Sherman Brothers

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.

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." Since Mary Poppins' premiere, the Shermans have subsequently earned nine Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations, and 23 gold- and platinum-certified albums.

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. Since leaving the company, the brothers have worked freelance as songwriters on scores of motion pictures, television shows, theme-park exhibits, and stage musicals.

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.

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 their 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 smash 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). The Sherman Brothers have also written numerous top-selling songs including "You're Sixteen," which reached Billboard's Hot 100 top 10 twice: first with Johnny Burnette in 1960 and then at #1 with Ringo Starr more than thirteen years later. Other top-ten hits include "Pineapple Princess," "Let's Get Together," and more.

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.

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 upon 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. 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.

The Sherman Brothers receive the National Medal of Arts, the highest honor bestowed upon artists from the United States Government. Left to right: Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman and U.S. President George W. Bush at The White House, November 17, 2008.

• In 2000, the Sherman Brothers wrote the award-winning score to The Tigger Movie 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 Sherman Brothers' motion picture Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 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.
• On June 9, 2005, both Shermans were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, John Fogerty, Isaac Hayes, and David Porter.
• On November 16, 2006, the Cameron Mackintosh/Disney production of Mary Poppins made its Broadway premiere at the New Amsterdam Theater featuring the Sherman Brothers’ classic songs.
• In 2007, during the 40th-anniversary DVD 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]
• In February 2008, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 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.
• On May 21, 2011, the Sherman Brothers were each awarded honorary doctorate degrees in Fine Arts from their alma mater, Bard College. 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 BJ Novak as Robert Sherman and Jason Schwartzman as Richard Sherman.
• In 2014 the Sherman Brothers, alongside their father, Al Sherman were the subjects of a London musical concert entitled, 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 London Times. A CD produced by Nick Lloyd Webber was released by SimG Records in 2015.[8]
• In 2017 A Spoonful of Sherman was revived, playing at the venue, "Live At Zédel" in London.[9][10][11][12]
• On July 31, 2018, the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California renamed Soundstage A the Sherman Brothers Stage.
• In 2018 the first A Spoonful of Sherman UK/Ireland Tour began with previews on February 14, 2018 at the EM Forester Theatre in Tonbridge, Kent. 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]

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]

• The Parent Trap, 1961
• A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962
• In Search of the Castaways, 1962
• Summer Magic, 1963
• The Sword in the Stone, 1963
• Big Red, 1963
• Mary Poppins, 1964
• The Monkey's Uncle, 1965
• Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, 1966
• The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, 1967
• The Happiest Millionaire, 1967
• The Jungle Book, 1967
• The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, 1968
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968
• Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, 1968
• The Aristocats, 1970
• Bedknobs and Broomsticks, 1971
• Snoopy, Come Home, 1972
• Charlotte's Web, 1973
• Tom Sawyer, 1973
• Huckleberry Finn, 1974
• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, 1974
• The Slipper and the Rose, 1976
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 1977
• The Magic of Lassie, 1978
• Magic Journeys, 1982
• Welcome to Pooh Corner, 1983
• Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, 1983
• Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, 1992
• The Mighty Kong, 1998
• Seasons of Giving, 1999
• The Tigger Movie, 2000
• The Kennedy Center Honors, (3 songs includes (That's Pure Mike Nichols She's Me Pal and Bossom Buddies arranger 2003-2011)
• The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie, (2 songs includes (That's Pure Mike Nichols and Bossom Buddies arranger 2010)
• Winnie the Pooh, 2011 - theme song and "The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" rendition only
• Saving Mr. Banks, 2013 - songs from the original 1964 Mary Poppins film
• The Jungle Book, 2016
• Christopher Robin, 2018
• Mary Poppins Returns, 2018 - music references from the original 1964 film

• A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962 (uncredited)
• Mary Poppins, 1964 (treatment only)
• The Happiest Millionaire, 1967
• The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, 1968
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, 1973
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1974
• The Slipper and the Rose, 1976
• The Magic of Lassie, 1978
• Ferdinand the Bull, 1986 (*TV screenplay)

The London Palladium in 2004

Prince Edward Theatre in 2005

• Victory Canteen, 1971 (Ivar Theatre, L.A.)
• Over Here!, 1974 (Broadway, NY)
• Dawgs, 1983 (Variety Arts Center, L.A.)
• Busker Alley, 1995 (U.S. Tour)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2002 (London)
• Mary Poppins, 2004 (London)
• On the Record 2004-5 (U.S. Tour) (several songs included)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (Broadway, NY)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (UK Tour)
• Busker Alley, 2006 (Broadway, NY – *one night only)
• Mary Poppins, 2006 (Broadway, NY)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2007 (Singapore)
• Mary Poppins, 2008 (UK Tour)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2008 (Second UK Tour)
• Mary Poppins, 2008 (Gothenburg)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (First US Tour)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Copenhagen)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Budapest)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Shanghai)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Australia)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (South Africa)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Scheveningen)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (Helsinki)
• Mary Poppins, 2012-13 (Second US Tour)
• A Spoonful of Sherman, 2014 (London)
• A Spoonful of Sherman, 2017 (London)
• A Spoonful of Sherman, 2018 (UK/Ireland Tour)
• A Spoonful of Sherman, 2019 (Singapore)
• Over Here!, 2019 (Off-Broadway, NY – *one night only)

• Three songs plus underscore for the NBC-TV animated musical Goldilocks produced in 1969 by DePatie-Freleng (of Pink Panther fame) starring Bing Crosby, his wife Kathryn Grant and two youngest children Mary Frances and Nathaniel.
• "The Spectrum Song" – for Walt Disney's The Wonderful World of Color. Sung by Paul Frees as Ludwig Von Drake.
• Three unfinished film scores for a musical adaptation of James Thurber's novel The 13 Clocks, another of Roman Holiday, and one for Jack Kinney titled Sir Puss in Boots.
• Richard Sherman wrote the 'theme park' song, "Make Way For Tomorrow Today," for the movie, Iron_Man_2.

• Greene, Katherine; Richard Greene (2001). Inside the Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney. New York: Disney Editions. ISBN 0-7868-5350-6.
• Peterson, Monique (2002). The Little Big Book of Pooh. New York: Disney Editions. ISBN 0-7868-5364-6.
• Sherman, Robert B. (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.
• Tietyen, David (1990). The Musical World of Walt Disney. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation. ISBN 0-88188-476-6.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sherman Brothers.

• Robert Sherman Art
• Inkas the Ramferinkas
• Music World Corporation
• Internet Movie Database entries:
  • Robert B. Sherman on IMDb
  • Richard M. Sherman on IMDb
• Internet Broadway Database entries:
  • Robert B. Sherman at the Internet Broadway Database
  • Richard M. Sherman at the Internet Broadway Database