Robert B. Sherman

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the American songwriter. For other people named Robert Sherman, see Robert Sherman (disambiguation).

Robert B. Sherman
Sherman in 2002
Born
Robert Bernard Sherman

(1925-12-19)December 19, 1925
New York City, U.S.
DiedMarch 6, 2012(2012-03-06) (aged 86)
London, England
Resting placeHillside Memorial Park Cemetery, Culver City, California
Other namesBob Sherman
"Moose"
OccupationSongwriter
Years active1950–2012
Spouse
Joyce Ruth Sasner
​
​
(m. 1953; died 2001)​
Children4, including Robert
RelativesRichard M. Sherman (brother)
Al Sherman (father)
Musical career
Genres
Instruments
  • Vocals
Signature

Robert Bernard Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012) was an American songwriter, best known for his work in

musical films with his brother, Richard M. Sherman. The Sherman brothers produced more motion picture song scores than any other songwriting team in film history.[1] Some of their songs were incorporated into live action and animation musical films including Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, The The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Slipper and the Rose, and Charlotte's Web. Their best-known work is "It's a Small World (After All)" possibly the most-performed song (in public) in history.[2][3]

Early life

Robert Bernard Sherman was born on December 19, 1925, in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrants Rosa (Dancis) and Al Sherman.[4] Al Sherman, a songwriter, paid for his son's hospital delivery costs with a royalty check that arrived that day for the song "Save Your Sorrow". His brother and songwriting partner, Richard, was born in 1928. Sherman's father was a well-known Tin Pan Alley songwriter.[5]

In his youth, Sherman excelled in violin, piano, painting and poetry. Following seven years of cross-country moves, the Shermans settled down in

El Rodeo School.[6]
At
war bonds and earned a special citation from the War Department.[7][8]

World War II

In 1943, Sherman obtained permission from his parents to join the army at age 17.[9] Sherman was awarded the Purple Heart medal after being shot in the knee on April 12, 1945, an injury which forced him to walk with a cane for the rest of his life.[10] On April 29, 1945, Sherman was among the first soldiers who entered the Dachau concentration camp.[11][12][13] Other medals received by Sherman for service in the war were the

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, an American Campaign Medal, a World War II Victory Medal, and a Good Conduct Medal, and several Army Weapons Qualifications badges.[7]

While recuperating from his knee injury in Taunton and Bournemouth in England, Sherman became familiar with the United Kingdom and its culture.[14]

Awards and decorations

During World War II Robert B. Sherman received these awards:

Bronze star
Bronze star
  
Combat Infantry Badge
Purple Heart Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern
Campaign Medal
with two stars
World War II Victory Medal
Marksmanship Badges

Education

Upon his return to the United States, Sherman attended Bard College in upstate New York where he majored in English literature and painting. Sherman served as editor-in-chief of Bard College's campus newspaper, The Bardian. At Bard, Sherman completed his first two novels, The Best Estate and Music, Candy and Painted Eggs. He graduated in 1949.[15]

On May 12, 1990, Sherman received an honorary doctorate from

Lincoln College.[16]

Songwriting career

Sherman and his brother, Richard, began writing songs together on a challenge from their father, Al Sherman, who was a Tin Pan Alley songwriter ("No! No! A Thousand Times No!!", "You Gotta Be a Football Hero").[17]

In 1958, Sherman founded the music publishing company,

Wonderland Music Company.[18] That same year, the Sherman brothers had their first Top 10 hit with "Tall Paul", sung by Annette Funicello. The success of this song attracted the attention of Walt Disney, who hired the Sherman Brothers as staff songwriters for Walt Disney Studios.[19] While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote their most-recognized song, "It's a Small World (After All)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair
.

In 1965, the Sherman brothers won two

Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations and 23 gold and platinum albums.[21]

Robert and Richard Sherman worked for Walt Disney until Disney's death in 1966. After leaving the company, the brothers worked freelance as songwriters on scores of motion pictures, television shows, theme park exhibits and stage musicals.

