Robert B. Sherman dies

LONDON—Robert B. Sherman, the composer of the “Mary Poppins” song “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” and other Disney classics, has died in London aged 86, his publicist said on Tuesday.

“He died peacefully yesterday,” a spokeswoman for Stella Richards Management told AFP, without giving any further details.

New York-born Sherman and his brother Richard worked as staff composers for Disney between 1960 and 1973, during which time they wrote more than 200 songs for 27 films and two dozen television productions.

These included “Chim Chim Cher-ee”, another hit from the 1964 film “Mary Poppins”, which won them an Oscar for best song. They also won the Academy Award for best score for the movie.

Bob Sherman wrote the lyrics and his brother, known as Dick, composed the music, following in the footsteps of their songwriter father Al Sherman.

They were also responsible for hits such as “It’s a Small World” and “I Wan’na Be Like You” from “The Jungle Book”, and composed the scores for “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” and “Charlotte’s Web” among others.

Sherman’s son Jeffrey confirmed his death in a Facebook posting late Monday.

“My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more,” he said.

He added: “Please say a prayer for him. As he said, he wanted to bring happiness to the world and, unquestionably, he succeeded.

“His love and his prayers, his philosophy and his poetry will live on forever. Forever his songs and his genius will bring hope, joy and love to this small, small world.

“I love you, Dad. Safe travels.”

In Los Angeles, Disney president and chief executive Bob Iger also paid tribute to Sherman, mourning “the loss of an extraordinary talent.”

“One of the world’s greatest songwriters and a true Disney legend, his legacy will endure forever through the magic of his music,” Iger said in a statement.

“From ‘Mary Poppins’ and ‘It’s a Small World’ to ‘Winnie the Pooh’ and ‘The Jungle Book,’ Robert, along with his brother Richard, wrote many of Disney’s most memorable and beloved songs, which continue to enchant millions of people around the world to this day.”