Disney songwriter who co-penned 'It's a Small World' dies
By Rene Lynch
9:43 AM PST, March 6, 2012
Robert B. Sherman, the co-writer behind some of the most maddeningly delightful songs in Hollywood history including "It's a Small World," "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," has died.
Sherman was 86. His son, Jeffrey, posted the news on his Facebook page but provided few details about the circumstances of his father's death. Jeffrey Sherman said his father's goal was to bring happiness to the world -- and Sherman did just that with songs he co-wrote for a slew of movies.
The songs were a cornerstone of films such as "Mary Poppins," "The Jungle Book,""Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" and "The Aristocats."Sherman, along with his brother, Richard, rank as one of the most successful song-writing teams in movie history, working largely for Disney, and with Walt Disney himself. Their career spanned nearly 50 years and included two Oscars, nine Academy Award nominations, two Grammys, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a spot in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Robert Sherman's infectious toe-tappers -- expect them to rattle around in your head all day today -- celebrate the simple joy of being alive, something that Sherman never took for granted, according to his son.
Sherman coaxed his parents into granting him permission to join the Army when he was just 17, and was among the first Allied troops to enter the Dachau Concentration Camp in April 1945, according to his IMDB biography. That same month, Sherman was shot in the knee. It was an injury that would require the use of a cane for the rest of his life. He was later awarded the Purple Heart.
While spending time in England recovering from that knee injury, Sherman became fascinated with British culture as well as the world abroad. It would inform much of his work. He returned to London to live in his later years and died peacefully there Monday, according to his son.
Check out this snippet of video that Jeffrey Sherman also posted of his dad reciting just a few of the lines from his most popular song, "It's a Small World (After All)."
Sure, it's the tune that loops endlessly throughout one of the Disney theme parks' most enduring rides, seen above. But it's nothing short of a call for world peace and harmony.
On Twitter, there was a smattering of shout-outs for Sherman, including this one: "In honor of a great songwriter, let's call today Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Tuesday. Rest In Peace, Robert Sherman."
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-its-a-small-world-robert-sherman-20120306,0,1234508.story
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