Celebrating Mercer Near the Moon River By Lesley Francis Even the aftermath of hurricane Matthew can t stop the residents of Skidaway Island from a great party at the Plantation Club especially when that party celebrates the life and music of Johnny Mercer. The second annual birthday party takes place on the evening of Friday, November 18, which would have been Mercer s 107th birthday (he died in 1976). The evening Hooray for Hollywood (after Mercer s 1938 hit song) will feature a glamorous, Hollywood 30s art deco theme, and attendees are encouraged to dress elegantly. Plans for the evening include dinner, dancing, entertainment, a 50/50 raffle and a member/cash bar. Kim Michael Polote, winner of the 2001 American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATVC) Gold Medal, 2006 Gold Medal winner and ATVC Artistic Consultant Vale Rideout, and 2014 Gold Medal winner Mikki Sodergren will delight attendees by performing some of Mercer s classics. Mercer resonates with many of us who reside on Skidaway Island, so close to the Moon River which inspired him to write one of his most famous songs. Mercer wrote Moon River (music by Henry Mancini) in 1961 for the film Breakfast at Tiffany s, winning his third Academy Award. Aside from this obvious connection, many of Mercer s songs and lyrics 8 VOL. 14 ISSUE 22 TheSkinnie 1422 Skinnie.indd 8 10/31/16 8:57 AM
speak to the Southern way of life, its geography, nature, climate and manners. He peppered his songs with mockingbirds and meadowlarks, describing opossums in the pines and singing crickets. During his 50-year career, the legendary lyricist, songwriter and singer often cited Georgia as his source for artistic inspiration. Mercer s work helped put the Peach State on the musical map, setting the scene for his native city of Savannah to become a hub of cultural and musical entertainment. The genius of Mercer s lyrics ensures that his work still speaks to us today particularly to those of us beguiled by Savannah s Southern charms and way of life. Anyone who has enjoyed a refreshing beverage at the end of a hot summer day in Georgia cannot help to relate to Mercer s In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening. The lyricist was born John Herndon Mercer on November 18, 1909, into an old Southern family. His father was a wealthy attorney with a flourishing real estate business, and Johnny s well-connected family led to an excellent education and access to many of the cultural institutions in the city. He was a choirboy at Christ Church and a student at Chatham Academy, and his teenage years exposed him to influences that remained with him throughout his life. At the DeSoto Hotel and Barbee s Pavilion on Isle of Hope, Mercer danced the Charleston while drinking bootleg liquor with older brothers and cousins. On Tybee Island, he played the ukulele and sang at Savannah s Little Theater. Johnny was 17 when his father s business collapsed, along with the end of the Florida real estate boom, and he found himself a million dollars in debt (the equivalent of around $13 million today). Rather than declare bankruptcy, his father dedicated the rest of his life to paying off that debt, and suddenly young John Mercer, no longer able to attend college, was on his way to New York City, hoping to make good as an actor. As we now know, this was not his destiny. After beginning his career as a lyricist, he ended up in Hollywood writing songs for the movies, lyrics for musicals, and hosting his own radio show before founding the extremely successful Capitol Records in 1942. Within four years, Capitol was responsible for almost 20 percent of all records sold in the U.S. As well as writing hit songs for four decades from the 30s through the 60s Mercer was the founding president of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He often returned to Georgia, and in later life purchased a house near Vernon View on Burnside Island as his Savannah retreat. Mercer s father had died in 1940, having paid off $700,000 of the million he owed. In 1955, Mercer sold his share in Capitol records and surprised his father s creditors by using $300,000 of the proceeds to pay off the remainder of the debt. The American Traditions Vocal Competition (ATVC), is deeply connected to Johnny Mercer and offers a special award presented by the Friends of Johnny Mercer, Inc. and Armstrong State University. The contestant who is judged to give the best performance of a Johnny Mercer song in the quarter- or semifinals wins the honor and a cash prize of $750. Turning back to the November 18 party at the Plantation Club, the three ATVC Gold Medal winners shared some of their memories of the inaugural Mercer birthday bash in 2015 and what Johnny Mercer s music TheSkinnie VOL. 14 ISSUE 22 9 1422 Skinnie.indd 9 10/31/16 8:57 AM
