The magic behind Disney’s timeless melodies has lost one of its brightest stars. Richard Sherman, the legendary songwriter whose tunes defined childhoods across generations, has passed away at the age of 95. Renowned for his work on iconic films like “Mary Poppins” and “The Jungle Book,” Sherman’s passing in Beverly Hills marks the end of an era, Disney confirmed.
From 1960 to 1973, Richard, along with his brother Robert Sherman, was the core of Disney’s melodic heartbeat. The duo penned over 200 songs for 27 films and countless television projects. Variety aptly described them as holding “a job that no longer exists: in-house songwriters for a studio.” Their creations were the epitome of Disney’s spirit—joyful, optimistic, and free of the cynicism that marked the era’s broader cultural landscape.
Disney hailed Richard Sherman as an integral piece of Walt Disney’s “inner circle of creative talents.” Among their numerous accolades, Richard and Robert won an Oscar for “Chim Chim Cher-ee” from “Mary Poppins,” and again for the film’s overall score. They were the masterminds behind beloved tunes such as “It’s a Small World” and “I Wan’na Be Like You” from “The Jungle Book,” as well as the enchanting score for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, expressed heartfelt gratitude for Sherman’s contributions, stating, “We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.”
Richard Sherman continued to infuse Disney’s modern productions with his musical magic, writing new lyrics for the 2016 live-action “The Jungle Book” and contributing to 2018’s “Christopher Robin.” As actor Tom Hanks lovingly recalled in 2013, Sherman was “literally a never-ending fountain of stories, of facts, of anecdotes, and of bits and pieces of everything that had happened.”
Let’s celebrate the legacy of Richard Sherman and the joy his music brought into our lives. Share your favorite Sherman Brothers song in the comments below and let us keep the melody alive together!
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