Photo: Richard Sherman | Richard Morton Sherman (June 12, 1928 – May 25, 2024) was an American songwriter who specialized in musical films with his brother Robert B. Sherman. According to the official Walt Disney Company website and independent fact checkers, “The Sherman Brothers were responsible for more motion picture musical song scores than any other songwriting team in film history.”
Some of the Sherman Brothers’ best known songs were incorporated into live action and animation musical films including Mary Poppins, The Happiest Millionaire, The Sword in the Stone, The Jungle Book, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Snoopy Come Home, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, The Slipper and the Rose, and Charlotte’s Web.
Their best known work is “It’s a Small World”, written for the theme park attraction of the same name. According to Time, it may be the most publicly performed song in history.
Richard Morton Sherman was born in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrants, Rosa (Dancis) and Al Sherman. Together with his older brother Robert, the Sherman Brothers eventually followed in their songwriting father’s footsteps to form a long-lasting songwriting partnership.
Following seven years of frequent cross-country moves, the Sherman family finally settled down in Beverly Hills, California in 1937. During Richard’s years at Beverly Hills High School, he became fascinated with music and studied several instruments, including the flute, piccolo, and piano. At his 1946 high school graduation, Sherman and classmate André Previn played a musical duet with Previn on piano and Sherman on flute. Coincidentally, both would go on to win Academy Awards for music in 1964, with Previn winning for Scoring of Music – Adaptation or Treatment for My Fair Lady, while the Sherman Brothers won for Music Score – Substantially Original for Mary Poppins, as well as a second for Best Original Song for “Chim Chim Cher-ee”.
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In 2003, four Sherman brothers’ musicals ranked in the “Top 10 Favorite Children’s Films of All Time” in a (British) nationwide poll reported by the BBC. The Jungle Book (1967) ranked at #7, Mary Poppins (1964) ranked at #8, The Aristocats (1970) ranked at #9 and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) topped the list at #1.
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Richard and Elizabeth were married for over 67 years, until his death. They lived in Beverly Hills, California. He died of “age-related illness” at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, on May 25, 2024, at the age of 95.
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Read more of Mr. Sherman’s extensive biography here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_M._Sherman
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OTHER NOTABLE MUSICIANS’ DEATHS
If you are thinking of committing suicide, please think of how much it will hurt your family and friends, and maybe cause them a whole lot of trouble and financial problems. This past week we lost professional golfer Grayson Murray, who died by suicide, his parents confirmed in a statement released through the PGA Tour.
His folks wrote: “We have spent the last 24 hours trying to come to terms with the fact that our son is gone,” Eric and Terry Murray said. “It’s surreal that we not only have to admit it to ourselves, but that we also have to acknowledge it to the world. It’s a nightmare.”
The statement continued, “We would like to thank the PGA Tour and the entire world of golf for the outpouring of support. . .
Murray’s death was announced by the PGA Tour on Saturday, a day after the 30-year-old withdrew from competition, citing illness, at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas.
Warning Signs of Suicide – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 and 888-628-9454 for Spanish. Learn the signs of someone who may be contemplating suicide.
If you want to know more about any of the musicians we lost, please check them out at http://www.wikipedia.com
May 2024
29: Bob Rogers, 97, Australian disc jockey and radio broadcaster (2UE, 2SM, 4BH).
28: Gustavo Mullem, 72, Brazilian guitarist (Camisa de Vênus, Raul Seixas), complications from lung cancer.
27: Ghigo Agosti, 87, Italian singer-songwriter; Rodger Fox, 71, New Zealand jazz trombonist, educator (Massey University) and bandleader; Francesco Petrozzi, 62, Peruvian lyric tenor and politician, MP (2016–2019).
25: Richard M. Sherman*, 95, American film songwriter (Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Oscar winner (1965).
24: Mark Gormley*, 67, American singer-songwriter; Doug Ingle, 78, American musician (Iron Butterfly) and songwriter (“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaths_in_2024
Photo: Richard M. Sherman | From a Facebook post – Memory by Mary Strawman
In a world painted with melodies, today we mourn the loss of a musical luminary: Richard Sherman. His melodies have been the soundtrack to countless cherished memories of mine, from cozy movie nights with loved ones to spontaneous sing-alongs in the car.
I’ll never forget the joy his songs brought to my life, from the enchanting “A Spoonful of Sugar” to the uplifting “Let’s Go Fly a Kite.” Richard’s music transcends generations, connecting us through the timeless magic of Disney.
My deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones. Thank you, Richard Sherman, for the melodies that will forever echo in our hearts. Rest in peace, maestro. 
#RichardSherman
Mary Strawman