Their first non-Disney assignment was in 1968 in

Moscow Film Festival for Tom Sawyer, for which they authored the screenplay.[21]

In 1976,

Grauman's Chinese Theater.[22]

Other box office film credits for the Sherman brothers include

Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland
(1992).

In 1974, the Sherman brothers' Tony-nominated Over Here! (1974)[23] was the highest-grossing original Broadway musical of that year. The Sherman brothers wrote popular songs, including "You're Sixteen", which reached Billboard's Top 10 twice, with Johnny Burnette in 1960 and with Ringo Starr 14 years later,[24] "Pineapple Princess" and "Let's Get Together".

Original London cast - "Janes and Michaels". Left to right (Front): Poppy Lee Friar, Jack Montgomery, Perry Millward, Harry Stott, Ben Watton, Jake Catterall, Nicola Bowman. Left to right (BACK): Charlotte Spencer, Faye Spittlehouse, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Robert B. Sherman. (Photo: July 19, 2004)

In 2000, the Sherman brothers wrote the score for Disney's blockbuster film The Tigger Movie, their first major motion picture for Disney in more than 28 years.

In 2002, the stage musical

Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre). The Sherman brothers wrote an additional six songs for the new stage productions.[25]

In 2002, Sherman moved from Beverly Hills to London, England, where he continued to write and paint. In 2003, four Sherman brothers' musicals ranked in the "Top 10 Favorite Children's Films of All Time" in a British poll reported by the BBC. The Jungle Book (1967) ranked at No. 7, Mary Poppins (1964) ranked at No. 8, The Aristocats (1970) ranked at No. 9 and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) ranked at No. 1.[26]

A Disney and Cameron Mackintosh production of Mary Poppins: The Stage Musical that premiered at the Prince Edward Theatre in December 2004 featured the Sherman brothers' classic songs.[27]

In June 2005, Sherman was inducted into the

Vevey, Switzerland by the Ballet Romand.[28]

In 2006, Mary Poppins opened on Broadway

Göteborg, Sweden
in 2008.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang embarked on a tour of 29 cities in the U.S., ending in 2009.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Sherman married Joyce Ruth Sasner in 1953. Their first child, Laurie (b. 1955) was followed by Jeffrey (b. 1957), Andrea (1960-2019) and Robert (b. 1968).[30] with five grandchildren: Joshua Kirshbaum (1990), Alex Sherman (1991), Amelia and Sarah Kirshbaum (1993) and Ryan Sherman (1995).

After Sherman's 2002 relocation to London, he and his brother, Richard, continued to collaborate on various

film musicals which incorporates their original story, song score and screenplay. The brothers traveled between Los Angeles, New York
and London to facilitate their work.

Sherman died in London on March 6, 2012. His wife preceded him in death by 11 years. A public memorial service and funeral was held for Sherman on March 9, 2012, at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Culver City.[6]

Painting and other artistry

Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi
of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

A lesser-known aspect of Sherman's life was his painting, which he had done since 1941 and kept private, except from his family and friends,

English Literature. Sherman worked in various visual arts media, including clay and metal sculpture
, but his focus was oil painting throughout the 1940s-1960s, when he switched to acrylics.

In

Limited Edition Giclées
of Sherman's art were published on canvas and paper.

Sherman's paintings that have appeared at the various exhibitions include On Route 9G (c. 1949), Self Portrait (1970), San Francisco (1970), Moses (1977), Carousel In The Country (1982), From the Dining Room (1982), Sacrifice (1983), Florid Window (1984), Geisha (1986), Fine Four Fendered Friend (2002), and Park Lane (2003).

Glasgow, Scotland.[33]
Sherman worked in metal sculpture, wrote poetry and short stories from an early age.