The American Traditions Vocal Competition proudly presents the second annual Johnny Mercer Birthday Bash, Hooray for Hollywood on Friday, November 18, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Landings Plantation Club. Space is limited, and last year s Birthday Bash sold out, so anyone interested in attending is urged to reserve a space soon. Tickets are $85 per person. To purchase tickets, please contact Maddie Harwood at 912.508.1133 or maddie@cemamerica. com. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the American Traditions Vocal Competition. The ATVC s next season runs from Feb. 20-24, 2017. Please visit www.americantraditionscompetition.com for more information. 10 VOL. 14 ISSUE 22 TheSkinnie 1422 Skinnie.indd 10 10/31/16 8:57 AM
means to them. Vale Rideout: Last year s Johnny Mercer celebration was one of my favorite events of the ATC outside the competition itself. Celebrating Johnny Mercer with as passionate a crowd as we had last year was so very exciting. The audience was in a dancing and singing mood - and we were there in a way that Johnny would have loved: a jubilant celebration of American music and everything that is great about it! Johnny Mercer was a man who expressed our common humanity in a true American Way. He was a man of ALL the people through his music and life. Savannah should always celebrate his music. My favorite Johnny Mercer song is due to the birth of my baby girl. Every night that I get to put her to bed, I sing Hit The Road to Dreamland for her - and ever since she has been able to talk, she will still ask for daddy to sing, Bye, Bye, Baby. I simply love singing that fabulous Mercer song for her as she goes to sleep. It is the most important moment of my singing every day. Kim Michael Polote: I think Johnny Mercer and his music are very important to Savannah because he s the man behind the music that the greatest generation grew up to, went off to war to, and returned home to! Writing more than 1,700 songs, he was one of the most prolific and successful songwriters in the 20th century. Tourists not only embrace but celebrate this native son! Yes...he is a great tourist attraction! My trio and I have been performing a Jumping with Johnny Show for the past 11 years. My favorite songs are Skylark and Moon River. I sang Skylark for my friend and Johnny Mercer s niece, Nancy Mercer Gerard, at her Bonaventure gravesite farewell service. Skylark is on her tombstone. As a native daughter of Savannah, it is my joy to be a part of keeping the legacy of Johnny s music very much in the main stream. I enjoyed last year s celebration for Johnny very much, and working with Mikki and Vale was fun. I m looking forward to sharing more about Johnny Mercer s family history as well as Johnny Mercer the man, in addition to his music at this year s event. Mikki Sodergren: Last year s Johnny Mercer birthday celebration was full of happy faces. I love seeing how music can bring people together for a common cause, and what better cause than to celebrate Savannah s own great lyricist Johnny Mercer? I chose Skylark when I entered the ATVC and I really love this song because it talks about wanting to be somewhere that you are not, seeking someone who is out of your grasp. My favorite Johnny Mercer song is Moon River. I know this sounds cliché, but TheSkinnie VOL. 14 ISSUE 22 11 1422 Skinnie.indd 11 10/31/16 8:57 AM
As one of the founders of Capitol Records, Johnny managed to pay off much of the debt incurred when his father s business collapsed in the 1920s. it s true. Firstly, Henry Mancini wrote a gorgeous melody that is very simple. The simplicity of this matches Johnny s elegant yet tangible lyrics, which leads to a great song. Secondly, this song has become like a sensory memory to me. All of the memories from years of performances in Savannah are wrapped up in this song, and imbued into it. Whenever I sing this anywhere else, I am filled with those memories. I think Mercer is important to Savannah because he was able to take his unique cultural experiences of the Southern way of life and make them universal through song lyrics. His music is important because it s a time capsule to the golden age of American music; it s honest, accessible, and continues to bring joy to people. S 12 VOL. 14 ISSUE 22 TheSkinnie www.theskinnie. 1422 Skinnie.indd 12 10/31/16 8:57 AM