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John Herndon Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer, as well as a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessmen Buddy DeSylva and Glenn E. Wallichs.
3 days ago · Johnny Mercer was an American lyricist, vocalist, and composer who contributed to many Broadway musical productions and Hollywood films. Educated in Virginia, Mercer arrived in New York City in the late 1920s and acted in bit parts until his collaboration with Everett Miller on “Out of Breath and.
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Feb 22, 2024 · Mercer was a top lyricist of the Great American Songbook era, but his creative peak extended beyond that era. He won back-to-back Oscars in 1962-63 for co-writing “Moon River” and “Days of Wine...
Nov 18, 2017 · Some said he was more than a great lyricist, that he was a poet. Others, such as Sammy Cahn, disagreed. “Mercer was no poet,” Sammy said. “Shakespeare was a poet. But Shakespeare was no Johnny Mercer!”. Even songwriters who emerged in the lyrically expansive wake of Dylan and The Beatles point to Mercer as the master.
Johnny Mercer was known principally as a lyricist, but he also wrote music, even composing music for other lyricists. He had number one hits singing his own and other people's songs. Glenn Miller & His Orchestra with vocals by Ray Eberle; No. 7 on the charts in 1942.
YearSong TitleComposer19441946Harold Arlen1945Joseph Kosma, original French lyrics by ...1957Johnny MercerIn 1932, he won a singing contest and landed a job as singer with the Paul Whiteman Band. Whiteman introduced him to Hoagy Carmichael, and soon Mercer and Carmichael had a hit with "Lazybones" (1933). Composers quickly discovered his talent, and his career as a lyricist took off.
Johnny Mercer is an American lyricist, songwriter, and singer. He was also a record label executive who co-founded Capitol Records with music industry businessman Buddy G. DeSylva and Glen Wallichs. He is best known as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, but he also composed music.
