Richard Sherman, songwriter behind hits such as It’s A Small World, dies at 95

LOS ANGELES – Richard Sherman, the writer behind songs in classic Disney movies such as Mary Poppins (1964) and The Jungle Book (1967), died on May 25 at the age of 95, the film and entertainment company said.

He died in Beverly Hills from age-related illness, Disney said.

Sherman and his brother Robert, who died at the age of 86 in 2012, worked as staff composers for Disney between 1960 and 1973, during which time they wrote more than 200 songs for 27 films and two dozen television productions.

The brothers’ work included Chim Chim Cher-ee, a hit from Mary Poppins, which won them an Oscar for best song. They also won the Academy Award for best score for the movie.

Robert Sherman wrote the lyrics and Richard, known as Dick, composed the music, following in the footsteps of their songwriter father Al Sherman.

The brothers were also responsible for hits such as It’s A Small World and I Wan’na Be Like You from The Jungle Book, and composed the scores for non-Disney works such as musical fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968).

Their work was that of another era, with Hollywood magazine Variety describing their roles as “a job that no longer exists: In-house songwriters for a studio”.

“Even when they weren’t working for the Mouse House, their songs carried a Disney sensibility – bouncy and positive, without any of the cynicism so prevalent in creative works (including music) in the late 1960s and 1970s,” the magazine said.

In a statement, Disney described Richard Sherman as a “key member” in founder Walt Disney’s “inner circle of creative talents”.

“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,” Disney chief executive Bob Iger said in the statement.

“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.”

In 2005, the Sherman brothers were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Three years later, they were awarded the National Medal of the Arts at the White House.

The brothers continued collaborating with Disney throughout the years, with Richard Sherman writing new lyrics for the live-action version of The Jungle Book in 2016 and composing songs for Christopher Robin in 2018.

Sherman is survived by his wife of 66 years, Elizabeth, his son Gregory and numerous other relatives. Plans for a public service were not announced. AFP, REUTERS