Sherman Edwards spent several years developing lyrics and libretto for a musical based on the signing of the Declaration of Independence .
Sherman Edwards is a writer of pop songs with several top 10 hits in the late 1950s and early ' 60s .
Sherman Edwards , a writer of pop songs with several top 10 hits in the late 1950s and early ' 60s , spent several years developing lyrics and libretto for a musical based on the signing of the Declaration of Independence .