Johnny Mercer

John Herndon "Johnny" Mercer (November 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976) was an American lyricist and composer.

Johnny Mercer

Biography

Born in Savannah, Georgia, he is regarded as one of America's greatest songwriters, considered one of the key lyricists of the Great American Songbook. One of the co-founders of Capitol Records in the early 1940s, Mercer was often seen with the Nordstrom Sisters, who introduced him to backers. Well-regarded also as a singer, with a folksy singing quality, he was a natural for his own songs such as "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive," "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe," and "Lazybones."

He penned "One for My Baby" on a napkin while sitting at the bar at P. J. Clarke's when Tommy Joyce was the bartender. The next day he called Tommy to apologize for the line "So, set 'em, Joe," "I couldn't get your name to rhyme."

Mercer often was asked to write new lyrics to already popular tunes (the lyrics to "Laura," "Midnight Sun," and "Satin Doll" were all written after the melodies were already hits) and to write English lyrics to foreign songs, the most famous example being "Autumn Leaves," based on the French "Les Feuilles Mortes."

In 1942, he was part of the founding trio of Capitol Records, an industry giant. While running Capitol, Mercer's skills as a talent scout attracted Nat Cole, Stan Kenton, Jo Stafford, Peggy Lee and Margaret Whiting and others to the label. Of course, he released many of his hits on his own label.

Johnny Mercer also wrote the music for MGM films, which include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Merry Andrew (1958). In 1969 he helped publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond found the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.

A good indication of Mercer's high esteem is the fact that, in 1964, he became the only lyricist to have his work recorded as a volume of Ella Fitzgerald's celebrated 'Songbook' albums for the Verve label.

He was a direct descendant of Revolutionary War General Hugh Mercer, and through him was also a distant cousin of General George S. Patton.

Mercer died in Bel Air, California.

He was honored by the United States Postal Service with his portrait placed on a stamp in 1996. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1628 Vine Street is outside the Capitol Records building.

Two of Mercer's ancestors were military generals–Hugh Mercer in the American Revolution and Hugh W. Mercer in the American Civil War.