Richard M. Sherman’s passing at 95 feels less like the loss of a single artist and more like the fading of an era. His melodies for Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, and so many others stitched themselves into the fabric of family life, becoming the background music to car rides, bedtime routines, and living-room sing-alongs. His songs didn’t just entertain; they reassured, promising that wonder was still possible in a complicated world.
As tributes pour in from colleagues, musicians, and fans, a clear picture emerges of a man whose optimism was as genuine as the worlds he helped create. Disney CEO Bob Iger’s words, calling him “the embodiment of what it means to be a Disney Legend,” ring especially true now. Sherman’s voice lives on in every child who hums his tunes and every adult who suddenly remembers all the words. His work never really said goodbye—and it still doesn’t.