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Robert Bernard Sherman was born on December 19, 1925 in [[New York City]]. His parents, Russian-Jewish immigrants, Rosa & [[Al Sherman]] paid Robert's hospital delivery costs with a royalty check which had arrived that day. The title of the song which covered the hospital bill was "[[Save Your Sorrow]]". [[Al Sherman]] was to become a well known [[Tin Pan Alley]] songwriter.
Robert Bernard Sherman was born on December 19, 1925 in [[New York City]]. His parents, Russian-Jewish immigrants, Rosa & [[Al Sherman]] paid Robert's hospital delivery costs with a royalty check which had arrived that day. The title of the song which covered the hospital bill was "[[Save Your Sorrow]]". [[Al Sherman]] was to become a well known [[Tin Pan Alley]] songwriter.


As a youth, Robert Sherman excelled in intellectual pursuits, taking up the violin and piano, painting and writing poetry. Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Shermans finally settled down in [[Beverly Hills, California]]. Some of the primary schools Robert attended in Manhattan included PS 241 and the [[Ethical Culture Fieldston School]]; in California, the [[El Rodeo School]]. Throughout his years at [[Beverly Hills High School]], he wrote and produced radio and stage programs for which he won much acclaim. At age 16, he wrote a stage play,
As a youth, Robert Sherman excelled in intellectual pursuits, taking up the violin and piano, painting and writing poetry. Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Shermans finally settled down in [[Beverly Hills, California]]. Some of the primary schools Robert attended in Manhattan included PS 241 and the [[Ethical Culture Fieldston School]]; in California, the [[El Rodeo School]].

''[[Armistice and Dedication Day]]'', which earned thousands of dollars for [[War Bonds]] and a special citation from the [[United States Department of War]].
Throughout his years at [[Beverly Hills High School]], he wrote and produced radio and stage programs for which he won much acclaim. At age 16, he wrote ''Armistice and Dedication Day'', a [[stage play]] centered around contemporary 1940s Americans that showed how their lives were inextricably changed following the December 7, 1941, [[attack on Pearl Harbor]]. The play yielded thousands of dollars for [[War Bonds]] and earned a special citation from the [[United States Department of War|War Department]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=2356454&popcount=3&tcount=64 |title=World War II Honoree: Robert Bernard Sherman |work=World War II Registry |publisher=National World War II Memorial |accessdate=June 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sherman |first1=Robert B. |authorlink=Robert B. Sherman |title=Walt's Time: from before to beyond |year=1998 |publisher=Camphor Tree Publishers |location=Santa Clarita |isbn= |pages=109, 112–115}}</ref>


==World War II==
==World War II==

Revision as of 04:50, 16 June 2011

Robert B. Sherman

Robert Bernard Sherman (born December 19, 1925) is an American songwriter who specializes in musical films with his brother Richard Morton Sherman. Some of the Sherman Brothers' best known writing includes the songs from Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of 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

Robert Bernard Sherman was born on December 19, 1925 in New York City. His parents, Russian-Jewish immigrants, Rosa & Al Sherman paid Robert's hospital delivery costs with a royalty check which had arrived that day. The title of the song which covered the hospital bill was "Save Your Sorrow". Al Sherman was to become a well known Tin Pan Alley songwriter.

As a youth, Robert Sherman excelled in intellectual pursuits, taking up the violin and piano, painting and writing poetry. Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Shermans finally settled down in Beverly Hills, California. Some of the primary schools Robert attended in Manhattan included PS 241 and the Ethical Culture Fieldston School; in California, the El Rodeo School.

Throughout his years at Beverly Hills High School, he wrote and produced radio and stage programs for which he won much acclaim. At age 16, he wrote Armistice and Dedication Day, a stage play centered around contemporary 1940s Americans that showed how their lives were inextricably changed following the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. The play yielded thousands of dollars for War Bonds and earned a special citation from the War Department.[1][2]

World War II

In 1943, Sherman obtained permission from his parents to join the army a year early, at age 17. In early April 1945, he led half a squad of men into Dachau concentration camp, the first Allied troops to enter the camp after it had been evacuated by the fleeing German military only hours earlier. On April 12, 1945, the day President Franklin D. Roosevelt died, Sherman was shot in the knee forcing him to walk with a cane ever since.

For his service to his country, he received two Battle Stars, a Combat Infantryman Badge, an American Campaign Medal, a World War II Victory Medal, a European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. In addition, Sherman was also awarded several Army Weapons Qualifications badges including a "Sharpshooter badge" with bars for both rifle and submachine gun; a "Marksman Badge" for carbine and an "Expert Badge" for rifle and grenade.

