Tulsa World: Somewhere, a Johnny Mercer song is playing

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Somewhere, a Johnny Mercer song is playing

UNFORGETTABLE
David S. Hurewitz: I've sung, listened to, danced to and played his music as a saxophonist in small combos and big bands over the years. These are standard tunes — ones you never get tired of hearing.

By DAVID S. HUREWITZ
Published: 11/27/2009 2:20 AM
Last Modified: 11/27/2009 5:35 AM

What do "Hooray for Hollywood," "Dream," and "Moon River" have in common? They all were written by Johnny Mercer, a man with a genius for writing fabulous song lyrics. He also composed music and was a popular singer.

I first heard his name and his easy Savannah-southern drawl when I was a kid in the late 1940s. He was singing and narrating two Walt Disney record stories made from the movies, "Song of the South," with Brer Rabbit, Uncle Remus, etc., and "Mickey and the Beanstalk," in which Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Goofy rescue Happy Valley's Magic Harp from Willie the Giant. The harp's voice was that of the singer Martha Tilton.

When I was at a meeting in Savannah recently, I saw preparations under way for the annual Johnny Mercer Festival. After hearing a discussion about him on National Public Radio on Nov. 18, his 100th birthday, I decided to read more about him, his life and his music.

He wrote the lyrics to more than 1,000 songs, received 19 Academy Award nominations and won four Oscars, and was a co-founder of Capital Records. I read that his music is so popular and the tunes that bear his name are so abundant, it is felt that every minute of every day, somewhere in the world, a Johnny Mercer song is heard — incredible!

Although the complete list is too long to list, just look at a few of the Mercer songs spanning 30 years, beginning in the 1930s, that other singers made famous: Tony Bennett, "I Wanna Be Around"; Frank Sinatra, "One for my Baby (and One More for the Road)" and "Summer Wind"; Mel Torme, "Skylark"; Nat King Cole, "Autumn Leaves"; Mills Brothers, "Glow Worm"; and Bing Crosby, "Come Rain or Come Shine."

And how about those hits of the big bands: Glen Miller, "Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe"; Benny Goodman, "When the Angels Sing" (inscribed on Mercer's tombstone) and "Goody Goody"; Tommy Dorsey, "Tangerine"; Louis Prima and Keeley Smith, "That Old Black Magic"; and Les Brown, "Satin Doll" and "Midnight Sun."

Some of his other hit songs include: "I'm an Old Cowhand (From the Rio Grande)"; "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"; "Something's Gotta Give"; "Fools Rush In"; "Blues in the Night"; "Laura"; and "I Remember You."

From 1961 to 1964, a collaboration with Henry Mancini brought us "Moon River," "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Charade."

I've sung, listened to, danced to and played his music as a saxophonist in small combos and big bands over the years. These are standard tunes — ones you never get tired of hearing.

He died in 1976 of a brain tumor.

Thanks, Johnny, for giving us such wonderful, unforgettable music!

David S. Hurewitz, M.D., of Tulsa, is a practicing allergist and a musician.

By DAVID S. HUREWITZ

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	Report Comment fredsdad, Tulsa, OK (11/27/2009 12:53:32 PM) I've frequently said the same thing about Mac Davis' "Oh lord, it's hard to be humble".
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/29/2009 4:15:22 PM) Oh, I don't know, Herb. How 'bout "Home", by Michael Buble? Or "Come Away With Me" by Norah Jones? Or "Tears in Heaven" by Eric Clapton? With ear-splitting bass and mind-numbing junk the norm, we just assume there hasn't been a decent piece of music written in years. Go searching, Herb. There are some new classics out there, I promise.
	Report Comment Elusive, Owasso (11/29/2009 4:54:35 PM) Undoubtedly Music will continue to progress and eventually get out of this rap junk into a new era of classic music again.
	Report Comment true2form, Grand Lake (11/29/2009 5:19:41 PM) A truely American genius. In my profile you'll notice my favorite place listed as "any place I hang my hat". My little tribute to Mercer and one of his songs of the same name.
	Report Comment zzx375, BA (11/29/2009 8:56:56 PM) What a great lyricist.

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