Disney Legend Richard Sherman Has Passed Away at 95
Disney Legend Richard M. Sherman, one half of the legendary songwriting team the Sherman Brothers, passed away Saturday due to age-related illness. He was 95.
One of the most prolific songwriters in entertainment history, Sherman brought joy to generations of Disney fans through his compositions.
Photo: John E Reed
Sherman was born July 12, 1928, in New York City before relocating to Beverly Hills in 1937. Interstingly, Sherman’s father, Al, was also a songwriter, composing tunes for Tin Pan Alley.
Richard would eventually attend Beverly Hills High School before attending Bard College, where he majored in music. In 1951, Gene Autry became the first star to record a Sherman Brothers song, “Gold Can Buy You Anything But Love.”
Joining Disney
The Sherman Brothers’ big break, however, would come seven years later, after Richard spent a stint in the army, when Annette Funicello recorded “Tall Paul.”
Photo: TCM
The Sherman Brothers’ success caught the attention of Walt Disney, who hired the brothers as staff songwriters for The Walt Disney Studios.
Eventually, they would contribute to a litany of films including The Absent-Minded Professor (1961), The Parent Trap (1961), Summer Magic (1963), The Sword in the Stone (1963), Mary Poppins (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965), Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966), The Jungle Book (1967), The Happiest Millionaire (1967), The Aristocats (1970), and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971).
Among the now-iconic songs written by the Sherman Brothers were the selection of songs composed for Disney’s Mary Poppins. These included “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” which the Academy Award for Best Original Song, “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” which became one of Disney’s most endearing songs, and Walt Disney’s personal favorite “Feed the Birds.”
Writing the Music of the Disney Parks
Outside of film, Richard and Robert also wrote music for theme song attractions, many of which continue to play in the parks to this day. Among the Sherman Brothers’ contributions to the parks included “It’s a Small World,” “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room,” “Markin’ Memories,” and “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from the Carousel of Progress. They also wrote both versions of “One Little Spark.” which continues to play on Journey Into Imagination with Figment.
Photo: D23
The Sherman Brothers eventually left The Walt Disney Company in 1973, following Walt Disney’s death. The duo would be inducted as Disney Legends in 1990 but then returned to the company in 1998 for The Tigger Movie. Richard was preceded in death by Robert in 2012.
One Last Song
Recently, Richard returned to the Walt Disney Animation Studios to record “Feed the Birds” in Walt’s office, just as he had done decades earlier. That recording of “Feed the Birds” was used in the Once Upon a Studio, the short created to celebrate Disney’s 100th anniversary.
Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth; son Gregory and grandsons William and Matthew; daughter Victoria Wolf, son-in-law Doug Wolf; and grandchildren Mandy and Anthony. He is also survived by his daughter from a previous marriage, Lynda Rothstein, as well as her two children and three grandchildren.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog.com! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below. One of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon! Also, thanks for reading!
