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 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 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, 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]

• 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
• The Misadventures of Merlin Jones, 1964
• Mary Poppins, 1964
• The Monkey's Uncle, 1965
• That Darn Cat!, 1965
• Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, 1966
• The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin, 1967
• The Happiest Millionaire, 1967
• The Jungle Book, 1967 (all songs except "The Bare Necessities")
• 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
• 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)

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)
• Mary Poppins, 2019– (London Revival)
• Bedknobs And Broomsticks, 2021– (UK tour)

Other

• 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.

• 1964 WON Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from Mary Poppins
• 1964 WON Academy Award in the category of "Best Substantially Original Score" for Mary Poppins
• 1968 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• 1971 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 Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score" for Bedknobs & Broomsticks
• 1973 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Scoring Original Song Score And/Or Adaptation" for Tom Sawyer
• 1977 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz" from The Slipper and the Rose
• 1977 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Scoring Original Song Score And/Or Adaptation" for The Slipper and the Rose
• 1978 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "When You're Loved" from The Magic of Lassie

• 2000 Nominated Annie in the category of "Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production" for the song "Round My Family Tree" from The Tigger Movie
• 2003 "Winsor McCay Award" for lifetime achievement and contribution to animation

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

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

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

• 1985 "Mousecar" awarded at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California in 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.

• 1965 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Mary Poppins
• 1969 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• 1969 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Song" for 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

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

• 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[18]

• 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!

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

• 2008 National Medal of Arts awarded to Richard and Robert Sherman on November 17, 2008, at the White House by President George W. Bush. This is the highest honor the United States Government bestows on artists.[19]

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

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

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

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

• 1976 A Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame awarded to "Richard & Robert Sherman" on November 17, 1976, located at 6914 Hollywood Blvd.[20]