MY HUCKLEBERRY FRIEND – THE LEGACY OF JOHNNY MERCER (Nov. 18, 1909 – June 25, 1976)

Each year on or near November 18, I find myself thinking about my Huckleberry friend while singing one of my three favourite songs by the incomparable lyricist and sometimes composer, Johnny Mercer from Savannah, Georgia, Moon River; the other two being Dream and Laura; I Remember You and When The World Was Young notwithstanding. He was a poet of the highest degree, penning such other standards such as Accentuate The Positive, Too Marvelous for Words, Fools Rush In, Days of Wine and Roses, Come Rain or Come, Shine, This Time the Dream’s on Me, and That Old Black Magic (and some many more!). He won four Oscars and achieved the rare distinction of having 14 of his songs reach the first position on Your Hit Parade. He was extremely prolific, penning about 1500 songs for more than 70 films and seven Broadway musicals. Many of these songs have acquired the status of iconic or standard. Being very versatile, he adapted to various styles of composers such as Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Andre Previn, and Henry Mancini. He was also a founder and president of Capitol Records. He considered his subconscious “a remarkable instrument”. A stamp was issued in the U.S. to honour him, and Clint Eastwood did the same by having an entire soundtrack of Mercer tunes for his 1997 Warner Bros. movie, ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’, starring Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. The musical-minded director invited such artists as K.D. Lang, Spacey, Diana Krall, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Kevin Mahogany, Cassandra Wilson, Tony Bennett, Paula Cole, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, daughter Allison, and himself performed in the Mercer catalogue. Long live the music and words of my Huckleberry friend.

Essential Tribute and Mercer Albums

1. OST Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – Various 1997 Warner Bros. – Clint Eastwood producer
2. The J. Mercer Songbook 1964 Verve – Ella Fitzgerald & Nelson Riddle
3. A Tribute To J. Mercer 1981 Discovery Recs. – Bill Henderson with Joyce Collins/Dave Mackay
4. The Songs of J. Mercer 1977/80 Inner City – Susannah McCorkle with Keith Ingham Trio/Qt.
5. Bobby Troup Sings J. Mercer Bethlehem Recs. 195? with Howard Roberts and Red Mitchell
7. Sings The Songs of J. Mercer 1980/81 Discovery – Lorez Alexandria with Mike Wofford Qt. Vol. 1,2,3
8. Two of a Kind 1960 Atco – Johnny Mercer & Bobby Darin with Billy May Orchestra
9. Marlene VerPlanck Loves J. Mercer 1978/79 Audiophile Recs. with Bucky Pizzarelli Qt.
10. Audio Scrapbook 1982 Magic Recs. 1982 – Johnny Mercer with Paul Smith, Andre Previn…
11. Two Marvelous For Words 1977/80 Audiophile – Margaret Whiting with Loonis McGlohon Trio
12. Johnny Mercer Sings Just For Fun 1954 – 2012 Sepia Recs. with Paul Smith Trio
13. J. Mercer – A Centennial Tribute 2009 Arbors Recs. – Daryl Sherman with Howard Alden…
14. Dream Maker – Heartbraker 2010/11 Brovermusic – Sam Broverman Sings J. Mercer

Favourite Songs

1. Dream – Ella Fitzgerald or Frank Sinatra/The Pied Pipers
2. Laura – Bobby Troup
3. This Time’s The Dream’s On Me – Susannah McCorkle
4. Emily – Tony Bennett or Barb Streisand
5. I Remember You – Doris Day
6. Moon River – Sarah Vaughan
7. Days of Wine & Roses – Kenny Coleman with Toots Thielemans
8. I’m Shadowing You – Blossom Dearie
9. Blues In The Night – Johnny Mercer or Woody Herman or Ann Hampton Callaway & Diva
10. Travel’lin’ Light – Diane Schuur & Count Basie Alumni Orchestra