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Johnny Mercer In Hollywood


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Centennial Celebration and Concert Review

Johnny Mercer Movie Song Hits

Centennial Commemorative CD

Recommended Books and CDs with Johnny Mercer

YouTube Videos of Johnny Mercer Songs

Sammy Film Lifetime Achievement Award



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Centennial Celebration

2009 marked the centennial of the birth of one of the most popular and prolific songwriters from the past,

John Herndon Mercer
born: Savannah, Georgia on November 18, 1909
died: Bel-Air, California on June 25, 1976


Best known as Johnny Mercer, he wrote over 1,200 songs, including 18 Oscar nominations and he was awarded 4 Oscars for his song lyrics (1946, 1951, 1961, 1962)

He was also one of the founders
(along with B.G. (Buddy) DeSylva and Glenn Wallichs)
of Capitol Records in 1942.

1946 Capitol Records ad

 

 

Read the Mercer songs that were picked for

National Carry a Tune Week 2009

 

 

 



Do you have any favorite Johnny Mercer songs?
Send in your favorite Mercer song titles to

Johnny Mercer Favorites

 

For More Information...

Johnny Mercer Centennial in Savanah, Georgia

Johnny Mercer's 100th Birthday Tribute on Turner Classic Movies

The Johnny Mercer Educational Archives

Johnny Mercer - The Internet Movie Database

Johnny Mercer - Wikipedia article

Johnny Mercer - Songwriters Hall Of Fame

 

 


Johnny Mercer Movie Song Hits

Many of his best known song lyrics were featured in movies, including
the first time a songwriting team had received back-to-back Oscars
for their songs in dramatic films (1961-62).

Among them are these 20 great movie songs:

"I'm An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)
from RHYTHM ON THE RANGE (1936)
music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer

"Hooray For Hollywood" from HOLLYWOOD HOTEL (1937)
music by Richard Whiting

"Too Marvelous For Words" from
READY, WILLING AND ABLE (1937)
music by Richard Whiting

"Jeepers Creepers" from GOING PLACES (1938)
music by Harry Warren -- Oscar nominee

"Blues In The Night" from film of same title (1941)
music by Harold Arlen -- Oscar nominee

"This Time The Dream's On Me" from BLUES IN THE NIGHT (1941)
music by Harold Arlen

"Dearly Beloved" from
YOU WERE NEVER LOVLIER (1942)
music by Jerome Kern

"Tangerine" from
THE FLEET'S IN (1942)
music by Victor Schertzinger


"Hit The Road To Dreamland" from
STAR SPANGLED RHYTM (1942)
music by Harold Arlen


"My Shining Hour" from
THE SKY'S THE LIMIT (1943)

"That Old Black Magic" from
STAR SPANGLED RHYTHM (1943)
music by Harold Arlen -- Oscar nominee

"Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive" from
HERE COME THE WAVES (1944)
music by Harold Arlen-- Oscar nominee

"Laura" from film of same title (1945)
music by David Raksin


"On The Atcheson, Topeka And The Santa Fe"
from THE HARVEY GIRLS (1946)
music by Harry Warren --- Oscar-winning song

"In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening" from
HERE COMES THE GROOM (1951)
music by Hoagy Carmichael -- Oscar-winning song

"Something's Gotta Give" from
DADDY LONG LEGS (1955)
music and lyrics by Johnny Mercer--
Oscar nominee



"Moon River" from BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY (1961)
music by Henry Mancicni -- Oscar-winning song
(#4 on The Top 100 Movie Songs from American Film Institute)

"Days Of Wine And Roses" from film of same title (1962)
music by Henry Mancini -- Oscar-winning song
(#39 on The Top 100 Movie Songs from American Film Institute)

"Charade" title song from film of same title (1963)
music by Henry Mancini-- Oscar nominee

"Whistling Away the Dark" from
DARLING LILI (1970)
music by Henry Mancini-- Oscar nominee

 

 

Forty years after his Oscar-winning song lyrics for "Moon River"
and 15 years after his passing, Johnny Mercer was named for a


Lifetime Achievement Sammy Award in 1991

Read about Johnny's collaborator in the 1960s at

"Moon River" - Memories of Henry Mancini

 

 

 

Centennial Commemorative CD

 

I paid tribute to Johnny's birthday on several radio programs over the years where I had the pleasure of speaking about and playing some of his wonderful songs. I believe he was America's greatest lyricist.

Excerpts from several of these radio tributes are available on a special private pressing Centennial CD.

For me, Johnny Mercer was a man who put his philosophy of life in his lyrics. It didn't matter if his songs were happy or sad.

To quote from one of his best known songs, he always did
"accentuate the positive."

-- Roger Hall, Editor, Film Music Review

 

Johnny Mercer On Radio And Records

 

Just make a donation of $20 or more to help this inofrmational site and you will receive a copy of this Centennial Commemorative CD taken from radio tributes with songs sung by Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. Shipping is included for anywhere in the world.

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Make your donation by credit card
payable to PineTree Productions,
through safe and secure PayPal.

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After you have sent in your donation,
please send your mailing address to:

Johnny Mercer Centennial CD

 

 

 


 

Recommended Books and CDs

 

Johnny Mercer:: The Life, Times and Song Lyrics of Our Huckleberry Friend

Johnny Mercer: The Life, Times and Song Lyrics of Our Huckleberry Friend
by Bob Bach and Ginger Mercer

 

Portrait of Johnny: The Life of John Herndon Mercer
by Gene Lees

 

 

Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer

Skylark: The Life and Times of Johnny Mercer
by Philip Furia

 

The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer

The Complete Lyrics of Johnny Mercer
by Robert Kimball, Barry Day, Miles Kreuger


 

Too Marvelous For Words:
The Magic of Johnny Mercer
(Songbook)

 

CDs with Johnny Mercer

Capitol Collectors Series

Capitol Collectors Series

 

 

Mercer Sings Mercer

Mercer Sings Mercer

 

 

Songsmith From Savannah

Songsmith From Savannah

 

 

 

Sweet Georgia Brown

 

 

Two of a Kind

 

 

 


YouTube Video Clips

 

"Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive" -- vocal by Johnny Mercer

"Hooray For Hollywood" -- 1937 soundtrack

"Moon River" -- soundtrack version

"Moon River" -- vocal by Audrey Hepburn

"Days Of Wine And Roses" --1962 trailer

"Days Of Wine And Roses" -- vocal by Andy Williams

 

 


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