Entertainment
Mary Poppins and It’s a Small World songwriter Richard M. Sherman dies aged 95-Josie Copson-Entertainment – Metro
Richard M. Sherman has died aged 95 due to ‘age-related illness’ (Picture: Getty)
Disney composer Richard M. Sherman has died aged 95.
Sherman worked with his late brother Robert B. Sherman to create film scores – and is behind iconic songs, Jungle Book’s Trust in Me and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Truly Scrumptious. The award-winning Sherman brothers also worked on classics for Mary Poppins and attraction It’s a Small World.
Sherman died on May 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, due to age-related illness.
During his 65-year career, he won two Oscars for the 1964 film Mary Poppins – Best Substantially Original Score while Chim Chim Cher-ee won the award for Best Original Song, three Grammy Awards, and received 24 gold and platinum albums. Their song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious became a pop hit following the movie’s release, and entered the Billboard Hot 100.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company said: ‘Richard Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend, creating along with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a cherished part of the soundtrack of our lives.
‘From films like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book to attractions like It’s a Small World, the music of the Sherman Brothers has captured the hearts of generations of audiences. We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.’
Actress Debbie Reynolds with the Sherman brothers (Picture: AP Photo/File)
‘You don’t get songs like ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ without a genuine love of life, which Richard passed on to everyone lucky enough to be around him,’added Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter (via Disney).
‘Even in his 90s he had more energy and enthusiasm than anyone, and I always left renewed by Richard’s infectious joy for life.’
The Sherman brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, and part of their legacy was portrayed in the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks.
The Sherman brothers’ songs are a huge part of Disney (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Richard was played by Jason Schwartzman, while B. J. Novak took on the role of his brother Robert, who died in 2012.
The film told the story of how Mary Poppins was made and showed the musical duo putting together the score.
The Shermans started writing together following a challenge from their Tin Pan Alley songwriter father, Al Sherman.
Sherman’s music will live on forever (Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Sherman was born in New York before moving to Beverly Hills in 1937. He majored in music at Bard College, before being drafted into the United States Army and serving for three years.
His big break came in 1958, after writing Tall Paul, which reached number seven on the charts, selling more than 700,000 singles. This song led to Walt Disney hiring the brothers as staff songwriters.
They went on to write over 200 songs for 27 films and 24 television productions, as well as theme park rides. His most recent work was a collaboration with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli for Disney Legend Andreas Deja’s 2023 animated short, Mushka last year, called Mushka’s Lullabye.
Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth, and children Gregory, Victoria Wolf and Lynda Rothstein, and grandchildren.
A private funeral will take place Friday, May 31 at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, with plans for a celebration of life set to be announced at a later date.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Richard M. Sherman has died aged 95 due to ‘age-related illness’ (Picture: Getty)
Disney composer Richard M. Sherman has died aged 95.
Sherman worked with his late brother Robert B. Sherman to create film scores – and is behind iconic songs, Jungle Book’s Trust in Me and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’s Truly Scrumptious. The award-winning Sherman brothers also worked on classics for Mary Poppins and attraction It’s a Small World.
Sherman died on May 25, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, due to age-related illness.
During his 65-year career, he won two Oscars for the 1964 film Mary Poppins – Best Substantially Original Score while Chim Chim Cher-ee won the award for Best Original Song, three Grammy Awards, and received 24 gold and platinum albums. Their song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious became a pop hit following the movie’s release, and entered the Billboard Hot 100.
Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company said: ‘Richard Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend, creating along with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a cherished part of the soundtrack of our lives.
‘From films like Mary Poppins and The Jungle Book to attractions like It’s a Small World, the music of the Sherman Brothers has captured the hearts of generations of audiences. We are forever grateful for the mark Richard left on the world, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family.’
Actress Debbie Reynolds with the Sherman brothers (Picture: AP Photo/File)
‘You don’t get songs like ‘A Spoonful of Sugar’ without a genuine love of life, which Richard passed on to everyone lucky enough to be around him,’added Pixar Animation Studios Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter (via Disney).
‘Even in his 90s he had more energy and enthusiasm than anyone, and I always left renewed by Richard’s infectious joy for life.’
The Sherman brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005, and part of their legacy was portrayed in the 2013 film Saving Mr. Banks.
The Sherman brothers’ songs are a huge part of Disney (Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Richard was played by Jason Schwartzman, while B. J. Novak took on the role of his brother Robert, who died in 2012.
The film told the story of how Mary Poppins was made and showed the musical duo putting together the score.
The Shermans started writing together following a challenge from their Tin Pan Alley songwriter father, Al Sherman.
Sherman’s music will live on forever (Picture: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
Sherman was born in New York before moving to Beverly Hills in 1937. He majored in music at Bard College, before being drafted into the United States Army and serving for three years.
His big break came in 1958, after writing Tall Paul, which reached number seven on the charts, selling more than 700,000 singles. This song led to Walt Disney hiring the brothers as staff songwriters.
They went on to write over 200 songs for 27 films and 24 television productions, as well as theme park rides. His most recent work was a collaboration with composer Fabrizio Mancinelli for Disney Legend Andreas Deja’s 2023 animated short, Mushka last year, called Mushka’s Lullabye.
Richard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth, and children Gregory, Victoria Wolf and Lynda Rothstein, and grandchildren.
A private funeral will take place Friday, May 31 at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, with plans for a celebration of life set to be announced at a later date.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
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