Richard Sherman, the Oscar-winning songwriter who partnered with his late brother Robert to craft beloved Disney classics such as the tunes from Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book, died Saturday. He was 95.
Sherman, who also co-wrote the unforgettable “It’s a Small World (After All)” – the soundtrack to the beloved ride considered the most performed song ever – died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of age-related illness, Disney confirmed.
Along with his brother Robert, Richard Sherman built an illustrious career in music, writing an estimated 1,000 songs and music for 50 movies. In fact, they were responsible for more movie musical songs than any other songwriter!
Their combined passion and success led them to become recipients of the National Medal of Honor. The brothers would also become proud members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame for their musical prowess.
Hired by Walt Disney himself, Robert and Richard Sherman worked directly with the original Imagineer for nearly a decade. Through this partnership, they produced music for many Disney favorites, including The Sword in the Stone (1963), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), The AristoCats (1970), Charlotte’s Web (1973), Tom Sawyer (1973) and The Tigger Movie (2000).
Perhaps their greatest work, however, comes from the childhood favorite shared by countless: Mary Poppins. From “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” to “Sister Suffragette” to Walt Disney’s favorite, “Feed the Birds,” the Sherman brothers’ music helped imbue the celebrated film with the magic Disney fans have come to know and love.
Disney Colleagues Pay Tribute to Music Legend Richard Sherman
Many in the Disney company looked back fondly on Robert and Richard Sherman’s shared legacy.
“You don’t get songs like ‘Spoonful of Sugar’ without a genuine love of life, which Richard passed on to everyone lucky enough to be around him,” Pixar’s chief creative officer Pete Docter told Disney. “Even in his 90s, he had more energy and enthusiasm than anyone, and I always left renewed by Richard’s infectious joy for life.”
“The Sherman brothers were professional optimists who found a perfect patron in Walt Disney. Their songs had an upbeat outlook that spilled over into Richard’s life, which was not without its troubles and challenges,” added film historian Leonard Maltin. “He was especially proud that he and his brother carried on a songwriting career like their father, who encouraged them early on.”
“Richard Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend, creating along with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a cherished part of the soundtrack of our lives,” said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company.
“From films like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book to attractions like ‘it’s a small world,’ the music of the Sherman Brothers has captured the hearts of generations of audiences. We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”