Walt Disney with the brothers Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, early 1960s, demoing a song that would be used at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair.
Walt was so impressed with the brothers that he actually made them part of the studio staff (practically unheard of at the time) and placed them under contract to the studio.
You can watch this threesome perform the song "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" on YouTube, here.
COMMENT - The Sherman Brothers and Walt Disney
by B.J. Major
12/27/11
Richard M. Sherman (June 12, 1928 - )
Robert B. Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 5, 2012)
Robert B. Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 5, 2012)
Richard M. and Robert B. Sherman wrote
some of the most memorable music in the history of the Walt Disney
Studios. Their contributions to the studio's success simply
cannot be overestimated. They contributed not only individual
songs - but entire movie scores, music for the weekly Disney tv
program, theme park attraction music and music for four of the 1964-65
New York World's Fair pavilions that were created by the Disney
Imagineers. As the wonderful film documentary "The Boys" (which chronicles their
personal and professional life together) illustrates, everyone knows
their songs - even the non-Disney fan. That's because their music
has become part and parcel of our pop culture.
A lot has already been said by others about The Sherman Brothers' music. I'm not sure I can add anything new that has not already been stated. Except for my own personal admiration & appreciation for their talents - and a genuine envy of the relationship they had with Walt Disney himself. It is extremely difficult for me to pick a favorite out of their music catalogue; there are so many that fall into the "favorites" list, like the complete scores for Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, their songs for The Jungle Book, and their World's Fair pavilion soundtracks. Some of my Sherman favorites definitely come out of EPCOT where they wrote "Magic Journeys", "One Little Spark" and "Makin' Memories" for the Journey Into Imagination pavilion when EPCOT opened in 1982.
Walt Disney understood The Shermans very well and what they were all about; Walt understood what their music was communicating and what ideas their music would leave you with when it was over. He liked the fact that they could convey these messages without being overly direct. Walt probably liked this because that's the way he communicated with others himself. The Sherman Brothers' music was, for the most part, upbeat and optimistic. But it could sometimes be very emotional. I liked what Richard Sherman said in a radio interview, that "Feed The Birds" was Walt Disney's favorite song - not because it was about an old woman feeding birds on the cathedral steps; but because the essence of the song had to deal with giving love to those around you in the form of giving them your time and attention - as well as your affection. I remember that Richard said ". . . It doesn't cost anything to give love, so give it."
What a legacy these two brothers have contributed to the world of music. We are all the richer for it.
A lot has already been said by others about The Sherman Brothers' music. I'm not sure I can add anything new that has not already been stated. Except for my own personal admiration & appreciation for their talents - and a genuine envy of the relationship they had with Walt Disney himself. It is extremely difficult for me to pick a favorite out of their music catalogue; there are so many that fall into the "favorites" list, like the complete scores for Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, their songs for The Jungle Book, and their World's Fair pavilion soundtracks. Some of my Sherman favorites definitely come out of EPCOT where they wrote "Magic Journeys", "One Little Spark" and "Makin' Memories" for the Journey Into Imagination pavilion when EPCOT opened in 1982.
Walt Disney understood The Shermans very well and what they were all about; Walt understood what their music was communicating and what ideas their music would leave you with when it was over. He liked the fact that they could convey these messages without being overly direct. Walt probably liked this because that's the way he communicated with others himself. The Sherman Brothers' music was, for the most part, upbeat and optimistic. But it could sometimes be very emotional. I liked what Richard Sherman said in a radio interview, that "Feed The Birds" was Walt Disney's favorite song - not because it was about an old woman feeding birds on the cathedral steps; but because the essence of the song had to deal with giving love to those around you in the form of giving them your time and attention - as well as your affection. I remember that Richard said ". . . It doesn't cost anything to give love, so give it."
What a legacy these two brothers have contributed to the world of music. We are all the richer for it.
Return to Recordings Index
Back to Site Index
Back to Home Page