Here's one you'll love. A couple years ago, there was a ceremony in Walt Disney's old office at the Disney Studios. A select group was invited in to experience, among other things, a brief piano recital by Richard Sherman. And not only were they in Walt's office but Richard was playing the exact same piano on which he and his brother Robert had demonstrated their songs for Walt.
Here are two of the tunes he played for that event. One is "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins (the original, of course!) and not only did the Shermans demonstrate that song for Walt on that piano but he often called them in and asked them to play it because he loved it so. The other song is one of Richard's more recent compositions, heard first by the public in a local show called L.A. Then and Now, which I wrote about here.
Yes, that's Dick Van Dyke sitting next to the piano. Also in the group of lucky listeners, you may spot Arlene Silver (Mrs. Van Dyke), Karen Dotrice (the little girl in Mary Poppins), John Lasseter, Leonard Maltin and my buddy Howard Green. Savor this…