Johnny Mercer

Johnny Mercer (November 18, 1909 - June 25, 1976) was a pop music composer.

Related Topics:
November 18 - 1909 - June 25 - 1976 - Pop music - Composer

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Born in Savannah, Georgia, he is regarded as one of America's greatest songwriters.

Related Topics:
Savannah, Georgia - America's

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In the early 1940s, Mercer was one of the co-founders of Capitol Records.

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Mercer was also a well-regarded singer, with a folksy singing quality. This made him a natural to his own songs like "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive", "On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe", and "Lazybones".

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Mercer often was asked to write lyrics to already popular songs. The lyrics to "Laura", "Midnight Sun" and "Satin Doll" were all written after the songs were already hits. Mercer was also asked to write English lyrics to foreign songs. The most famous example of this is "Autumn Leaves".

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Johnny Mercer also wrote the music for MGM films, including "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954) and "Merry Andrew" (1958).

Related Topics:
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Merry Andrew

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In 1969 he helped publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond found the National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
1969 - National Academy of Popular Music's Songwriters Hall of Fame

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Mercer died in Bel Air, California.

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In 1996 he was honored by the United States Postal Service with his portrait placed on a stamp.

Related Topics:
1996 - United States Postal Service - Stamp

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Johnny Mercer has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1628 Vine Street, right outside the Capitol Records building.

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His home in Savannah was the scene of the murder recounted in the book and movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The book includes considerable information about Mercer.

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