The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history, working for Walt Disney during the last six years of his life. Film scores of the Sherman Brothers include Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Jungle Book and The Aristocats.
Life and work
Robert and Richard Sherman began writing songs together in 1951 on a challenge from their father, Tin Pan Alley songwriter Al Sherman. The brothers wrote together and with different songwriting partners throughout the rest of the decade.
In 1958, Robert founded the music publishing company Music World Corporation, which later enjoyed a landmark relationship with Disney's BMI-affiliated publishing arm, Wonderland Music Company. That same year, the Sherman Brothers had their first top-ten hit with "Tall Paul," sung by Mouseketeer Judy Harriet on the Surf Records label and then covered 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. The first song they wrote on personal assignment by Walt Disney was "Strummin' Song" in 1961. It was used in the Annette Funicello made-for-television movie called The Horsemasters.
While at Disney, the Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical scores than any other songwriters in the history of film. They also wrote what is perhaps their best-known song, "It's a Small World (after all)" for the 1964 New York World's Fair. Since then, some have claimed that this has become the most translated and performed song on Earth, although this is largely justified by the fact that it is played continuously at Disney's leisure park rides of the same name.
In 1965, the Sherman Brothers won two Academy Awards for Mary Poppins, which includes the songs "Feed The Birds," "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," and the Oscar-winning "Chim Chim Cher-ee." Since Mary Poppins' premiere, the Shermans have subsequently earned nine Academy Award nominations, two Grammy Awards, four Grammy Award nominations, and an incredible 23 gold- and platinum-certified albums.
Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly for Walt Disney, completing the scores for the live-action musical films The Happiest Millionaire and The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band until Disney's death in 1966. Since leaving the company, the brothers have 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 1970, the Shermans returned to Disney for a brief stint where they completed work on The Aristocats and Bedknobs & Broomsticks. The latter film garnered the brothers their fourth and fifth Oscar Nominations, respectively. 1972 saw the release of Snoopy Come Home, for which the brothers received a Grammy nomination.
In 1973, the Sherman Brothers also 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.
In 1976, “The Slipper and the Rose” was picked to be the Royal Command Performance of the year. The performance was attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. A modern musical adaptation of the classic Cinderella story, "Slipper", also featured songs, score, and screenplay by the Sherman Brothers. Two further Academy Award nominations were garnered by the brothers for the film. That same year the Sherman Brothers received their star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame" directly across from Grauman's Chinese Theater.
The Sherman Brothers' 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 & Broomsticks (1971), and Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland (1992).
Outside the motion-picture realm, their Tony Award-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 the Disney film The Tigger Movie. This film marked the brothers' first major motion picture for the Disney company in over 28t years.
In 2002, Chitty hit the London stage, receiving 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 theater's history. On April 28, 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. A successful third company of Chitty is currently touring throughout the United Kingdom.
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.
In recent years, with Robert's move to London, England, United Kingdom, the brothers have written many new songs for the stage musical presentations of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins, produced collaboratively by Disney and Cameron Mackintosh.
For their contributions to the motion picture industry, the Sherman brothers have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Blvd. and were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on June 9, 2005. On November 16, 2006, Mary Poppins premiered at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway.
On November 17, 2008 the Sherman Brothers received the National Medal of Arts which is the highest honor conferred upon artists or patrons of the arts by the United States Government. The award was presented by United States President, George W. Bush in an East Room ceremony at The White House.
the monkey's uncle
Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, yeah, She loves the monkey's uncle,
Whoa, whoa, She loves the monkey's uncle,
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
I don't care what the whole world thinks!
She loves the monkey's uncle!
Call us a couple of "missing links",
Love all these monkeyshines,
Every day is Valentine's,
I love the monkey's uncle,
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
Ape for me!
Uh, huh, She loves the monkey's uncle,
Yeah, yeah, She loves the monkey's uncle,
Whoa, whoa, She loves the monkey's uncle,
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
This in my heart jumps like a clown
She loves the monkey's uncle!
Feels like the circus just came to town!
She loves the monkey's uncle!
I live in a "jungle gym",
In order to be with him
I love the monkey's uncle,
And I wish I were the monkey's aunt!
Monkey's aunt!
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa
On the day he marries me
What a nutty family tree!
A bride!
A groom!
A chimpanzee!
Let them say he's the booby prize!
She loves the monkey's uncle!
He is the guy I idolize!
She loves the monkey's uncle!
Love all those monkeyshines,
Every day is Valentine's,
I love the monkey's uncle,
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
Ape for me!
Uh, huh, She (I) loves (love) the monkey's uncle,
Yeah, yeah, She (I) loves (love) the monkey's uncle,
Whoa, whoa, She (I) loves (love) the monkey's uncle,
And I'm MAD about his chimpanzee!
The lyrics to "The Monkey's Uncle" by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman tell the story of a woman who is smitten with a man who she refers to as the monkey's uncle. She doesn't care what others think of their relationship and is willing to embrace their unconventional love, even if it means being compared to "missing links." The woman loves the monkey's uncle and all of the playful antics that come with him, such as living in a "jungle gym" and embracing "monkeyshines" every day. The song builds up to the couple's marriage and the mention of a "nutty family tree" with a chimpanzee as part of the mix.
Line by Line Meaning
Uh, huh, She loves the monkey's uncle,
I love my unconventional partner despite what others may think.
Yeah, yeah, She loves the monkey's uncle,
I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm in love with the monkey's uncle.
Whoa, whoa, She loves the monkey's uncle,
I have a strong affection for the monkey's uncle.
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
I also have a special place in my heart for his chimpanzee.
I don't care what the whole world thinks!
I am not concerned about societal norms or expectations.
Call us a couple of "missing links",
Others may see us as primitive or backwards.
Love all these monkeyshines,
I enjoy the playful and unpredictable nature of our relationship.
Every day is Valentine's,
We share a deep love and affection for each other every day.
I love the monkey's uncle,
I truly love and care for the monkey's uncle.
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
I also have feelings for his chimpanzee.
This in my heart jumps like a clown
I feel euphoric and giddy when I think about the monkey's uncle.
Feels like the circus just came to town!
Being with the monkey's uncle brings me joy and excitement.
I live in a "jungle gym",
I am willing to live in a chaotic and unstructured environment to be with him.
In order to be with him
I am willing to make sacrifices to continue our relationship.
And I wish I were the monkey's aunt!
I wish I could be even more a part of the monkey family.
On the day he marries me
If we decide to get married...
What a nutty family tree!
Our family may not conform to traditional norms.
A bride!
I will be the bride.
A groom!
The monkey's uncle will be the groom.
A chimpanzee!
And his chimpanzee will also be involved in the ceremony.
Let them say he's the booby prize!
Others may view him as undesirable or unworthy.
He is the guy I idolize!
But I deeply admire and look up to the monkey's uncle.
Love all those monkeyshines,
I enjoy the playful and unpredictable nature of our relationship.
Every day is Valentine's,
We share a deep love and affection for each other every day.
I love the monkey's uncle,
I truly love and care for the monkey's uncle.
And the monkey's uncle's ape for me!
I also have feelings for his chimpanzee.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICHARD M. SHERMAN, ROBERT B. SHERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind