Richard M. Sherman, Disney legend and songwriter behind Mary Poppins and It’s a Small World, dies at 95

Richard M. Sherman, a Disney legend and one half of the Academy Award-winning songwriting team known as the Sherman Brothers, has died at the age of 95. He is perhaps best known for his work on Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book and The Aristocats and songs such as “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”, “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room” and “It’s a Small World”.

The Walt Disney Company announced that Sherman died Saturday, May 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, from an age-related illness. Although he may no longer be with us, he leaves behind an incredible legacy and body of work that will continue for many, many years.

During his 65-year career, Sherman won two Academy Awards for Mary Poppins and was nominated for nine Academy Awards in total. He won three Grammy Awards, received 24 gold and platinum albums, and was “a key member of Walt Disney’s inner circle of creative talent.” “.

For Mary Poppins, Richard and his brother Robert won two Academy Awards for Best Music – Substantially Original and Best Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” They were also behind the iconic songs “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and “Feed the Birds”, the latter being “one of Walt’s favorite songs – ever”.

“Richard Sherman embodied what it means to be a Disney legend, creating with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a treasured 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 extend our deepest condolences to his family.

Pete Docter, chief creative officer of Pixar Animation Studios, said: “You don’t get songs like ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ without a true love of life, which Richard passed on to everyone who has the lucky to be by his side. Even at 90, he had more energy and enthusiasm than anyone, and I always came away renewed by Richard’s contagious joie de vivre.

Richard Sherman was born on June 12, 1928 in New York and was the son of Al Sherman, the Tin Pan Alley songwriter who also made a very respectable name for himself. Sherman would eventually move to Beverly Hills for high school and attend Bard College before being drafted into the U.S. Army and serving as conductor of the Army Band and Glee Club from 1953 to 1955 .

In 1951, the Sherman Brothers recorded their first song thanks to Gene Autry – “Gold Can Buy You Anything But Love” – but perhaps their most important was “Tall Paul”. This song was recorded by Mouseketeer and future Disney legend Annette Funicello and, after reaching #7 on the charts and selling over 700,000 singles, helped attract the attention of Walt himself.

Walt Disney would hire the Sherman Brothers as songwriters for Walt Disney Studios and their first assignment was to write a song for the TV movie The Horsemasters. They would go on to contribute to works such as The Absent-Minded Professor, The Parent Trap, Summer Magic, The Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins, That Darn Cat!, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, The Jungle Book , The Happiest Millionaire, The Aristocats, Bedknobs and Brooms. In total, they wrote more than 200 songs for 27 films and 24 television projects.

For the Disney Parks, the Sherman Brothers are responsible for some of the most recognizable and beloved songs of all time, including the previously mentioned “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”, “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room » and “It’s a Small”. World.’ They would also write songs for EPCOT, Tokyo Disneyland, etc.

Outside of Disney, the Sherman Brothers have also worked on other projects like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Snoopy Come Home, Charlotte’s Web, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and The Skipper and the Rose.

In 2005, the Sherman Brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2008 they will receive the National Medal of Arts, “for their unforgettable songs and upbeat lyrics that brought magic to the screen and stage.” » The Sherman Brothers “Music has helped bring joy to millions of people.”

Robert died in 2012, but Richard will continue to work. He wrote new lyrics for the live-action The Jungle Book, composed three new songs for Christopher Robin and wrote a new song for Disney legend Andreas Deja’s 2023 animated short film, Mushka.

In 2023, Richard was presented with a very special opportunity: he would return to the Walt Disney office and record a new version of Mary Poppins’ “Feed the Birds” for Once Upon a Studio, the short film celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company . Richard and Robert often played the same song for Walt in his office on Friday afternoons.

Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years; Elizabeth, their son Gregory, their daughter Victoria, their son-in-law Doug Wolf and their grandchildren William, Matthew, Mandy and Anthony. He is also survived by his daughter Lynda Rothstein from a previous marriage as well as his two children and three grandchildren.

Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on TikTok.