Johnny Mercer
Master lyricist and songwriter, known for standards like "Moon River" and "Autumn Leaves".
Biographical Overview & Key Facts
- Subject:
- Johnny Mercer
- Role / Field:
- Master lyricist and songwriter, known for standards like "Moon River" and "Autumn Leaves".
- Born:
- 1909-11-18
- Died:
- 1976-06-25
- Century / Era:
- 1909s Historical Era
- Database Source:
- 2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0
Origins & Foundations
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. He is best known as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, but he sometimes composed music, despite not knowing piano or standard musical notation, and was a popular singer who recorded his own as well as others' songs from the mid-1930s through the mid-1970s. Mercer wrote the lyrics to more than 1,200 songs, including compositions for movies, Broadway shows, and well-known standards of the time, including "Autumn Leaves", "Days of Wine and Roses", "Hooray for Hollywood", "I'm an Old Cowhand" (music & lyrics), and "Moon River". He received eighteen Oscar nominations and won four Best Original Song Oscars.
Key Developments & Impact
Mercer was born in 1909, in Savannah, Georgia, where one of his first jobs, aged 10, was sweeping floors at the original 1919 location of Leopold's Ice Cream. Mercer lived on Lincoln Street, a block away from the store's East Gwinnett and Habersham location. Mercer's father, George Anderson Mercer, was a prominent attorney and real-estate...
Chronological Milestones & Life Events
Notable Quotes by Johnny Mercer
“I'm an Old Cowhand”
Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Johnny Mercer
True or False: “Did Johnny Mercer write lyrics for songs that were popular standards, such as "Autumn Leaves" and "Moon River"?”
Answer (TRUE ⭕): Yes, he is credited with writing the lyrics to numerous well-known standards, cementing his place in American music history.
Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines
- Aboul-Qacem Echebbi — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Influential Tunisian poet, celebrated for his passionate verses and nationalistic spirit.
- Albert R. Broccoli — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Pioneering American film producer, best known for developing the James Bond franchise.
- Art Tatum — Contemporary (Born in 1909) (1909): Master jazz pianist acclaimed for unparalleled technical skill and harmonic innovation.
- A Day at the Races (album) — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Queen's fifth studio album, a companion piece to A Night at the Opera.
- Abiy Ahmed — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Ethiopian Prime Minister known for sweeping reforms and Nobel Peace Prize.
- Adam Beyer — Contemporary (Born in 1976) (1976): Pioneering Swedish techno producer and DJ, known for founding Drumcode Records.
- Adam Weishaupt — Shared historical date (11-18 · Died) (1830): German philosopher, founder of the Bavarian Illuminati, and legal scholar.
- Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld — Shared historical date (11-18 · Born) (1832): Finland-Swedish baron, renowned geologist, and pioneering Arctic explorer.
- Abdülmecid I — Shared historical date (06-25 · Died) (1861): 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, known for initiating the Tanzimat era of reform.
- Alexei Abrikosov (physicist) — Shared historical date (06-25 · Born) (1928): Pioneering theoretical physicist known for low-temperature condensed matter physics.
- 1909 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1909
- November 18 (11-18) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 18
- 1976 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1976
- June 25 (06-25) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on June 25
Frequently Asked Questions about Johnny Mercer
Who was Johnny Mercer and what are their primary contributions?
Master lyricist and songwriter, known for standards like "Moon River" and "Autumn Leaves". Origins & Foundations: 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. He is best known as a Tin Pan Alley lyricist, but he sometimes composed music, despite not knowing piano or standard musical notation, and was a popular singer who recorded his own as well as others' songs from the mid-1930s through the mid-1970s. Mercer wrote the lyrics to more than 1,200 songs, including compositions for movies, Broadway shows, and well-known standards of the time, including "Autumn Leaves", "Days of Wine and Roses", "Hooray for Hollywood", "I'm an Old Cowhand" (music & lyrics), and "Moon River". He received eighteen Oscar nominations and won four Best Original Song Oscars.
When was Johnny Mercer born and during which historical era did they live?
Johnny Mercer was born on 1909-11-18 and passed away on 1976-06-25. For complete historical world events during this era, explore the 1909 Chrono-Archive.
Where can I read more verified chronological archives on Johnny Mercer?
Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.
Source: Wikipedia