The primary time I visited Richard Sherman, I rang the doorbell of his Beverly Hills residence and heard the primary seven notes of “It’s a Small World.” Naturally, I smiled. The smile has solely light this previous week with the information of his passing, however I refuse to be unhappy. As a substitute, I’m grateful: grateful for all of the comfortable events he and his spouse Elizabeth shared with my household, for the numerous kindnesses he confirmed us, and for being such a heat and provoking individual. He lived a full 95 years.
He was a particular determine in my daughter’s life. She has identified him since she was a tot and we spent many comfortable instances collectively at residence and at numerous Disney events out of city. Someday we had been chatting about songs that had been written for Mary Poppins that didn’t make the ultimate reduce—even one concerning the eccentric Admiral Increase. Once we requested what it was like, he strode over to our Steinway upright and proceeded to sing and play it, only for us. When Jessie married her husband Scott in our lounge, he carried out a medley of his evergreens at their wedding ceremony. My son-in-law’s household and mates, visiting from England, had been flabbergasted. We had been delighted however can’t faux we had been shocked: he preferred nothing higher than entertaining an viewers of any measurement with the songs that got here from his coronary heart.
The tunes he and his brother Bob wrote for Walt Disney expressed an optimistic outlook on life that he really embraced. His sibling, who fought in World Struggle II, had a considerably totally different mindset, however they each caught the upbeat Tin Pan Alley bug from their songwriting father Al and rode that wave for many years.
Richard’s life was not with out its challenges and struggles, however he selected to maintain these issues to himself. He and Bob discovered the proper patron in Walt Disney; it was not solely a match made in heaven, however their timing was excellent. They jumped on the Disney bandwagon simply because the studio was solidifying its document label and selling its younger singing star Annette Funicello. As the corporate’s in-house music makers they had been referred to as on to offer materials for Annette’s hit albums, some bold new sights on the New York World’s Truthful, Disneyland, and even Walt’s weekly tv present. (I at all times preferred a quantity they tossed off for a present selling Babes in Toyland referred to as “Serendipity.”)
Whereas their profession didn’t start or finish with Walt Disney, the corporate that bore his identify turned Richard’s secure haven, particularly in recent times. He met with Tom Hanks and Jason Schwartzman to speak about Walt earlier than they made Saving Mr. Banks, contributed new materials to the remake of The Jungle Guide and songs to Christopher Robin, and extra. Remembering his boss’s want that guests to Disneyland depart the park with “A Kiss Goodnight” he composed a phenomenal music that expressed that want in a manner that phrases alone couldn’t. When he acquired the demo recording he was so anticipating us to listen to it that he herded my spouse and me into his automotive so we may pay attention on his cassette participant. Want I add that it was excellent? The lyrics had been later printed in guide type with illustrations by one other dwelling Disney legend, Floyd Norman.
And when our little woman had a bit woman of her personal, she was decided that she would spend as a lot time as doable with Richard Sherman. Because of his son Gregg and our pal Howard Inexperienced, this got here to go greater than as soon as. Daisy might not bear in mind these encounters however we at all times will, and she or he too will develop up figuring out and singing his songs and, we hope, spreading the form of cheer that was his inventory in commerce.