Later life achievements, autobiography, honors, tributes

U.S. President George W. Bush)[34]

Robert B. Sherman Scholarship

In 2005, Robert Sherman established an annual scholarship award in his name through the BMI Foundation.[47] The awardee is chosen by BMI's Lehman Engel program with some consultation with Sherman. The first awardee was announced in November 2006. Awardees are chosen for their excellence in musical comedy songwriting with an emphasis on lyric writing.[47] Following is a list of the annual winners since the award's inception:

  • 2006 - Andrew Nellessen
  • 2007 - Michael Mitnick[48]
  • 2008 (no award this year)
  • 2009 - Jeffrey Simno
  • 2010 - Andy Roninson[49]

Moose: Chapters From My Life

  • In 2013,
    Moose: Chapters From My Life, Sherman's autobiography, was edited by his son Robert J. Sherman and published by AuthorHouse Publishers. The book was acknowledged in the credits of the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks[50] which also features actors playing the Sherman Brothers. B. J. Novak portrayed Robert Sherman in the film.[51]

Artistic tributes

List of works

Major film scores

Motion picture screenplays

Stage musicals

Theme park songs

Autobiographic books

  • Walt's Time: From Before to Beyond
     A joint autobiography by both Robert and Richard Sherman published in 1998.
  • Moose: Chapters From My Life
     Robert B. Sherman's official memoirs posthumously released in 2013.

Professional awards

Academy Awards

Annie Awards

BAFTA Awards

  • 1977 Nominated Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for The Slipper and the Rose

BMI

  • 1977 Pioneer Award awarded in Los Angeles, California
  • 1991 Lifetime Achievement Award awarded at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles, California

Christopher Award

  • 1964 Christopher Award for "Best Original Song Score" for Mary Poppins
  • 1973 Christopher Award for "Best Original Song Score" for Tom Sawyer

Disney

Golden Globes

Golden Videocassette Award

  • 1984 Best Selling Video Cassette (of all time) for Mary Poppins

Grammy Awards

  • 1965 Won
    Grammy
    in the category of "Best Original Score for a Motion Picture or Television Show" for Mary Poppins
  • 1965 Won Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for Mary Poppins
  • 1966 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree
  • 1968 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for The Jungle Book
  • 1970 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
  • 1971 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for The Aristocats
  • 1973 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Original Score for a Children's Show" for Snoopy Come Home
  • 1974 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Original Score for a Musical Show" for Over Here!
  • 1975 Won Grammy in the category of "Best Recording for Children" for Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too

Laurel Awards

  • 1965 Won Golden Laurel in the category of "Best Song" "Chim Chim Cher-ee" for Mary Poppins
  • 1965 2nd Place Golden Laurel in the category of "Music Men"
  • 1966 3rd place Golden Laurel in the category of "Best Song" "That Darn Cat!" for That Darn Cat!

Moscow Film Festival

  • 1973 First Place Award in the category of "Best Music" for Tom Sawyer

National Medal of Arts

  • 2008
    United States Government bestows on artists.[67]

Olivier Awards

  • 2002 Nominated "Best Musical" for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Songwriters Hall of Fame

  • 2005 induction at the Marriott Hotel on Times Square in New York City

Theatre Museum Award

  • 2010 Career Achievement Award presented on May 17, 2010, at the Players Club in New York City

Variety Club Awards

  • 2003 Won "Best Musical" for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Walk of Fame

  • 1976 A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded to "Richard & Robert Sherman" on November 17, 1976, located at 6914 Hollywood Boulevard

See also

  • Music World
  • Armistice and Dedication Day
  • Walt's Time: from before to beyond
  • Moose: Chapters From My Life

