Richard Sherman, composer for ‘Mary Poppins,’ dies at 95

American composer Richard Sherman, author of popular melodies for Disney productions such as Mary Poppins where the Jungle Book, died Saturday May 25 at the age of 95, the studio announced. He died in Beverly Hills following an illness related to his advanced age, Disney said. With his brother Robert, who died in 2012, he formed a prolific duo of composers for the entertainment giant between 1960 and 1973, participating in the creation of more than 200 songs for 27 films and around twenty television productions.

(We are deeply saddened by the passing of Disney legend Richard Sherman. Your songs are the soundtrack to so many of our memories, including the iconic “Feed the Birds.” Thank you for filling the world with your joy and for the incredible musical legacy you created)

Richard Sherman was notably the co-author of Chem chem chimney (Chim chim Cher-ee in original version), iconic title of the film Mary Poppins (1964), which won an Academy Award for Best Song. While Robert Sherman wrote the lyrics, Richard composed the melody. The brother duo is also at the origin of It’s a Small World And I Wan’na Be Like You (Be a man like you) In The jungle Bookiconic Disney cartoon.

In a press release, the American company described Richard Sherman as “key member” of “close circle of creative talents” of its founder Walt Disney.“We will be forever grateful for the mark Richard leaves on the world,” current Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement.