Richard M. Sherman, a Disney songwriter, passed away at age 95.
Richard passed away at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills on Saturday, May 25, “due to age-related illness,” the Walt Disney Company announced on its website.
The CEO of The Walt Disney Company, Bob Iger, stated in a statement, “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. 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.”
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Along with his late brother Robert B. Sherman, who passed away in 2012 at the age of 86, Richard was most known for being a member of the songwriting duo known as the Sherman Brothers.
Variety claims that the pair composed music for films including Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).
Variety claims that the two were Disney’s in-house songwriters, a position that is no longer held. This followed the popularity of their 1958 single “Tall Paul” for Annette Funicello, a Mouseketeer on the original Mickey Mouse Club.
In the meanwhile, the two wrote songs for the Mary Poppins film in the 1960s, including “Feed the Birds,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” and “A Spoonful of Sugar.”
Thanks to “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” the Sherman Brothers were able to win two Oscars for best original song and music score.
“Richard garnered nine Academy Award nominations (winning two Oscars® for his work on the 1964 classic Mary Poppins), won three GRAMMY® Awards, and received 24 gold and platinum albums over the course of his 65-year career,” the Walt Disney Company’s release continued.
Variety claims that during the course of the Sherman Brothers’ career, 23 gold and platinum albums were achieved.
In 2008, former President George W. Bush granted them the National Medal of Arts in recognition of their achievements.
Disney released The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story in 2009 along with The Sherman Brothers Songbook CD, which included 42 years of their Disney collaborations.
In 2023, Richard appeared in a live-animated crossover series called Once Upon a Studio, which commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company.
Disney posted on X (previously known as Twitter) with a video of Richard Sherman playing the piano and the words, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Disney Legend Richard Sherman. Your songs are the soundtrack to so many of our memories, including the iconic ‘Feed the Birds.’ Thank you for filling the world with your joy and for the incredible legacy of music you created.”
The legendary Disney character is survived by his 66-year wife Elizabeth, son Gregory, daughter Victoria Wolf, and daughter Lynda Rothstein from a previous marriage.
He is survived by six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
