In The News

Songwriter Robert Sherman passes away

Songwriter Robert Sherman passes away

THE songwriter Robert B. Sherman, who with his brother wrote some of the most memorable songs used in Disney films, has passed away. He was 86.

Mr. Sherman and his brother Richard M., were the sons of Al Sherman a successful songwriter on New York’s Tin Pan Alley.

The brothers took up songwriter following a challenge from their father and in the fifties had begun to enjoy limited success. Their careers really took-off after they were invited to become staff songwriters at the Disney studios.

One of their first compositions was It’s A Small World (After All) which still plays at the popular fixture in Disney theme parks.

The brothers then penned some of their most memorable songs for the film Mary Poppins (1964) — these included Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, A Spoonful of Sugar and Chim Chim Cher-ee (see below), for which they won an Oscar.

Three years later, the brothers struck songwriting gold again for the film The Jungle Book, producing I Wan’na Be Like You, Trust In Me and Colonel Hathi’s March (The Elephant Song).

The duo wrote songs for many other Disney films including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) — Truly Scrumptious and Me Ol’ Bamboo — as well as the films The Aristocats (1970) and Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971).

Mr. Sherman and his brother were inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame in 2005.

To view Dick Van Dyke sing Chim Chim Cher-ee, click here.

 

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