Sherman Brothers
The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in
The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history.
The Shermans have earned nine Academy Award nominations (with two wins), two
Life and work
1950s
Sons of
In 1958, Robert founded the music publishing company
1960s
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
In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won two
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
In 1970, the Shermans returned to Disney for a brief stint where they completed work on
In 1973, the Sherman Brothers also made history by becoming the only Americans ever to win First Prize at the
In 1976,
The Sherman Brothers' numerous other Disney and non-Disney top box office film credits include
2000s
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
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
On November 17, 2008, the Sherman Brothers received the
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
Influence and recognition
- 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 Tonysand 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 New Amsterdam Theaterfeaturing 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, 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 UStours 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, 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 Schwartzmanas Richard Sherman.
- In 2014, the Sherman Brothers, alongside their father Al Sherman, 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]
- 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
Filmography
Film
- The Absent-Minded Professor, 1961 - "Medfield Fight Song" only
- The Parent Trap, 1961
- A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962 - animated short
- Moon Pilot, 1962
- Bon Voyage!, 1962
- Big Red, 1962
- The Legend of Lobo, 1962
- In Search of the Castaways, 1962
- Johnny Shiloh, 1963 - television film
- Miracle of the White Stallions, 1963
- Summer Magic, 1963
- The Sword in the Stone, 1963
- The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, 1964
- Mary Poppins, 1964
- Those Calloways, 1965
- The Monkey's Uncle, 1965
- That Darn Cat!, 1965
- Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, 1966 - animated short
- Follow Me, Boys!, 1966
- Monkeys, Go Home!, 1967
- The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, 1967
- The Gnome-Mobile, 1967
- The Jungle Book, 1967 (all songs except "The Bare Necessities")
- The Happiest Millionaire, 1967
- The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, 1968
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 1968
- Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day, 1968 - animated short
- 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 - animated short
- The Slipper and the Rose, 1976
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, 1977
- The Magic of Lassie, 1978
- Magic Journeys, 1982 - theme park attraction
- Welcome to Pooh Corner, 1983 - television series
- Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore, 1983 - animated short
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, 1992
- The Mighty Kong, 1998
- The Parent Trap, 1998
- Seasons of Giving, 1999 - direct-to-video film
- The Tigger Movie, 2000
- 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
- Inkas the Ramferinkas, 2023 – (announced).[17]
Film Screenplays
- A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962 (uncredited)
- Mary Poppins, 1964 (treatment only)
- Tom Sawyer, 1973 (screenplay)
- Huckleberry Finn, 1974 (screenplay)
- The Slipper and the Rose, 1976 (screenplay)
- The Magic of Lassie, 1978 (screenplay) / (story)
- Ferdinand the Bull, 1986 (*TV screenplay)
Theatre
- 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 Record2004-5 (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)
- Mary Poppins, 2019– (London Revival)
- Bedknobs And Broomsticks (musical), 2021– (UK tour)
Theme park songs
|
Other
- Three songs plus underscore for the NBC-TV animated musical Goldilocks produced in 1969 by 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.
Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
- Best Substantially Original Score" for Mary Poppins
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- Bedknobs & Broomsticks
- Bedknobs & Broomsticks
- Academy Award in the category of "Best Scoring Original Song Score And/Or Adaptation" for Tom Sawyer
- The Slipper and the Rose Waltz" from The Slipper and the Rose
- Academy Award in the category of "Best Scoring Original Song Score And/Or Adaptation" for The Slipper and the Rose
- When You're Loved" from The Magic of Lassie
Annie Awards
- 2000 Nominated Round My Family Tree" from The Tigger Movie
- 2003 "Winsor McCay Award" for lifetime achievement and contribution to animation
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
- 1985 "Mousecar" awarded at the Hollywood, Californiain front of 20 thousand people.
- 1990 "Disney Legends" awarded at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
- 2010 Main Street, U.S. Window presented at Disneyland in Anaheim, California in honor of the Sherman Brothers' contribution to Disney theme parks.
Golden Globes
- 1965 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Mary Poppins
- 1969 Nominated Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- 1969 Nominated Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- 1974 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Tom Sawyer
- 1977 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for The Slipper and the Rose
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 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[18]
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.[19]
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 Blvd.[20]
References
- ^ a b "Robert B. Sherman". IMDb.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- London Todayon air interview with Robert B. Sherman, April 17, 2002
- ^ Corliss, Richard (April 30, 2014) (April 30, 2014). "Is This the Most Played Song in Music History?". time.com.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Kubersky, Seth (January 7, 2014). "Fact-Checking Saving Mr. Banks with Disney Historian Jim Korkis". orlandoweekly.com.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Seth Rogovoy, "The Secret Jewish History of 'You're Sixteen...", Forward.com, November 27, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2019
- ^ ""It's a Small World" by Disneyland Chorus". Retrieved May 19, 2008.
- ^ "A Chat with "The Aristocrats" Composer, Richard Sherman of the Sherman Brothers". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
- ^ "A Spoonful of Sherman – Review 13/01/14". Stagey Secrets.
- ^ Hanks-Farmer, Caroline (August 12, 2017). "A Spoonful of Sherman – Live at The Zedel until 20th August". Carns Theatre Passion. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
- ^ "A Spoonful of Sherman". Live At Zedel (2017).
- ^ Hewis, Ben (June 13, 2017). "Casting announced for A Spoonful of Sherman at Live at Zedel". What's On Stage. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ News Desk (June 14, 2017). "Cast Announced For A SPOONFUL OF SHERMAN Live at Zédel". West End Wilma. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
- ^ "Sherman Brothers Musical to Tour UK". BroadwayWorld.com. December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.com. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Richard M. Sherman – Awards". IMDb.com.
- ^ Garreau, Joel."Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland Win Medal of Arts Honors",Washington Post, November 17, 2008
- ^ "The Sherman Brothers". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
Further reading
- 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.
- ISBN 978-1-4918-8381-5.
- ISBN 0-9646059-3-7.
- Tietyen, David (1990). The Musical World of Walt Disney. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: ISBN 0-88188-476-6.
External links
- Robert Sherman Art
- Inkas the Ramferinkas
- Music World Corporation
- Internet Movie Database entries:
- Robert B. Sherman at IMDb
- Richard M. Sherman at IMDb
- Robert B. Sherman at
- Internet Broadway Database entries: