Johnny Mercer (1909–1976) was an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and record executive whose career spanned more than four decades. Born in Savannah, Georgia, Mercer moved to New York in the late 1920s and began writing songs for Broadway before establishing himself as one of the leading lyricists of the American popular-song era. He later moved to Hollywood, where he wrote extensively for films and recorded as a singer.
Mercer wrote the lyrics to more than 1,400 songs, including “Hooray for Hollywood,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Autumn Leaves,” “Moon River,” and “Days of Wine and Roses.” He received 18 Academy Award nominations and won four Oscars for Best Original Song.
In 1942, Mercer joined businessman Glenn E. Wallichs and songwriter and producer Buddy DeSylva to establish a new Los Angeles record company. The company was initially incorporated as Liberty Records before its name was changed to Capitol Records. Mercer became Capitol’s first president and chief talent scout, signing important early artists including Nat “King” Cole, Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, Peggy Lee, and Stan Kenton.
Was this helpful?
0 / 0
[…] Records was a short-lived American record company established in Los Angeles in 1942 by songwriter Johnny Mercer, lyricist and producer Buddy DeSylva, and businessman Glenn E. Wallichs, founder of the Liberty […]
[…] 1942, DeSylva provided important financial backing for the new record company being developed by Johnny Mercer and Glenn E. Wallichs. The three men incorporated the company under the name Liberty Records, which […]
[…] that the West Coast needed a major record company of its own. In 1942, he worked with songwriter Johnny Mercer and film producer and songwriter Buddy DeSylva to establish a new record company. The company was […]