During his recuperation in Taunton and Bournemouth (UK), Sherman was awarded the Purple Heart medal. While still rehabilitating, Sherman first became curious about British culture, reading anything he could find on the subject. Once back on his feet, Sherman met and became friends with many British people, attaining first hand knowledge of the United Kingdom, her customs and people.

Years later, Sherman credited this time in his life as the origin of his fascination with England, believing that it proved an invaluable resource to his songwriting career. Many of his best-known works center around English stories, authors and subject matter.

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United States Military Service medals

Purple Heart
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal
World War II Victory Medal

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United States Military Qualification Badges

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Education

On his return to the United States, Sherman attended Bard College in upstate New York where he majored in English Literature and Painting. Sherman also served as the editor-in-chief of The Bardian which is the campus newspaper. At Bard, Sherman completed his first two novels, The Best Estate and Music, Candy and Painted Eggs. He graduated in the class of 1949. On May 12, 1990 Sherman received an Honorary Doctorate from Lincoln College.

Songwriting career

File:Shermans042.jpg
(Left to right) Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman and Walt Disney sing "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" (1964)

Within two years, Sherman and his brother Richard began writing songs together on a challenge from their father, Al Sherman, a successful popular songwriter in the "Tin Pan Alley" days ("No! No! A Thousand Times No!!", "You Gotta Be a Football Hero"). In 1953, Robert married Joyce Sasner, which moderated what had become his bohemian lifestyle in the years following the war. His first child, Laurie, was born in 1955, followed by Jeffrey in 1957, Andrea in 1960 and later, Robert in 1968.

In 1958, Sherman founded the music publishing company, Music World Corporation, which later worked with Disney's BMI publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. That same year, the Sherman Brothers had their first "Top Ten" hit with "Tall Paul", which was sung by 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 recognized song: "It's a Small World (after all)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair.

In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won 2 Academy Awards for Mary Poppins, including "Feed The Birds", "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", and the Oscar winner, "Chim Chim Cher-ee". Since Mary Poppins' premiere, Robert B. Sherman has subsequently earned 9 Academy Award nominations, 2 Grammy Awards, 4 Grammy Award nominations and 23 gold and platinum albums.

Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly for Walt Disney until Disney's death in 1966. Since leaving the company, the brothers 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 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 picked to be the Royal Command Performance of the year and was attended by Her Majesty, 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, 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.

Original London cast - "Janes and Michaels". Left to right (Front): Poppy Lee Friar, Jack Montgomery, Perry Millward, Harry Stott, Ben Watton, Jake Catterall, Nicola Bowman. Left to right (BACK): Charlotte Spencer, Faye Spittlehouse, Carrie Fletcher, Robert B. Sherman. (Photo Date: 19 July 2004)

In 2002 the stage musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang premiered in London. It 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 early 2005 a second Chitty company premiered on Broadway (New York City) at the Foxwoods Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre). The Sherman Brothers wrote an additional six songs specifically for the new stage productions.

In 2002, Sherman moved from Beverly Hills to London, England where he continues to write and paint. 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 June 2005, Robert B. Sherman was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame with his brother. Also in June 2005, a tribute was paid to Robert B. Sherman at the Théâtre de Vevey in Vevey, Switzerland by the Ballet Romand. Chitty opened on Broadway in 2005 and commenced its first full UK tour in December 2005 with subsequent tours and/or tour dates in each year since. Poppins opened on Broadway in 2006.

In 2008, Robert Sherman completed an autobiographical novel entitled Moose while Poppins embarked on a UK tour as well as a world tour beginning in Göteborg, Sweden. Chitty embarked on a 29 city, US Tour which goes through 2009.

Painting

Sherman dedicating a print of his painting, "Sacrifice" (Behind) to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London in 2004. Officiating was Dr. Jonathan Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the British Empire and Commonwealth.

A lesser known aspect of Sherman's life is his painting which he has done since 1941 and kept private (except from his family and close friends)[3] until 2002. Sherman studied painting while attending Bard College, receiving a double degree in both Painting and English Literature. Sherman has worked in various visual arts media, including clay and metal sculpture, but his main focus was oil painting throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. He switched to acrylics in the mid 1960s, and has painted in that medium ever since.

