Richard M. Sherman

Richard Morton Sherman (born June 12, 1928) is an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. Some of the Sherman Brothers' best known songs were incorporated into live action and animation musical films including: Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Slipper and the Rose, The Aristocats and Charlotte's Web. Their most well known work is the theme park song "It's a Small World (After All)". According to Time, this song is the most performed song of all time.^[1]

Early life

Richard Morton Sherman was born in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrants, Rosa (Dancis) and Al Sherman.^[2] Together with his older brother Robert, "The Sherman Brothers" eventually followed in their songwriting father's footsteps to form a long-lasting songwriting partnership.

Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Sherman family finally settled down in Beverly Hills, California in 1937. During Richard's years at Beverly Hills High School, he became fascinated with music and studied several instruments, including the flute, piccolo, and piano.

At his 1946 graduation from Beverly Hills High School, Sherman and classmate André Previn played a musical duet with Previn on piano and Sherman on flute. Coincidentally, in 1965 both composers won Oscars in music categories for different films.

Army service and education

In 1953 Sherman was drafted into United States Army, being assigned to the Army Band and glee club. Serving as musical conductor for both groups from 1953 until his honorable discharge in 1955, he was stationed solely in the United States during his time in the service. During this time, his brother Robert worked with other songwriters.

As a student at Bard College, Sherman majored in music, writing numerous sonatas and "art songs". His ambition to write the "great american symphony" eventually led him to write songs. Within two years of graduating, Sherman and his brother began writing songs together, answering a challenge from their father.

Career

In 1958 the Sherman Brothers had their first Top Ten hit with "Tall Paul", sung by Mouseketeer Annette Funicello. The success of this song got the attention of Walt Disney, who eventually hired the Sherman brothers as staff songwriters for Walt Disney Studios.

While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote what may be their most successful song: "It's a Small World (After All)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair.

Their first song for Disney was "Medfield Fight Song" from the 1961 film "The Absent Minded Professor".

In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won two Academy Awards for the film Mary Poppins (1964), which includes the songs "Feed The Birds," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," and the Oscar winner, "Chim Chim Cher-ee." After Mary Poppins, the Sherman Brothers won nine Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations and 23 gold and platinum albums.

The Shermans worked directly for Walt Disney until Disney's death in 1966. Since leaving the company, the brother songwriting team has worked freelance 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 in 1968, which garnered the brothers their third Academy Award Nomination. In 1973, the Sherman Brothers made history by becoming the only Americans ever to win First Prize at the Moscow Film Festival for Tom Sawyer, for which they also wrote the screenplay.

The Slipper and the Rose was chosen as the Royal Command Performance of 1976 and was attended by Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. A modern musical adaptation of the classic Cinderella story, "Slipper" also features both song-score and screenplay by the Sherman Brothers. That same year the Sherman Brothers received their star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame" directly across from Grauman's Chinese Theater.

Their 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), The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), Snoopy, Come Home (1972), Bedknobs And Broomsticks (1971), and Little Nemo: Adventures In Slumberland (1992).

Outside the motion picture realm, their Tony-nominated play, Over Here! (1974) was the highest-grossing original Broadway musical of that year. The Sherman Brothers have also written numerous top-selling songs, including "You're Sixteen," which holds the distinction of reaching Billboard's Top Ten twice, first with Johnny Burnette in 1960 and then with Ringo Starr fourteen years later. Other top-ten hits include "Pineapple Princess" and "Let's Get Together."

In 2000, the Sherman Brothers wrote the song score for Disney's film The Tigger Movie, marking the brothers' first work for a Disney major motion picture in over twenty eight years. In 2002, a stage version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, featuring six new songs from the Sherman Brothers, premiered at the London Palladium. It is currently the longest-running in that theater's history. In 2005, the musical premiered on Broadway at the Hilton Theatre.

In 2003, four Sherman Brothers' musicals ranked in the "Top 10 Favorite Children's Films of All Time" in a nationwide poll, according to the BBC. The Jungle Book (1967)_ranked at #7, Mary Poppins (1964) ranked at #8, The Aristocats (1970) ranked at #9 and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) topped the list at #1.

A new Disney and Cameron Mackintosh production of Mary Poppins: The Stage Musical made its world premiere at the Prince Edward Theatre in December 2004, featuring the Sherman Brothers' songs. The show went on to successful runs in New York and Los Angeles.

Personal life

Following Robert Sherman's relocation from Beverly Hills to London, England, the brothers continued to collaborate musically. They credited the ability to do so long-distance to technology via fax, e-mail, and the low cost international telephone service. Both brothers frequently traveled between Los Angeles, New York, and London working together on various musical plays^[3] until Robert's death in 2012.

