Richard Sherman, known for his work in classic Disney films like “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book,” passed away at the age of 95 on Saturday, confirmed by the film and entertainment company.
Sherman, who died in Beverly Hills from age-related illness, alongside his brother Robert who passed away in 2012, were staff composers for Disney from 1960 to 1973. During this time, they wrote over 200 songs for 27 films and multiple television productions.
The duo’s songwriting was described by Hollywood magazine Variety as a unique role that no longer exists in today’s creative industry – “in-house songwriters for a studio.”
Even outside their work for Disney, the Sherman brothers’ songs maintained a distinct Disney style – upbeat and positive, without the cynicism of the late 1960s and 1970s creative landscape.
Richard Sherman was hailed by Disney as a “key member” of founder Walt Disney’s creative team. Their collaborations included the Oscar-winning song “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from “Mary Poppins” and the Academy Award-winning score for the movie.
The brothers’ legacy extends to hits like “It’s a Small World” and “I Wan’na Be Like You” from “The Jungle Book,” as well as non-Disney projects like “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Richard Sherman maintained his ties with Disney over the years, contributing to the live-action “The Jungle Book” in 2016 and “Christopher Robin” in 2018.
Actor Tom Hanks described Sherman as a “never-ending fountain of stories, facts, anecdotes, and bits and pieces of everything that had happened.”
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