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Johnny Mercer

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.

He is best known as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, but he also composed music, and was a popular singer who recorded his own songs as well as songs written by others from the mid-1930s through the mid-1950s. Mercer's songs were among the most successful hits of the time, including "Moon River", "Days of Wine and Roses", "Autumn Leaves", and "Hooray for Hollywood". He wrote the lyrics to more than 1,500 songs, including compositions for movies and Broadway shows. He received nineteen Oscar nominations, and won four Best Original Song Oscars.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 18, 1909 (Savannah), Died June 25, 1976 (Hollywood)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1929 - 1967

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist, songwriter, vocalist, composer, author

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 251-275 of 291 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia W152420 10-in. 6/22/1933 Lazybones Ted Lewis and his Band Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W152495 10-in. 9/12/1933 Life's so complete Joe Green Novelty Orchestra ; Harold van Emburgh Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152575 10-in. 12/4/1933 Riffin' the Scotch Benny Goodman Orchestra Jazz/dance band songwriter  
Columbia W152613 10-in. 6/4/1934 Fool that I am Dot, Kay and Em ; Henry Busse Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal trio lyricist  
Columbia W152650 10-in. 12/18/1933 Riffin' the scotch Benny Goodman Orchestra ; Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Columbia W152656 10-in. 12/20/1933 You have taken my heart Freddie Rich and his Orchestra ; Phil Regan Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia W152718 10-in. 2/23/1934 Fare-thee-well to Harlem Benny Morton Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia 32406 10-in. 2/10/1942 Mandy is two Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Columbia CO44683 10-in. 11/30/1950 Autumn leaves Robert Chauvigny ; Edith Piaf Female vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
OKeh W404432 10-in. 9/6/1930 Out of breath (And scared to death of you) The Four New Yorkers ; Joe Venuti Jazz/ dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E33289 10-in. June 1930 Out of breath (And scared to death of you) Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick E33429 10-in. 7/14/1930 Out of breath (And scared to death of you) Colonial Club Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Brunswick B18199 10-in. 10/25/1935 Eeny meeny miney mo Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick B18209 10-in. 10/31/1935 If you were mine Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick B20700 10-in. 2/18/1937 Sentimental and melancholy Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo songwriter  
Brunswick B23687 10-in. 11/09/1938 Say it with a kiss Billie Holiday ; Teddy Wilson Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor (Canada) 8915-2D 10-in. before 4/4/1942 Captains of the clouds (Official song of the Royal Canadian Air Force) Mart Kenney Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with vocal ensemble lyricist  
Vocalion 22284 10-in. 1/12/1938 When a woman loves a man Billie Holiday Jazz/dance band, with female vocal solo lyricist  
Decca 38417 10-in. 8/24/1934 Lord, I give you my children Johnny Mercer vocalist  
Decca 38418 10-in. 8/24/1934 If I could only read your mind Johnny Mercer vocalist  
Decca 38419 10-in. 8/24/1934 The bathtub ran over again Johnny Mercer vocalist  
Decca 75620 12/22/1949 Texas, li'l darlin' Kenny Delmar lyricist  
Decca 75621 12/22/1949 Hootin' owl trail Danny Scholl lyricist  
Decca 75622 12/22/1949 The big movie show in the sky Danny Scholl lyricist  
Decca 75623 12/22/1949 Reprise : The yodel blues Kenny Delmar lyricist  
(Results 251-275 of 291 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mercer, Johnny," accessed November 6, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103688.

Mercer, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 6, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103688.

"Mercer, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 6 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/103688

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