"Fortuosity" is the first song in the 1967 motion picture ''

The Happiest Millionaire ''The Happiest Millionaire'' is a 1967 American musical film starring Fred MacMurray, based upon the true story of Philadelphia millionaire Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle Sr., Anthony Drexel Biddle. The film, featuring music by the Sherman Brothe ...

'' which was written by the

Sherman Brothers The Sherman Brothers were an American songwriting duo that specialized in musical films, made up of brothers Robert Sherman (December 19, 1925 – March 6, 2012) and Richard Sherman (June 12, 1928 – May 25, 2024). Together they received ...

and performed by

Tommy Steele Sir Thomas Hicks (born 17 December 1936), known professionally as Tommy Steele, is an English entertainer, regarded as Britain's first teen idol and rock and roll star. After being discovered at the 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, London, Steele recor ...

playing the part of "John Lawless" (the butler). Richard Sherman stated that the word meant "Faith and Good Fortune". Apparently derived from "fortuitous", which refers to something that happens by fortune or chance, "fortuosity" is a Disney

neologism In linguistics, a neologism (; also known as a coinage) is any newly formed word, term, or phrase that has achieved popular or institutional recognition and is becoming accepted into mainstream language. Most definitively, a word can be considered ...

and has a more positive meaning than "fortuitous" or that word's standard noun form, "fortuity", which means accident, chance, or an accidental occurrence. Steele also sings the song "

I'll Always Be Irish "I'll Always Be Irish" is a song from the film musical, ''The Happiest Millionaire'' which was written by the Sherman Brothers and sung by Tommy Steele as " John Lawless" explaining that he will be proud to be American, but that we will remain j ...

" in the film.

Other versions

"Fortuosity" has been covered by other performers: * The

Mills Brothers The Mills Brothers, sometimes billed The Four Mills Brothers and originally known as Four Boys and a Guitar, were an American jazz and traditional pop vocal quartet who made more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and g ...

' 1968 album ''Fortuosity'' had it as the title track. This album also contained their top adult contemporary hit, "

Cab Driver A taxi, also known as a taxicab or simply a cab, is a type of vehicle for hire with a Driving, driver, used by a single passenger or small group of passengers, often for a non-shared ride. A taxicab conveys passengers between locations of thei ...

". *

Carol Burnett Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American comedian, actress, singer and writer. Burnett has played dramatic and comedic roles on stage and screen. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Carol Burnett, nu ...

recorded a version with RCA Victor. *

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

recorded a version with London. *

Vic Damone Vic Damone (born Vito Rocco Farinola; June 12, 1928 – February 11, 2018) was an American traditional pop music, pop and big band singer and actor. He was best known for his performances of songs such as the number one hit "You're Breaking My ...

recorded a version with RCA Victor. *

Nancy Sinatra Nancy Sandra Sinatra (born June 8, 1940) is an American singer, actress, film producer and author. She is the elder daughter of Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra ( Barbato) and is known for her 1965 signature hit " These Boots Are Made for Walki ...

performed the song with the nine foot tall

Muppet The Muppets are an American ensemble cast of puppet characters known for an absurdist, slapstick, burlesque, and self-referential style of musical variety-sketch comedy. Created by Jim Henson in 1955, the eponymous media franchise encompasse ...

named "Thog" in her Las Vegas stage show.

Disney Parks

The New Century Timepieces store on

Disneyland Disneyland is a amusement park, theme park at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. It was the first theme park opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, ...

's Main Street was named the Fortuosity Shop in October 2008.From DisneyGallery.com, October 3, 2008, Quote: New Century Timepieces will re-open its doors as the new Fortuosity Shop. "The name of the shop was inspired by the opening song from ''The Happiest Millionaire''", says Walt Disney Imagineer and Director of Concept and Show Design, Kim Irvine. "We chose it because it is a Disney word created to express good fortune, which we hope everyone will find some type of fun fortune or treasure each time they visit the shop". This song is also part of the BGM loop for

Main Street, U.S.A. Main Street, USA is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many theme parks operated or licensed by The Walt Disney Company around the world. Main Street, USA is themed to resemble American small towns during the early 20th centu ...

Magic Kingdom Magic Kingdom Park is a Amusement park, theme park at the Walt Disney World, Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971, and is owned and operated by the Walt Disney Company through its Disney Experiences, Expe ...

, and

Disneyland Paris Disneyland Paris is an entertainment resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France, located about east of Paris. It encompasses two theme parks, seven Disney-owned hotels, two convention centers, a golf course, an arena, and a shopping, dining and entert ...

since 1992.

References

{{authority control 1967 songs 1967 singles Disney songs Songs about luck Songs written by the Sherman Brothers Songs written for films Tommy Steele songs