Richard M. Sherman, the esteemed Oscar-winning songwriter who collaborated with his late brother, has passed away at the age of 95. Together, they crafted melodies that became timeless classics for Disney, including the enchanting tunes of Mary Poppins, the adventure-filled Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and the jungle-themed The Jungle Book.
Sherman, renowned for his collaboration on the universally recognized "It's a Small World (After All)"—deemed the most frequently performed song ever—and the chart-topping hit "You're Sixteen" for Ringo Starr, succumbed to age-related illnesses at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. This news was announced by Disney with deep sorrow.
Members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and recipients of the esteemed National Medal of Arts, Richard and his elder brother, Robert Sherman, left an indelible mark in the world of music. Together, they penned an astonishing estimate of 1,000 songs and music scores for over 50 films, surpassing any other composers in history for their contributions to movie musicals.
Their work on Mary Poppins (1964) brought them two triumphant moments on the Academy Awards stage in Santa Monica, where they gracefully accepted the honors for Best Original Score and Best Song ("Chim Chim Cher-ee").
Hired personally by the legendary Walt Disney and working closely with him for nearly a decade, the Sherman brothers were also nominated for their captivating melodies in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang from the 1968 United Artists film, "The Age of Not Believing" from Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971), "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz (He Danced With Me/She Danced With Me)" from The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976), and "When You're Loved" from The Magic of Lassie (1978). Additionally, they received three further nominations for their exceptional scores, a testament to their enduring legacy in the world of film music.
Their illustrious filmography included such gems as "The Parent Trap" (1961), which boasted the charming "Let's Get Together" - a unique duet brought to life by Hayley Mills. Other notable works encompassed "The Sword in the Stone" (1963), "Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree" (1966), "The AristoCats" (1970), "Snoopy, Come Home" (1972), "Charlotte’s Web" (1973), "Tom Sawyer" (1973), and "The Tigger Movie" (2000).
Back in 1961, Richard and Robert happened to catch a glimpse of the captivating British actress, Julie Andrews, performing two melodies from her Broadway musical "Camelot" on The Ed Sullivan Show. Instantly, they knew she would be the perfect fit for the lead role in "Mary Poppins". Their shrewd instincts led them to orchestrate a clever move; they instructed Disney's secretary to purchase tickets for "Camelot" for the studio head and his wife, ensuring that they too would see in Andrews the same spark that the brothers did.
While "Mary Poppins" may have drawn inspiration from the enchanting characters penned by P.L. Travers in her books, it was undoubtedly the brothers' melodies that truly shaped the film's narrative. Their songs, including the whimsical "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," the sugary sweet "A Spoonful of Sugar," the feisty "Sister Suffragette," and the lullaby "Feed the Birds" - Walt's favorite - all contributed to the film's magical allure.
"Songs like 'A Spoonful of Sugar' don't just materialize out of thin air," remarked director and Pixar's chief creative officer, Pete Docter, in a statement. "They require a genuine love of life, which Richard unfailingly passed on to everyone fortunate enough to be in his orbit. Even in his nineties, he possessed more energy and enthusiasm than most, and I always found myself rejuvenated by his infectious joy for life."
In a delightful 2011 interview with THR's Scott Feinberg, Richard recounted how "the boys" - as Disney affectionately referred to them - came to be involved in "Mary Poppins". He recalled, "One day, Walt had just accepted one of our songs - I believe it was for a 'Zorro' episode or something - and he asked, 'Do you know what a nanny is?' We replied, 'Yeah, it's a goat.' We thought he was planning a picture about a singing nanny goat or something. He clarified, 'No, no, no, in an English nursery!' We said, 'Oh, yeah, sure, in an English nursery there’s a nanny, that’s right.'"
"Then he said, 'Well, I have a book. I want you to read this and tell me what you think.' He didn't say, 'I have this book, I want you to write me a title song for it,' or, 'I have a situation I want you to write for this character to sing.' He simply said, 'Read the book and tell me what you think.'"
