The world of film is in mourning after Richard M. Sherman, one half of the legendary Sherman Brothers songwriting duo, passed away at the age of 95. Richard and his brother Robert B. Sherman served as the in-house songwriters at Disney in the 1960s and won two Oscars for their work. Known for providing the soundtracks to some of the most iconic Disney films such as Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book, the duo are regarded as having been responsible for “more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history”.
Richard Sherman passed away at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles due to an “age-related illness”, as confirmed by Disney. “From films like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book to attractions like It’s a Small World, music by the Sherman Brothers has captivated audiences across generations,” said Bob Iger, CEO of the Walt Disney Company in a statement. “We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
Hired by Disney in 1958, the Sherman Brothers got their big break in 1964 when they penned the evergreen tunes for Mary Poppins, including ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’, ‘Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ and ‘Chim Chim Cher-ee’, which earned them an Oscar for Best Song. Their song ‘It’s a Small World (After All)’ debuted that year at the New York World’s Fair where it became the theme for a children’s ride and soon transferred to Disney’s own theme parks, becoming the de facto theme of Disneyland. Time magazine once estimated that it is the most publicly performed song of all time.
The Sherman Brothers had further success in 1967 with the songs for The Jungle Book, including ‘I Wan’na Be Like You’ and ‘Trust In Me’, as well as films such as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Bedknobs & Broomsticks. In total, the brothers earned nine Oscar nominations, four Grammy nominations (with two wins) and in 2008 they were awarded the National Medal of Arts at the White House.
The magical partnership between the siblings ended when Robert passed away in 2012. Richard married Elizabeth Gluck in 1957 and they had two children together, Gregory and Victoria. With the loss of Richard M. Sherman, the world bids farewell to a beloved and iconic musical visionary, and the legacy of the Sherman Brothers music lives on
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