Legendary Disney Songwriter Robert B. Sherman Dies at 86

Walt Disney with the composers of "Mary Poppins" score, Robert B. Sherman (L) and Richard M. Sherman (center). Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved

You may not recognize the name, but you certainly know his work.

The author of some of the best known Disney songs, Robert B. Sherman, has passed at the age of 86.

His son, Jeffrey, announced on his Facebook page that the elder Sherman, who died in London, “went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death.” No specific cause of death was mentioned in the post.

Sherman’s son also wrote, “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.”

Yes, he is the person who wrote “It’s A Small World” from the Disney attraction. It is credited as being the most translated and performed songs of all time.

Robert B. Sherman, together with his brother Richard, penned songs from such Disney classic films as Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Winnie the Pooh, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and, more recently, The Tigger Movie.

The Sherman brothers won two Oscars in 1964 for their work on Mary Poppins. One for the score and another for the infamous tune “Chim Chim Cher-ee.”

Sherman also won a Grammy award and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In 2008. President George W. Bush presented him with the National Medal of Arts.

He is survived by his brother and four children: Laurie, Jeffrey, Andrea and Robert.