May 26th 2024.
Richard M. Sherman, one half of the famous duo known for writing beloved songs for Disney classics like "Mary Poppins" and "The Jungle Book," has passed away at the age of 95. Together with his late brother Robert, the two brothers were responsible for some of the most iconic and memorable songs of our childhoods, including the timeless tune "It's a Small World."
The Walt Disney Co. announced the sad news, stating that Sherman had passed away in a Los Angeles hospital due to age-related illness. The company also paid tribute to the brothers' immense talent and impact, saying that their music continues to be the quintessential lyrical voice of Walt Disney.
The Shermans' impressive list of accomplishments includes two Academy Awards for their work on "Mary Poppins," a Grammy for best movie or TV score, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They were also the only Americans to win first prize at the Moscow Film Festival for their film "Tom Sawyer" in 1973. In 2005, they were inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame and were awarded the National Medal of Arts by President George W. Bush in 2008.
In a 2005 joint interview with The Associated Press, Richard Sherman spoke about their long and successful career, saying, "Something good happens when we sit down together and work. We've been doing it all our lives. Practically since college we've been working together." Their partnership with Disney began in the 1960s and produced over 150 songs for films like "The Aristocats," "The Jungle Book," and "The Tigger Movie."
The brothers' songs were beloved by people of all ages, and they credit Disney for teaching them to write for everyone, not just children. "He once told us, early on in our career, 'Don't insult the kid — don't write down to the kid. And don't write just for the adult.' So we write for grandpa and the 4-year-old — and everyone in between — and all see it on a different level," Richard Sherman shared.
Their father, composer Al Sherman, also played a significant role in their love for songwriting and wordsmithing. His legacy includes popular songs like "You Gotta Be a Football Hero" and "On the Beach at Bali-Bali." The brothers went on to popularize terms like "fantasmagorical" and "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."
Despite their success, the brothers remained humble and close, even living near each other in Beverly Hills and continuing to work together into their 70s. They even collaborated on the Broadway production of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" in 2005, adding new lyrics and songs to the show.
Richard Sherman is survived by his wife Elizabeth, their two children, and a daughter from a previous marriage. A private funeral will be held on Friday, and a celebration of life service will be announced at a later date. Despite some years of estrangement, the brothers had a deep love and respect for each other, as Richard Sherman stated, "We're human. We have frailties and weaknesses. But we love each other very much, respect each other."
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