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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 1-25 of 285 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor BVE-63112 10-in. 7/10/1930 Out of breath (And scared to death of you) Frank Luther ; Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BSHQ-72652 10-in. 6/7/1932 It's about time Joe Haymes Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BSHQ-73103 10-in. 7/13/1932 Mardi gras George Olsen and his Music ; Paul Small Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-73354 10-in. 9/1/1932 Thanksgiving Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra ; Dick Robertson Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-73710 10-in. 9/29/1932 Satan's li'l lamb Ethel Merman Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band lyricist  
Victor BS-73770 10-in. 10/5/1932 Would'ja for a big red apple Leo Reisman Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-73771 10-in. 10/5/1932 Whistling for a kiss Leo Reisman Orchestra ; George Wheeler Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BAVE-74340 10-in. Oct. 1933 Perezosos Orquesta Harold Mickey ; Larry Semon Instrumental ensemble, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76379 10-in. 6/5/1933 Lazy bones Casa Loma Orchestra ; Glen Gray ; Walter Hunt Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76608 10-in. 7/7/1933 Lazy bones Connecticut Yankees ; Rudy Vallée Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-76789 10-in. 8/28/1933 Down a long, long road Isham Jones Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-77166 10-in. 12/2/1933 You Edgewater Beach Hotel Orchestra ; Harry Sosnik Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-77531 10-in. 8/23/1933 Lazy bones Harold Arlen Male vocal duet, with piano lyricist  
Victor BS-77653 10-in. 9/13/1933 Lazy bones Hoagy Carmichael Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor BS-77841 10-in. 10/3/1933 Life's so complete Isham Jones Orchestra ; Joe Martin Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BVE-78573 10-in. 11/22/1933 My old man Hotel McAlpin Orchestra ; Sam Robbins Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-80486 10-in. 5/1/1934 Fool that I am Edgewater Beach Hotel Orchestra ; Harry Sosnick Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-81076 10-in. 1/18/1934 You have taken my heart Jerry Baker ; Hotel Governor Clinton Orchestra ; Enoch Light Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-81715 10-in. 2/16/1934 Fare-thee-well to Harlem Johnny Mercer ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Jack Teagarden Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet lyricist, vocalist  
Victor BS-81910 10-in. 3/9/1934 Moon country Hoagy Carmichael Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
Victor BS-81957 10-in. 3/19/1934 When a woman loves a man Richard Himber ; Joey Nash ; Ritz-Carlton Hotel Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-82313 10-in. 4/13/1934 When a woman loves a man De Marco Sisters ; Eddy Duchin Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with female vocal ensemble lyricist  
Victor BS-82320 10-in. 4/17/1934 Christmas night in Harlem Johnny Mercer ; Paul Whiteman Orchestra ; Jack Teagarden Jazz/dance band, with male vocal duet vocalist  
Victor BS-82358 10-in. 4/27/1934 Fool that I am Hotel McAlpin Orchestra ; Sam Robbins ; Sydney Schiff Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor BS-83613 10-in. 7/23/1934 Here come the British Don Mayfield and his Orchestra Jazz/dance band, with male vocal solo songwriter  
(Results 1-25 of 285 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mercer, Johnny," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103688.

Mercer, Johnny. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/103688.

"Mercer, Johnny." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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