Achievements, honors, tributes

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 on November 17, 2008)

• The Sherman Brothers' classic 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. Chitty finished a record breaking, three and a half year run at the Palladium becoming the longest running show in the theatre's century long history. 2004 saw the premiere of Mary Poppins on the stage. In 2005, Poppins was nominated for nine Olivier Awards. In 2005 Chitty went to Broadway and was nominated for 9 Tonys and also began its nationwide (UK) tour.
• On June 9, 2005, Sherman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame alongside Bill Withers, Steve Cropper, John Fogerty, Isaac Hayes, David Porter and his brother, Robert B. Sherman.
• 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 February, 2008 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang began a second UK tour. In 2008 and 2009, Poppins is scheduled to premiere in numerous cities throughout the world including: Stockholm, Copenhagen, Budapest, Shanghai, Toronto, Sydney, Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, São Paulo and Helsinki. Full UK and US tours of Poppins are also scheduled to commence in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
• On Saturday, October 4, 2008, Sherman appeared as a surprise guest on stage at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles during The Swell Season's sold out concert and performed "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" with the band.
• On Monday, November 17, 2008, Robert and Richard Sherman were awarded the National Medal of Arts at the White House by President George W. Bush in the East Room. The National Medal of Arts is the highest award bestowed onto artist by the United States Government.
• In May 2009, a documentary called The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story was released. In October 2009, Disney released a 59 track, two CD compendium of their work for the studio spanning forty-two years. The CD is entitled The Sherman Brothers Songbook.
• In 2010 Sherman released "Forgotten Dreams," a CD of his piano music. Sherman also wrote "Make Way For Tomorrow Today," which can be heard in the score for the movie Iron Man 2.^[4]
• On March 11, 2010 the Sherman Brothers were presented with a Window on Mainstreet 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.^[5]
• On May 21, 2011, the Sherman Brothers were each awarded honorary doctorate degrees in Fine Arts from their alma mater, Bard College.
• In 2013 Richard was musical consultant for the live-action production of The Jungle Book at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, IL.
• In 2014 the Sherman Brothers, alongside their father, Al Sherman were the subjects of a London musical concert entitled, A Spoonful of Sherman hosted by Richard's nephew, 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 and a UK tour is purportedly being worked on.^[6]

List of works

Major film scores

Motion picture screenplays

• A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962
• Mary Poppins, 1964 (*treatment only),
• 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)

Stage musicals

The London Palladium in 2004

Prince Edward Theatre in 2005

New Amsterdam Theatre in 2007

• Victory Canteen, 1971 (Ivar Theatre, Los Angeles)
• Over Here!, 1974 (Broadway, New York)
• Dawgs, 1983 (Variety Arts Center, Los Angeles)
• Busker Alley, 1995 (U.S. Tour)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2002 (London)
• Mary Poppins, 2004 (London)
• On the Record 2004-2005 (U.S. Tour)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (Broadway, New York)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2005 (UK Tour)
• Busker Alley, 2006 (Broadway, New York — one night only)
• Mary Poppins, 2006 (Broadway, New York)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2007 (Singapore)
• Mary Poppins, 2008 (UK Tour)
• Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2008 (Second UK Tour)
• Mary Poppins, 2008 (Sweden)
• Mary Poppins, 2009 (U.S. 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)
• Summer Magic, 2012 (Morristown, TN)
• The Jungle Book, 2013 (Chicago, IL)

Theme park songs

• There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for Carousel of Progress
• The Best Time of Your Life for Carousel of Progress
• Miracles from Molecules for Adventure Thru Inner Space
• One Little Spark for Journey Into Imagination
• Magic Journeys for Journey Into Imagination
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• it's a small world (after all) for the 1964 New York World's Fair attraction, Pepsi Presents WALT DISNEY'S "it's a small world" — a Salute to UNICEF and the World's Children, then adapted to each Disney Park installation of "It's a Small World"
• The Astuter Computer Revue for the 1982 premiere of the CommuniCore Exhibit at EPCOT.
• Magic Highways for Rocket Rods
• Making Memories for Magic Journeys
• The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
• We Meet the World with Love and Meet the World for the same exhibit in Tokyo Disneyland
• Kiss Goodnight exit music from Disneyland Forever for Disneyland's 60th Anniversary Nighttime Fireworks Spectacular show.

Professional awards

Academy Awards

• 1965 Won Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chim Chim Cher-ee" from Mary Poppins
• 1965 Won Academy Award in the category of "Best Substantially Original Score" for Mary Poppins
• 1969 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
• 1972 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "The Age of Not Believing" from Bedknobs & Broomsticks
• 1972 Nominated Academy Award in the category of ""Best Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score" for Bedknobs & Broomsticks
• 1974 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Scoring Adaptation and Original Song Score" for Tom Sawyer
• 1978 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz" from The Slipper and the Rose
• 1978 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song Score & Its Adaptation Or Best Adaptation Score" for The Slipper and the Rose
• 1979 Nominated Academy Award in the category of "Best Original Song" for "When You're Loved" from The Magic of Lassie

Annie Awards

Sherman in 2003 at the Annie Awards

• 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

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 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.A. 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 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

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^[8]

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 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.^[9]

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.

References

Bibliography

• Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.
• Greene, Katherine and Richard. Inside The Dream: The Personal Story of Walt Disney. New York: Disney Editions, 2001.
• Peterson, Monique. Disney's The Little Big Book of Pooh. New York: Disney Editions, 2002.
• Tietyen, David. The Musical World of Walt Disney. Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation, 1990.

External links

• Audio interview with Richard M. Sherman on the Sodajerker On Songwriting podcast
• Walt's Time
• Sherman Music
• Audio Interview with Richard M. Sherman on the WDW Radio Show by Lou Mongello
• Richard M. Sherman at the Internet Broadway Database
  
• Richard M. Sherman at the Internet Movie Database
• Richard M. Sherman at SoundUnwound