An Interview with the Sherman Brothers
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Q: You two being songwriters, you don’t get to perform live very much, can you talk about what it was like at the Hollywood Bowl for the Disney Spectacular with 17,000 adoring fans cheering for you?
A: 18.
Q: 18, I’m sorry, 18,000 adoring fans cheering for you.
A: We did it two or three times. It was terrifying. One blessing was that you can’t see them because the lights are in your eyes but we knew they were there. You just do your thing that’s all, blunder through it.
Q: Was it kind of special to have that many people there?
A: Oh yes, it was great.
Q: In the midst of your Disney years, your big Disney years, you got to work on a non-Disney project Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Did that prepare you for what it would be like to work for Disney after Walt died at all?
A: I want you to know that even though Walt was gone we were working for Walt. Our style of songs and people always thought it was a Disney song. It always seemed that way because Walt was always close to us.
Q: What was it like to work at Disney though after Walt died when you didn’t have that one person there who was in charge and that you were so used to working with, was that especially difficult?
A: It was miserable. There was a committee and you know what a camel is.
Q: Exactly.
A: We had a terrible time. They wouldn’t okay anything.
Q: I think I read in your book about Bedknobs and Broomsticks how they allowed it to get chopped to death and you were very disappointed with that.
A: Oh God, yes. (heavy sigh)
Q: Do you think that was your most disappointing project for Disney Bedknobs and Broomsticks?
A: It was disappointing.
Q: The great Maurice Chevalier's last song was The Aristocats and Jane Darwell’s last song was Feed the Birds...
A: Right.
Q: How special was that to have written the songs that turned out to be the last songs for these two great people?
A: They live on in our hearts and they were the last songs identified with them. They are identified with them and that was the most important part of it. That’s all I can say.
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Q: A little more recently - this one really surprised me in your book - you two had cameos in Beverly Hills Cop 3 and wrote the Wonder World song. How did that come to be?
A: We were called by a director and he said can you write a Disney type song for the Wonder World picture. We said "sure why not." We always say, yes. So we wrote a typical Disneyland type song. That’s all. It wasn’t a problem at all.
Q: You actually appeared in them as well, didn’t you?
A: Yes. I had a small bit in the bar. I said to the bartender, "got a television in here?" That was my line.
Q: For the Carousel of Progress you two actually wrote two songs, correct? There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow for the original then The Best Time Of Your Life when it was moved to Walt Disney World.
A: Yeah.
Q: Which one do you personally prefer?
A: The first one.
Q: When Disneyland opened their New Tomorrowland you got to write new verses for that song.
A: That was for Innoventions.
Q: You got to use the same tune but you had to write some new lyrics?
A: Right.
Q: Was that a lot of fun?
A: It was fun, yeah. Working with Bruce Gordon was fun. He’s a brilliant guy.
Q: I was able to interview him a few months ago and he is a very interesting person to talk to.
A: He is very unassuming.
Q: In your career you’ve won Oscars, Grammy’s, you were named a Disney Legend. I’m sure you’ve won numerous lifetime achievement awards. Is there one award out of all those that you’re most proud of?
A: I’m not proud. I’m not really a proud person. I’m grateful for all of them. Proud is the wrong word.
Q: Is there one musical accomplishment that you’re not necessarily proud of but that stands out that you know you did a really really good job?
A: No.
Q: Nothing above the rest?
A: No.
Q: What’s next? Are you still working?
A: Oh yeah, we’re working. We’re planning a stage musical. Merry-Go-Round of Life.
Q: I read about that in the book. Are you still working on that?
A: Yes. We have two other little things.
Q: I think your most recent project was The Tigger Movie. What was that like?
A: We loved the people that brought us back to Disney because it was like coming home. The characters in the show were just the same like they always were. The gal who brought us in, Bambie Moe, I like her very much. She brought us in and we met all the marvelous people that worked on it and it was a delight, a real delight to work on that.
Q: You got to work with Kenny Logins on that as well?
A: Yeah.
Q: Was that an interesting experience?
A: He’s a nice guy. He really is, and very talented. We had a lot of fun.
Q: Wonderful, that’s what it’s all about.
A: Yes.
Q: Thank you very very much Mr. Sherman.
A: You’re welcome.
Q: I appreciate your time.
A: Thank you.
Robert and his wife Joyce