News March 06, 2012
Disney Lyricist Robert B. Sherman Dead at 86
Songwriter Robert B. Sherman, who helped pen some of Disney's most enduring and beloved tunes including "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" from "Mary Poppins" and "It's a Small World," has died. He was 86.
Sherman's son Jeffrey announced his father's death on his Facebook page Tuesday, writing that Sherman "went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death."
Together with his brother and frequent collaborator Richard, Sherman was a Disney music staple in the 1960s, co-writing music for classics such as "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book," "Winnie the Pooh," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and, more recently, "The Tigger Movie," among hundreds of projects.
In 1964, he and his brother won two Oscars for their work on "Mary Poppins."
He also won a Grammy, racked up almost two dozen gold and platinum albums, and earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Jeffery wrote, "He wanted to bring happiness to the world and, unquestionably, he succeeded. His love and his prayers, his philosophy and his poetry will live on forever. Forever his songs and his genius will bring hope, joy and love to this small, small world."
