Robert Sherman, who with his brother wrote memorable tunes for Disney that included songs from “Mary Poppins” and the Disney theme song “It’s a Small World,” died March 5 in London. He was 88.
Sherman and his brother Richard were on the Disney staff in the 1950s and 1960s. Their most remembered and honored songs came from “Mary Poppins,” including the novelty “Supercalifragilistic–
expialadocius,” a word the Shermans said they made up out of double talk. The pair received their only Oscar of three nominations for the film’s songs, which also won a Grammy Award.
The Shermans also wrote songs for such children’s films as “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” “Bedknobs and Broomsticks,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Jungle Book.” The two worked together until recently, reviving and adding songs for British stage versions of “Mary Poppins” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” in the last few years.
Sherman also painted for decades, but none of his work was seen until the past few years. His work was exhibited recently in galleries in London and the United States, and he and his son have donated artworks with Jewish themes to synagogues in England and Scotland.
Sherman, a New York native, was the son of a Tin Pin Alley songwriting father. The Sherman brothers began writing together as teenagers until World War II separated them. Robert was among the first U.S. soldiers at the liberation of Dachau. — jta