Richard M. Sherman

 

Richard M. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman at the 2002 Annie Awards receiving the Windsor McKay award.
Background information
Born	June 12 1928 (1928--) (age 79)
Origin	New York City, New York, U.S.A.
Occupation(s)	Songwriter, Screenwriter

Richard M. Sherman (born June 12, 1928) (see also: "Sherman Brothers") is an American songwriter who specializes in musical film with his brother Robert B. Sherman. Some of the Sherman Brothers' best known writing includes the songs from Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Slipper and the Rose and the theme park song, "It's a Small World (after all)".

Early life

Richard Morton Sherman was born on June 12, 1928 in New York City to parents, Rosa (pronounced: "Rose") & Al Sherman. Together with his older brother Robert, "The Sherman Brothers" would eventually follow in their songwriting father's footsteps to form one of the most prolific, lauded and long lasting songwriting partnerships of all time.

Richard was an enthusiastic and energetic child and youth, still bearing that trademark trait well into his seventies. Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Shermans finally settled down in Beverly Hills, California in 1937. Throughout 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 Summer 1946 graduation from Beverly Hills High School, Richard played a musical duet with André Previn: Previn (played piano) accompanying Sherman (who played flute). Coincidentally, in 1965 both composers won Oscars for different films, both winning in musical categories.

At Bard College, Richard majored in Music, writing numerous sonatas and "art songs" during his time there but it was Richard's ambition to write the "Great American Symphony" which eventually led him to write songs.

Within two years of graduating, Richard and brother Robert began writing songs together on a challenge from their father, songwriter Al Sherman.

Korean Conflict

In 1953 Richard was drafted into United States Army joining the band and glee club. Richard served as a musical conductor both groups and remained in the U.S. during his time in the service. He was not in combat. During this time, collaborator brother, Robert, worked with other songwriters. In 1955 Sherman was honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.

Marriage & Family

In 1957 Richard married Elizabeth Gluck with whom he had two children: Gregory and Victoria. Lynda (Sherman) Rothstein is his daughter from a previous marriage.

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 yielded 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 is perhaps their most well loved song: It's a Small World (after all) for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, "Small World" has become the most translated and performed song on earth.

In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won 2 Academy Awards for Mary Poppins (1964), which includes the songs "Feed The Birds", "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and the Oscar winner, "Chim Chim Cher-ee". Since Mary Poppins premiere, the Sherman Brothers have subsequently earned 9 Academy Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Grammy Award nominations and an 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 authored 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 of the motion picture realm, their Tony nominated smash hit, Over Here! (1974) was the biggest 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 #1 spot twice; first with Johnny Burnette in 1960 and then with Ringo Starr fourteen 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 Disney's blockbuster film: The Tigger Movie (2000). This film marked the brothers' first major motion picture for the Disney company in over twenty eight years.

In 2002, Chitty hit the London stage and received rave revues. 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 theatre's history. In Spring 2005 a second Chitty company premiered on Broadway (New York City) at the Hilton 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. 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 premier at the Prince Edward Theatre in December 2004 and features the Sherman Brothers classic songs. In 2008 Poppins is scheduled to embark on a UK tour a forthcoming US tour is also expected.

Recent Years

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 nation wide (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.

In 2006, Sherman began preproduction on the film project Inkas the Ramferinkas and on November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins premiered on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theater.

Collaboration from afar

Since 2002, Robert Sherman has lived in London, England. He moved from Beverly Hills while Richard Sherman remained in California. Surprisingly however, the separation has not impeded the brothers' collaborative process. The brothers have credited this to the technological advents of fax machines, email and low cost, international telephone service. Also, both brothers travel between Los Angeles, New York and London frequently which also facilitates their work. Since Robert's move, the brothers have continued to collaborate on various musical plays.

Major scores

Motion picture screenplays

• A Symposium on Popular Songs, 1962 (uncredited)
• Mary Poppins, 1964 (*treatment only, uncredited)
• 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)
• Inkas the Ramferinkas, 2008 (announced)

Stage musicals

• 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)
• 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)

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 (attraction)
• "it's a small world" for the 1964 New York World's Fair attraction of the same name.
• "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

Professional Awards

Academy Awards

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

Annie Awards

• 2003 "Winsor McCay Award" for lifetime achievement and contribution to animation
• 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

BAFTA Awards

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

BMI

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

Christopher Award

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

Disney

• 1990 "Disney Legends" awarded at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
• 1985 "Mousecar" awarded at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, California in front of 20 thousand people.

Golden Globes

• 1977 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for The Slipper and the Rose
• 1974 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Tom Sawyer
• 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
• 1965 Nominated Golden Globe in the category of "Best Original Score" for Mary Poppins

Grammy Awards

• 1974 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Original Score for a Musical Show" for Over Here!
• 1972 Nominated Grammy in the category of "Best Original Score for a Children's Show" for Snoopy Come Home
• 1965 Won Grammy in the category of "Best Original Score for a Motion Picture or Television Show" for Mary Poppins

Laurel Awards

• 1966 3rd place "Golden Laurel" in the category of "Best Song" "That Darn Cat!" for That Darn Cat!
• 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"

Moscow Film Festival

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

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.

Variety Club Awards

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

Walk of Fame

To "Richard & Robert Sherman" awarded on: November 17, 1976, located at: 6914 Hollywood Blvd.

Literary Sources

• Sherman, Robert B. Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers, 1998.
• Greene, Kathrine 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

• Walt's Time
• Sherman Music
• Richard M. Sherman at the Internet Broadway Database
• Richard M. Sherman at the Internet Movie Database
• Richard M. Sherman and George Stiles Downstage Center' interview at American Theatre Wing, April 2007

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