References

  1. ^ DeMichele, Thomas (March 4, 2016). "The Sherman Brothers Wrote More Film Scores Than Any Songwriting Team: FACT". factmyth.com.
  2. ^ Corliss, Richard (April 30, 2014). "Is This the Most Played Song in Music History?". time.com.
  3. ^ Kubersky, Seth (January 7, 2014). "Fact-Checking Saving Mr. Banks with Disney Historian Jim Korkis". orlandoweekly.com.
  4. ^ "Robert B. Sherman - Joyce R. Sherman Marriage Certificate". California, County Marriages. familysearch.org. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  5. ^ Songwriters Hall of Fame: Al Sherman, Hall of Fame website.
  6. ^ a b Freedland, Mark. "Robert Sherman obituary" The Guardian, March 6, 2012
  7. ^ a b "World War II Honoree: Robert Bernard Sherman". World War II Registry. National World War II Memorial. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  8. ^ Sherman, Robert B. (1998). Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers. pp. 109, 112–115.
  9. Moose: Chapters From My Life
    , p. 441
  10. Sherman, Robert B. "The Longest Years" in Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond
    . Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, pp. 112-113.
  11. ^ Giesen, Rolf (2020). "Introduction". Hitler's Third Reich of the Movies. BearManor Media. The very first American soldier at the liberation of Dachau...was Robert B. Sherman.
  12. ^ Sherman, Robert B. (2013). "Dachau". Moose. AuthorHouse. p. 25.
  13. ^ Lawless, Jill; Kennedy, Mark (March 7, 2012). "Robert B. Sherman, 86, composer for films". Inquirer.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer/Associated Press. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  14. ^ Robert B. Sherman's autobiography, MOOSE, Mouse Clubhouse.
  15. Sherman, Robert B. "A Couple of Young Bards" in Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond
    . Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, pp. 114-115.
  16. Sherman, Robert B. "The Note-able Nineties" in Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond
    . Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, p. 219.
  17. Sherman, Robert B. "Al's Time" in Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond
    . Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, pg. 119.
  18. Moose: Chapters From My Life
    , p. 367
  19. ^ Hutchinson, Lydia (August 29, 2014). "The Sherman Brothers". Performing Songwriter.
  20. ^ "Mary Poppins – Soundtrack". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  21. ^ a b "The Society of Composers & Lyricists". Ambassador Program. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
  22. ^ "Clients". stellarichards.com. February 11, 2011.
  23. ^ "Robert B. Sherman – Profile". Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  24. ^ DeRiso, Nick (July 7, 2015). "Ringo Starr's 10 Most Historic Moments". Ultimate Classic Rock.
  25. ^ Leitch, Luke (May 17, 2005). "Chitty Chitty Bye Bye". The Standard.
  26. ^ "New Release: The Slipper and the Rose". davidspicer.com.au. February 9, 2009.
  27. ^ Billington, Michael (November 16, 2006). "Mary Poppins". The Guardian.
  28. ^ Admin (June 18, 2005). "Splendide Spectacle du Youth Ballet Au Théâtre Samedi 18 Juin 2005". vevey.ch.
  29. ^ "Mary Poppins". playbill.com. November 16, 2006.
  30. ^ Scalzo, Lisa (March 6, 2012). "Oscar®-Winning 'Mary Poppins' Songwriter Robert B. Sherman, of the Legendary Sherman Brothers, Dies in London at Age 86". reuters.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015.
  31. Sherman, Robert B. "And It's All Me Own Work, From Me Own Memory..." in Walt's Time: From Before To Beyond
    . Santa Clarita, CA: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998, pg. 210-211.
  32. ^ "The Art of Robert Sherman". www.robertshermanart.com.
  33. ^ "Robert Sherman Evening at Giffnock Shul, Glasgow". giffnockshul.co.uk. March 4, 2007.
  34. ^ a b "National Medal of Arts 2008". arts.gov. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  35. ^ Admin (June 1, 2015). "Olivier Winners 2003". olivierawards.com.
  36. ^ Desk (January 2, 2004). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Evening Standard.
  37. ^ Fox, Mark (January 1, 2016). "London Palladium History". reallyusefultheatres.co.uk.
  38. ^ Songwriters Hall of Fame: Robert B. Sherman Archived September 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Hall of Fame website.
  39. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 3, 2013). "Broadway's Mary Poppins Flies Out Of New Amsterdam Theatre March 3". playbill.com.
