Once Upon a Studio l Richard Sherman at Home in Walt's Office

Richard Sherman returns to the piano to create a very special moment within "Once Upon a Studio."

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[Thomas_H._Smith]

Honestly, this just makes me want an entire 40-minute documentary about this short now with all the voice actors, animators, directors, and everything.

[Thomas_H._Smith]

Even if Richard's voice has diminished over the years, I could still listen to his stories all day.

[rhyancoleman]

The fact that one of the brothers is still alive is a blessing.

[PTMWontDie]

It deeply, DEEPLY saddens me to report that legendary Disney songwriter Richard M. Sherman has passed away at age 95. He and his brother Robert B., this can’t be overstated enough, were absolute GODS of music. In fact, their song inclusions in my Disney Sing-Along Song VHS’s I watched as a baby instilled my love for song, dance and music, perhaps even being among the first ever real songs I ever listened to and could comprehend in my infancy. Every song they wrote would become endless earworms that honestly you didn’t WANT to leave your head. Each Sherman Brothers song fit a scene of the movie they were writing for perfectly and made the movie itself so unforgettable decades after their releases. Funny songs like Mary Poppins’ (yes I spelled that correctly), spooky like Winnie the Pooh’s Heffalumps and Woozles, jazzy and upbeat like The Jungle Book’s I Wanna Be Like You, tear-jerking like Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ The Age of Not Believing, even non-Disney productions they’ve contributed to garnered a Disney level of memorability like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Snoopy Come Home, Charlotte’s Web and Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland. And for those pointing fingers, yes, Richard and Robert WERE the ones responsible for writing “It’s a Small World.” I’m actually one of the 5% who could ride that Disney World ride over and over and NEVER get sick of it. Other composers of the time like Maury Laws/Jules Bass, Dean Elliott, Joe Raposo and Henry Mancini no doubt envied the Sherman Brothers’ style and likely channeled it for their own projects. Whenever I write my own lyrics to my own songs on the notes of my phone these guys are always my first and biggest inspiration. Even without his brother Robert, Richard still continued to help Disney with productions in the modern era, like The Jungle Book live-action remake and the Christopher Robin movie. But honestly, his final work I find impossible to see as anything but a perfect sendoff. Remember Disney’s 100th anniversary special Once Upon a Studio? Remember when Mickey was looking up at a picture of Walt Disney himself right in the middle of the short? Walt’s favorite Sherman Brothers song, Mary Poppins’ Feed the Birds, softly plays on a piano during this scene, and they actually got Richard himself to play this piano right in Walt’s office exclusively for the short. Feed the Birds, in context, is a song about charity, and as Walt would say every time he heard it, “that’s what it’s all about.” I believe this encompasses everything the Sherman Brothers have given us with their toe-tapping, tantalizing tunes over the years. Richard and Robert knew how to bring audiences smiles through the ears, and to pay tribute to them, I’m gonna list down the best projects they had a hand in. If their melodies were ever a part of your childhood at all, I highly recommend checking out at least one of their productions, or at the very least, put on a song from one of them. Keep that music alive inside you; it’s what Richard would’ve wanted.

RIP Richard M. Sherman
1928-2024

- It’s a Small World
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Disney’s Wonderful World of Color
- The Parent Trap
- A Symposium on Popular Songs
- Summer Magic
- The Sword in the Stone
- Mary Poppins
- The Happiest Millionaire
- The Jungle Book
- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
- The Aristocats
- Bedknobs & Broomsticks
- Snoopy Come Home
- Charlotte’s Web
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland
- The Tigger Movie

[BucketOBits]

So long, Richard. Thank you for decades of wonderful memories.

[christiana.guevara]

RIP Richard Sherman. Thank you for all the music and love you have given us all. You are now with your brother and Walt up in the big sky singing together again

[zekelinderman]

In loving memory of Richard Morton Sherman (June 12, 1928 - May 25, 2024) Walt and Robert will be happy to see you again.

[mikeodonnell]

You are a hero Richard Sherman. Thank you for being with us at Disney for all these years.❤

[TheImaginator]

I always loved The Sherman Brothers as they really are the best song written duo ever met Walt Disney. 🥹 Thank you Richard and Robert Sherman for giving us wonderful songs of our childhood.

[Thomas_Wolf]

Eternal memory to the great composer! His unique masterpieces of music will forever remain in our hearts

[dylansantos]

RIP Richard Sherman! I will always love you songs you and your brother wrote my childhood

[nickthedreamer]

This video hits SO MUCH HARDER knowing what has happened today.

Rest in Peace, Richard Sherman. May you sleep well in your Roses of Success.

[zarielcolon]

Thanks for everything, Richard. We love you.

[TheHManShow]

RIP Richard M Sherman ❤ thank you for making my childhood with the songs you and your brother Robert wrote. You had such a long and joyful life

[Caterpillarjon]

RIP Richard. I'm crying now, but your songs will always bring smiles.

[azarothshadowsoul]

Rest in peace Richard, can't believe you've left us but you're back with your brother now writing songs together once again for the angels 💔🎶

[ExtinctvEvent]

Songs that defined my childhood from the scores of Mary Poppins to Jungle Book to legendary rides like It’s a Small World The Tiki Room and so many others. What a giant and what a beautiful soul. We will continue to feed the birds in your honor.

[gabbysingsbroadway]

It’s the fact when Feed the Birds played on the piano, I KNEW immediately who was playing. Oh Richard, you could have lived to 100 and we’d still say it’s too soon you went. As Pooh says, “If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” 95 is still pretty darn close.

Hug your brother and Walt, and let them know we’ll keep your memory alive. Feed the Birds is me and my mom’s favorite song so this stings. She said no one deserved to die peacefully in old age than you 🥺💚

[rawyld]

Thank you Richard and Bob Sherman for giving us such magical music. Walt Disney would be so proud of you.

[maximem]

Thank you Richard, you're with your brother and you will be able to play to Walt up there❤ you will be miss but as long as your songs are humming by people, your melodies play, your soul will live on🎶🎵🎼