A Disney Legacy Gone, but Not Forgotten

The world lost a true "Disney Classic" today with the passing Robert Sherman. Robert and his brother Richard were studio songwriters for Walt Disney. They are responsible for many of the songs that get trapped in our subconscious and refuse to be eradicated.  These tunes include movie favorites from “Winnie the Pooh”, “The Jungle Book”, and “Mary Poppins”.  The Sherman brother wrote that immortal classic that we all love to hate, hate to love, “It’s a Small World”.  Many people don’t realize that the Shermans wrote other for other studios as well.  They composed the music and lyrics for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “The Slipper and the Rose”.    

Robert Sherman was born in December of 1925 to a well-known Tin Pan Alley song writer.  During World War II this American hero obtained permission from his parents to join the United States Army at age 17.  In April 1945 Robert was among the first Allied troops to enter Dachau concentration camp after it had been evacuated by the fleeing Germans.  In the same month, Robert was shot above the knee, compelling him to walk with a cane for the remainder of his life.   In his later years Robert returned to London to live.  He passed away there peacefully on March 5, 2012.

Robert Sherman left an amazing legacy.  His songs were maddeningly enchanting and infectious.  The Sherman brother’s songs are part of what makes Disney so very enjoyable.  Thank you Mr. Sherman for providing the music and lyrics for those supercalifragilisticexpealidocious songs. They have shown us that is truly is "A Small World After All" and made our childhoods and thus adult hoods extraordinary!   Your great music will always be in our hearts and minds.  Thanks to you "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" for all Disney lovers!