Richard M. Sherman, one half of the prolific, award-winning pair of brothers who helped form millions of childhoods by penning the instantly memorable songs for 害羞草研究所淢ary Poppins,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Jungle Book害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淐hitty Chitty Bang Bang害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� as well as the most-played tune on Earth, 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a Small World (After All)害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� has died. He was 95.
Sherman, together with his late brother Robert, won two Academy Awards for Walt Disney害羞草研究所檚 1964 smash 害羞草研究所淢ary Poppins害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� best score and best song, 害羞草研究所淐him Chim Cher-ee.害羞草研究所� They also picked up a Grammy for best movie or TV score. Robert Sherman died in London at age 86 in 2012.
The Walt Disney Co. announced that Sherman died Saturday in a Los Angeles hospital due to age-related illness. 害羞草研究所淕enerations of moviegoers and theme park guests have been introduced to the world of Disney through the Sherman brothers害羞草研究所� magnificent and timeless songs. Even today, the duo害羞草研究所檚 work remains the quintessential lyrical voice of Walt Disney,害羞草研究所� the company said in a remembrance posted on its website.
Their hundreds of credits as joint lyricist and composer also include the films 害羞草研究所淲innie the Pooh,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Slipper and the Rose,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淪noopy Come Home,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淐harlotte害羞草研究所檚 Web害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Magic of Lassie.害羞草研究所� Their Broadway musicals included 1974害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淥ver Here!害羞草研究所� and stagings of 害羞草研究所淢ary Poppins害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淐hitty Chitty Bang Bang害羞草研究所� in the mid-2000s.
害羞草研究所淪omething good happens when we sit down together and work,害羞草研究所� Richard Sherman told The Associated Press in a 2005 joint interview. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been doing it all our lives. Practically since college we害羞草研究所檝e been working together.害羞草研究所�
Their awards include 23 gold and platinum albums and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. They became the only Americans ever to win first prize at the Moscow Film Festival for 害羞草研究所淭om Sawyer害羞草研究所� in 1973 and were inducted into the Songwriters害羞草研究所� Hall of Fame in 2005.
President George W. Bush awarded them the National Medal of Arts in 2008, commended for music that 害羞草研究所渉as helped bring joy to millions.害羞草研究所�
Most of the songs the Shermans wrote 害羞草研究所� in addition to being catchy and playful 害羞草研究所� work on multiple levels for different ages, something they learned from Disney.
害羞草研究所淗e once told us, early on in our career, 害羞草研究所楧on害羞草研究所檛 insult the kid 害羞草研究所� don害羞草研究所檛 write down to the kid. And don害羞草研究所檛 write just for the adult.害羞草研究所� So we write for grandpa and the 4-year-old 害羞草研究所� and everyone in between 害羞草研究所� and all see it on a different level,害羞草研究所� Richard Sherman said.
The Shermans began a decade-long partnership with Disney during the 1960s after having written hit pop songs like 害羞草研究所淭all Paul害羞草研究所� for ex-Mouseketeer Annette Funicello and 害羞草研究所淵ou害羞草研究所檙e Sixteen,害羞草研究所� later recorded by Ringo Starr.
They wrote over 150 songs at Disney, including the soundtracks for such films as 害羞草研究所淭he Sword and the Stone,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Parent Trap,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淏edknobs and Broomsticks,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Jungle Book,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淭he Aristocrats害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淭he Tigger Movie.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a Small World害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� which accompanies visitors to Disney theme parks害羞草研究所� boat ride sung by animatronic dolls representing world cultures 害羞草研究所� is believed to be the most performed composition in the world. It was first debuted at the 1964-65 New York World害羞草研究所檚 Fair pavilion ride.
The two brothers credited their father, composer Al Sherman, with challenging them to write songs and for their love of wordsmithing. His legacy of songs includes 害羞草研究所淵ou Gotta Be a Football Hero,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�(What Do We Do On a) Dew-Dew-Dewy Day害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淥n the Beach at Bali-Bali.害羞草研究所� His sons went on to popularize the terms 害羞草研究所渇antasmagorical害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渟upercalifragilisticexpialidocious.害羞草研究所�
The Shermans teased songs out of each other, brainstorming titles and then trying to top each other with improvements. 害羞草研究所淏eing brothers, we sort of short-cut each other,害羞草研究所� Richard Sherman said. 害羞草研究所淲e can almost look at each other and know, 害羞草研究所楬ey, you害羞草研究所檙e onto something, kiddo.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟
Away from the piano, the two raised families and pursued their own interests, yet still lived close to each other in Beverly Hills and continued working well into their 70s. When 害羞草研究所淐hitty Chitty Bang Bang害羞草研究所� came to Broadway in 2005, they added new lyrics and four new songs.
Richard Sherman is survived by his wife, Elizabeth, and their two children: Gregory and Victoria. He also is survived by a daughter, Lynda, from a previous marriage.
A private funeral will be held on Friday; Disney said a celebration of life service will be announced later.
Though they were estranged for a number of years, the brothers largely avoided sibling rivalry. When asked about that, Richard Sherman was philosophical, touching and jokey all at the same time 害羞草研究所� much like the trunkful of songs he wrote with his brother.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e human. We have frailties and weaknesses. But we love each other very much, respect each other,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happy that he害羞草研究所檚 a successful guy. That makes me a successful guy.害羞草研究所�
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Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press
