Richard Sherman, popularly known for being an Academy Award-winning songwriter and composer who worked on several Disney classics, has died at the age of 95.
According to Disney, the late legend died on May 25 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. His cause of death was said to be due to age-related illness.
Sherman and his brother, Robert Sherman, were prolific figures within Disney. They are said to have written more songs for several projects than anyone else in the media giant's history. They reportedly wrote an estimated 1,000 tracks for 50 movies.
Founder Walt Disney was the person who directly hired the brothers, and they worked with him for almost ten years. Throughout their time as a songwriting duo, they wrote some of the most iconic tracks, such as "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," "The Age of Not Believing," "The Slipper and the Rose Waltz," "When You're Loved," and many more.
Born in New York City to Russian Jewish immigrants, he and his brother followed in the footsteps of their father, Al Sherman, a songwriter.
During the early years of his life, his family moved from one state to another until they finally settled in Beverly Hills, CA, in 1937.
When he was in high school, he became interested in studying how to play different instruments, such as the piccolo, piano, and flute.
He was later drafted into the U.S. Army, but he didn't stop his musical venture. He was assigned to the Army Band and Glee Club as a conductor for both groups. He was honorably discharged in 1955.
Gene Autry first recorded Richard and Robert's first song, "Gold Can Buy You Anything But Love," but despite the song being translated into a professional recording, they didn't shoot to fame until seven years later, when Annette Funicello recorded "Tall Paul," which became successful.
In addition to working on several musical movies, the pair also worked on music for theme park attractions in different Disney parks worldwide. They provided music for "It's a Small World" and "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room."
"Richard Sherman was the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend, creating along with his brother Robert the beloved classics that have become a cherished part of the soundtrack of our lives," Bob Iger, the current CEO of Disney, said in a statement.
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