent Trap

, 1999 - direct-to-video film

Seasons of Giving

, 2000

The Tigger Movie

, 2011 – theme song and "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" rendition only

Winnie the Pooh

, 2013 – songs from the original 1964 Mary Poppins film

Saving Mr. Banks

, 2016

The Jungle Book

, 2018

Christopher Robin

, 2018 – music references from the original 1964 film

Mary Poppins Returns

Inkas the Ramferinkas, 2023 – (announced).

[17]

Won Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from Mary Poppins

1964

Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

1968

Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "The Age of Not Believing" from Bedknobs & Broomsticks

1971

Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "When You're Loved" from The Magic of Lassie

1978

Greene, Katherine; Richard Greene (2001). Inside the Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney. New York: Disney Editions.  0-7868-5350-6.

ISBN

Peterson, Monique (2002). The Little Big Book of Pooh. New York: Disney Editions.  0-7868-5364-6.

ISBN

(2013). Moose: Chapters From My Life. Bloomington, IN.: AuthorHouse. ISBN 978-1-4918-8381-5.

Sherman, Robert B.

(1998). Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond. Santa Clarita, Calif.: Camphor Tree. ISBN 0-9646059-3-7.

Sherman, Robert B.

Tietyen, David (1990). . Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. ISBN 0-88188-476-6.

The Musical World of Walt Disney

Robert Sherman Art

Inkas the Ramferinkas

Music World Corporation

Robert B. Sherman

Robert B. Sherman