In April 2002, an exhibition of Sherman's paintings was held in London, England, at Thompsons' Gallery on Marylebone High Street. This marked the first public exhibition of his paintings since he started painting in 1941. Sherman subsequently exhibited his paintings in Florida and California. A series of Limited Edition Giclées of Sherman's art were also published at this time on both canvas and paper.

Paintings which have appeared at the various exhibitions include: "On Route 9G" (c.1949), "Self Portrait" (1970), "San Francisco (1970)", "Moses" (1977), "Carousel In The Country" (1982), "From the Dining Room (1982)", "Sacrifice" (1983), "Florid Window" (1984), "Geisha (1986)", "Fine Four Fendered Friend (2002)" and "Park Lane" (2003).[4] On [March 4, 2007, Sherman and his younger son, Robbie, donated limited edition prints of "Moses" and "Sacrifice" to the Giffnock Synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland.

Robert Sherman has also been a metal sculptor, poet, and short story author.

Marriage and family

Sherman married Joyce Ruth Sasner on September 27, 1953. Joyce and Robert Sherman have four children: Laurie Shane, Jeffrey Craig, Andrea Tracy and Robert Jason. Dr. Laurie Sherman is married to Dr. John Evans and they have three children including Joshua Abraham, Sarah Aurora and Amelia Elizabeth. Jeff Sherman is married to Wendy Liebman and they have two children; Alex and Ryan. Joyce Sasner Sherman died on October 16, 2001.

Recent achievements

The Sherman Brothers receive the National Medal of Arts which is the highest honor conferred on artists or patrons of the arts from the United States Government on behalf of the American people. Honorees are fielded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and selected by the President of the United States. (left to right: Robert B. Sherman, Richard M. Sherman and U.S. President George W. Bush at The White House on November 17, 2008
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 2011, Sherman begins preproduction on the film project Inkas the Ramferinkas. Animatic work has already been produced out of London, Munich and Los Angeles. Sherman collaborates on both the script and score for this film.
  • On May 21, 2011, the Sherman Brothers were each awarded honorary doctorate degrees in Fine Arts from their alma mater, Bard College. This was Robert's second honorary doctorate. His first was granted by Lincoln College on May 12, 1990.

Robert B. Sherman Scholarship

In 2005 Robert Sherman established an annual scholarship award in his name through the BMI Foundation.[6] The awardee is chosen by BMI's Lehman Engel program with some consultation with Sherman. The first awardee was announced in November 2006. Awardees are chosen for their excellence in musical comedy songwriting with an emphasis on lyric writing.[6] Following is a list of the annual winners since the award's inception:

  • 2006 - Andrew Nellessen
  • 2007 - Michael Mitnick[7]
  • 2008 - (No Award This Year)
  • 2009 - Jeffrey Simno
  • 2010 - Andy Roninson[8]

Collaboration from afar

Since 2002, Robert Sherman has lived in London, England. He moved from Beverly Hills while Richard Sherman remained in California. The geographical 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 as well as a feature, animated], film musical which incorporates their original story, song score and screenplay.[9]

Major film scores

Motion picture screenplays

Stage musicals

The London Palladium in 2004
Prince Edward Theatre in 2005
New Amsterdam Theatre in 2007.

Theme park songs

Professional awards

Academy Awards

Annie Awards

BAFTA Awards

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

Disney

Golden Globes

Golden Videocassette Award

Grammy Awards

Laurel Awards

Moscow Film Festival

National Medal of Arts

Olivier Awards

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

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ "World War II Honoree: Robert Bernard Sherman". World War II Registry. National World War II Memorial. Retrieved June 16, 2011.
  2. ^ Sherman, Robert B. (1998). Walt's Time: from before to beyond. Santa Clarita: Camphor Tree Publishers. pp. 109, 112–115.
  3. ^ Walt's Time
  4. ^ The Art of Robert Sherman
  5. ^ A Chat with The Aristocats composer, Richard Sherman of the Sherman Brothers - DVD
  6. ^ a b BMI Foundation - Robert Sherman Scholarship
  7. ^ BMI Foundation, Inc. News: BMI Foundation Receives $250,000 Donation; First Evelyn Buckstein Scholarship Awarded
  8. ^ http://www.bmi.com/search/results/cdaac06eab76f0d5395bbc512f7a5268/
  9. ^ Playbill News: Sherman Brothers Working on New Musical Merry-Go-Round
  10. ^ Garreau, Joel."Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland Win Medal of Arts Honors",Washington Post, November 17, 2008

External links

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