Disney has lost a legend, as songwriter Robert Sherman died March 5 in London. Born in Manhattan in 1925, the more reclusive of the famous sibling writing team lived out his later years "across the pond," where he had relocated after the death of his beloved wife. His son Jeffrey posted this to Facebook on March 5: "My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more."
It's virtually impossible to be even remotely aware of Disney films, television productions, or Disney theme parks without experiencing the brilliant work of Robert Sherman. Likewise, one cannot catalogue Robert Sherman's accomplishments without mention of his brother, Richard Sherman. Though the relationship was at times tumultuous, together the Sherman Brothers penned more than 200 songs for at least 27 films and dozens of television productions--not to mention the music that saturates the Disney Parks. With a career spanning five decades, the brothers won a host of musical awards and continue to be recognized for their contributions to film, television, and theatre. Here are just a few of my personal favorite Sherman Brothers tunes:
- "It's a Small World" (Interesting side note: this song was originally written as a slow ballad.)
- "One Little Spark" (Journey into Imagination)
- "Feed the Birds" (Mary Poppins)
- "There's a Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow" (Carousel of Progress)
- "I Wanna Be Like You" (The Jungle Book)
For more insight into the music and life of Robert Sherman, I highly recommend the documentary, The Boys: The Sherman Brothers' Story.
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