Newport Beach Film Festival 2008

Richard M. Sherman

From Hollywood, to Broadway, to theme park locales around the world, the sun never sets on the music of Richard Sherman and his collaborator/brother, Robert B. Sherman. Their career spans almost 50 years and includes two Oscars for Walt Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” three Grammy Awards, 24 gold and platinum albums, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and induction in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

1960 marked the start of a phenomenal ten-year association with film producer Walt Disney, during which time they composed over 150 songs for his films, TV shows and theme parks. Their Disney film credits include “The Jungle Book,” “The Parent Trap,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” “The Sword in the Stone,” “The Aristocats,” “The Happiest Millionaire,” the “Winnie the Pooh” featurettes, and of course, “Mary Poppins,” among many others.

The Shermans went on to compose song scores for the animated features “Snoopy Come Home,” “Charlotte's Web,” and the movie musical “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Thanks to the Disney Parks around the world, there is always Sherman Brothers music playing somewhere on the globe through such beloved attractions as “Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room,” “It’s a Small World” (whose title song is considered among the most translated and performed songs on earth), “The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh,” “Carousel of Progress,” etc.

Most recently the Sherman Brothers have seen their beloved film musicals “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” transformed into smash Broadway stage musicals.