  40. ^ "A Chat with The Aristocats composer, Richard Sherman of the Sherman Brothers - Monsters and Critics". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
  41. ^ Admin (April 27, 2015). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2005–2010 Tour Dates". thisistheatre.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  42. ^ Smith, Alistair (October 12, 2007). "Mary Poppins to Launch Tour from Theatre Royal, Plymouth". thestage.co.uk.
  43. ^ Admin (September 15, 2009). "The Sherman Brothers Songbook". allmusic.com.
  44. ^ BWW News Desk (April 5, 2010). "The Theatre Museum Awards Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, Held 5/10". broadwayworld.com. Archived from the original on September 6, 2008.
  45. Moose: Chapters From My Life
    , p. 349
  46. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (May 4, 2023). "Animated Musical Movie 'Inkas the Ramferinkas,' From Songwriters of 'Mary Poppins' and 'It's a Small World,' in the Works". Variety. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  47. ^ a b Robert Sherman Scholarship for students studying musical theatre, BMI.
  48. ^ Yale School Of Drama Student Wins BMI Foundation's Robert Sherman Scholarship, BMI.
  49. ^ BMI Foundation Names Andy Roninson Recipient of Robert Sherman Scholarship, BMI.
  50. ^ "AuthorHouse publishes Hollywood legendary songwriter's memoirs". AuthorHouse. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
  51. ^ "Saving Mr. Banks - Credits". Internet Movie Database. November 29, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  52. ^ Anderson, Gemma (April 21, 2014). "Review: A Spoonful of Sherman, St James Theatre". ayoungertheatre.com.
  53. ^ Honoré, Patrick. "A Spoonful of Sherman – St James Studio Theatre" Musical Theatre Review, January 19, 2014
  54. ^ Davis, Clive. "A Spoonful of Sherman at the St. James Theatre, SW1" The Times, January 15, 2014
  55. ^ BWW News Desk (July 9, 2015). "A Spoonful of Sherman: Original London Cast Recording Out Next Week". broadwayworld.com.
  56. ^ "SimG Records: A Spoonful of Sherman: Original Cast Recording". simgproductions.com. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
  57. ^ Hanks-Farmer, Caroline (August 12, 2017). "A Spoonful of Sherman – Live at The Zedel until 20th August". Carns Theatre Passion. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  58. ^ "A Spoonful of Sherman". Live At Zedel (2017). Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  59. ^ Hewis, Ben (June 13, 2017). "Casting announced for A Spoonful of Sherman at Live at Zedel". What's On Stage. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  60. ^ News Desk (June 14, 2017). "Cast Announced For A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN Live at Zédel". West End Wilma. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  61. ^ "The Walt Disney Studios Dedicates Stage A to Sherman Brothers | Disney Digital Studio Services". www.disneydigitalstudio.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  62. ^ BWW News Desk (December 20, 2017). "Sherman Brothers Musical to Tour UK". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  63. ^ Cheesman, Neil (December 20, 2017). "First Tour Dates Announced for A Spoonful of Sherman". London Theatre 1. Retrieved December 22, 2017. Robert J Sherman, son of Robert B. Sherman and a successful composer in his own right brings the utterly compelling story of one family's century-long, award-winning musical journey to UK audiences in 2018.
  64. ^ Carter, Roz. "REVIEW: A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN (Greenwich Theatre) ★★★★★". West End Wilma. Retrieved April 10, 2018. The whole show is filled with whimsy, magic and some of the most memorable songs ever written; it does the Sherman family proud. I can't remember when I spent a more joyful or moving evening at the theatre.
  65. ^ Shenton, Mark (March 4, 2014). "A Spoonful of Sherman, Celebration of Songs By Three Generations of Songwriters, to Be Reprised at London's St. James Theatre Studio". Playbill.
  66. ^ Carly Mallenbaum, USA TODAY (April 5, 2016). "For new 'Jungle Book,' a classic tune got fresh lyrics". USA TODAY.
  67. ^ Garreau, Joel."Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland Win Medal of Arts Honors",Washington Post, November 17, 2008

Further reading

External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to Robert B. Sherman.