Richard M. Sherman, who, alongside his late brother Robert, created some of the most iconic songs in children’s entertainment, died Saturday at the age of 95.
Over the course of their career, the brothers won two Oscars for their work on Disney’s 1964 hit “Mary Poppins,” snagging best score and best song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee.” The duo also won a Grammy for best movie or TV score, for the same film.
Richard reportedly died from age-related issues in a Los Angeles hospital, the Walt Disney Company confirmed Saturday. His death comes over a decade after his brother passed away at the age of 86 in 2012.
“Generations of moviegoers and theme park guests have been introduced to the world of Disney through the Sherman brothers’ magnificent and timeless songs. Even today, the duo’s work remains the quintessential lyrical voice of Walt Disney,” the company wrote in a tribute on its website.
The Sherman brothers’ impressive portfolio also includes films such as “Winnie the Pooh” and “Charlotte’s Web,” and Broadway stage adaptations of “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.”
“Something good happens when we sit down together and work,” Richard Sherman said of his brother, in a 2005 interview with The Associated Press. “We’ve been doing it all our lives. Practically since college we’ve been working together.”
While working for Disney, they penned over 150 songs, including soundtracks for films such as “The Parent Trap,” “The Jungle Book,” “The Sword in the Stone,” “The Aristocats,” and “The Tigger Movie.”
Their timeless “It’s a Small World” is believed to be the most performed song in the world, and has been featured on the famous Disney theme park ride since it debuted at the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.
In 2008, President George W. Bush presented the Sherman brothers with the National Medal of Arts, saying their music “has helped bring joy to millions.”
Their accolades include 23 gold and platinum albums, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an induction into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2005.
With News Wire Services