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BURBANK, Calif. - - The Academy Award® winning songwriting team of the Sherman Brothers (Richard M. and Robert B., respectfully) are ostensibly the foremost composer-lyricist team in family entertainment. Their music covers nearly five decades of popular songs, from the early days of rock n' roll, to Broadway, television and, of course, their famed collaborations with Walt Disney.
Robert and Richard Sherman were born the sons of popular Tin Pan Alley songwriter, Al Sherman. Al was famous for composing standards like "You've Got to Be a Football Hero" and "Potatoes are Cheaper, Tomatoes are Cheaper,” “Now's the Time to Fall in Love,” and “No, No, A Thousand Times No!" He also authored Maurice Chevalier's first big American hit "Living in the Sunlight, Loving in the Moonlight". But perhaps Al 's greatest achievement was in the teaming up of his sons to form one of the most successful and enduring songwriting partnerships in music history. In the late 1950s the Sherman Brothers authored the classic rock n' roll song “You're Sixteen.” The song carries the unique distinction of having twice gone to Billboard's #1 spot: Once with Johnnie Burnette and then an unprecedented second time with Ringo Starr. In the early 1960s the brothers began their association with Walt Disney after composing numerous top-ten hits for Annette Funicello, including “Tall Paul” and “Pineapple Princess.” Disney hired them as song staff writers for his studio in 1960. The early years of the 1960s saw the Sherman Brothers compose a number of songs for such classic Disney films and TV productions such as Zorro, The Absent-Minded Professor, The Parent Trap (“Let's Get Together,” performed by Hayley Mills), Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color (Theme song), In Search of the Castaways, Summer Magic (their first film musical) and The Sword in the Stone (their first Disney animated feature). When Walt Disney produced four show for 1964-65 New York World's Fair he turned to the Sherman Brothers to provide memorable music for two of the shows. For the General Electric Carousel of Progress they penned the show's optimistic theme song “There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow.” The New York World's Fair also provided the Sherman Brothers with the opportunity to create perhaps their most famous song. When Walt Disney decided that his salute to the children of the world, being developed for the UNICEF pavilion and sponsored by Pepsi-Cola, needed a catchy theme song he turned to his trusted songwriting team of Richard and Robert. The brothers composed “it's a small world (after all).” Since then, it has become the most translated and performed song on earth. In 1964 the Sherman Brothers began work on what they affectionately refer to as their “magnum opus,” Walt Disney's 1964 musical film fantasy Mary Poppins. The film was nominated for a Disney-record 13 Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. On April 5, 1965, at the 37th Annual Academy Awards® the film won five Academy Awards®, including two Oscars® for the Sherman Brothers - - Best Song (“Chim Chim Cheree”) and Best Original Score. The remainder of the 1960s and early 70s saw the Sherman Brothers contributing popular songs and score to numerous classic Disney films. Some of their other memorable Disney top box-office film credits of the era include The Monkey's Uncle (1965), That Darn Cat! (1965), The Ugly Daschund (1965), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), The Gnome-Mobile (1967), The Jungle Book (1967), The Happiest Millionaire (1967), Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1969), The One and Only Genuine Original Family Band (1969), The AristoCats (1970) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971). In the early 1970s the Sherman Brothers left the Walt Disney Studios to pursue other film projects. Through the years their work outside of the Disney Studios include such memorable family films as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Snoopy Come Home (1972) Charlotte's Web (1973), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1973), Huckleberry Finn (1974) and The Slipper and the Rose (1976). The Sherman Brothers made history in 1973 by becoming the only Americans ever to win 1st Prize at the Moscow Film Festival. The award, which is the Russian equivalent to the Oscar®, was bestowed to the Sherman Brothers for their film musical The Adventures of Tom Sawyer for which they penned both script and songs. In 1976, their film musical The Slipper and the Rose, starring Richard Chamberlain, was selected for Great Britain's annual Royal Command Performance. This film similarly features both screenplay and musical/song score by the Sherman Brothers. In 1993 the Sherman Brothers wrote “The Wonder World Song” for the Eddie Murphy film comedy Beverly Hills Cop III. Upon the invitation of the film's director, John Landis, the brothers also made a cameo appearance in the film as well. Similarly, popular films such as American Graffiti, Radio Flyer, The Fabulous Baker Boys and The Lion King all include cameo appearances of Sherman Brothers' songs within their respective soundtracks. Their stage work includes the hit west coast musical Victory Canteen (1971). On Broadway, their 1974, Tony® nominated hit, Over Here!! was the largest grossing original Broadway musical of that year. It starred John Travolta, Mary Lou Henner, Treat Williams and the legendary Andrew Sisters. In the mid-1990s the Sherman Brothers provided the words and music to the successful tour of the musical in Busker Alley, starring Tommy Tune. Through the years the Sherman Brothers have also contributed their musical talent to various televisions series, specials and direct-to-video films. Their television credits include The Enchanted Musical Playhouse (1985-87), Welcome to Pooh Corner (1983-95), Timberwood Tales (1992-94) and Harry Anderson's Sideshow (1988), which featured the haunting song “Canvas, Sawdust & Dreams.” In 1998 Warner Brothers released the direct-to-video film The Mighty Kong, an animated musical feature based on the classic King Kong story for which the Sherman Brothers wrote the score and songs. Through the years the Sherman Brothers have continued to contribute songs to many areas of The Walt Disney Company, most notably the renowned Disney Theme Parks and Resorts. Numerous Sherman Brothers tunes can be heard around the world - - from California to Florida, Japan to France. Through the years such popular Disney Theme Park attractions have featured Sherman Brothers tunes, including Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, it's a small world, Adventure Thru Inner Space, Meet the World and Journey into Imagination. In 1990 the Sherman Brothers received the prestigious Disney Legends Award from Michael Eisner and Roy E. Disney in a ceremony at The Walt Disney Studios in California. The award is given to individuals whose body of work has made a significant impact on the Disney entertainment legacy. They were also honored in 1991 with BMI's (Broadcast Music, Incorporated) Lifetime Achievement Award and share a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame directly across from the Mann's Chinese Theater where Mary Poppins premiered in 1964. In 1999, Camphor Tree Publishers released the Sherman Brothers' autobiographical book entitled, WALT'S TIME (FROM BEFORE TO BEYOND). The Shermans have enjoyed performing, speaking and answering questions at dozens of book signings for fans across the country. In February 2000, the Sherman Brothers completed writing and producing the songscore for Disney's hit animated feature film The Tigger Movie film marks the their fifth Winnie the Pooh film for Disney. Additionally, the Sherman Brothers collaborated with legendary pop star Kenny Loggins on the film's keynote song “Your Heart Will Lead You Home.” On April 16, 2002, the “fantasmigorical” stage version of their 1969 hit film musical tty Chitty Bang Bangned to rave reviews at the London Palladium. The show is sold-out for months in advance and is currently the hottest ticket on the London stage. Throughout their impressive career the Sherman Brothers have earned nine Oscar® nominations, won three Grammy Awards® and have earned a remarkable array of 24 gold and platinum albums. TOP |
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