John Herndon Mercer, 1909-1976
"Did Johnny Mercer really write
that? Gee, I’ve been singing that one ever since I was a little girl! I never
knew…" Such is the typical response from many unwitting Mercer fans I have come
into contact with over the years. Savannah’s most famous musician exerted incredible
influence on the world of music. He landed many hits as a singer, wrote over 1000 songs,
and won 4 Academy Awards. He co-founded Capital Records, one of the major players in the
music industry during and since the 1940’s. During Mel Tormé’s last tour
through Savannah, the late jazz great boldly proclaimed Mercer as "unequivocally the
greatest [American] lyricist ever." Indeed, there is no arguing that Mercer was the
most popular lyricist during the Jazz Era, a time when America’s music was making its
mark on the rest of the world in a positive, lasting way. Although I never met Johnny
Mercer, I, like you, have known his music all my life. I have also had the pleasure of
meeting some of his family members here in Savannah.
This CD has been a different
recording project from others that I have done. Many colleagues have found it strange that
I would produce a jazz combo album when I don’t (to date) perform in a regular combo.
The simple truth is that Johnny Mercer is jazz and therefore must be artistically treated
as such. My experience as a jazz arranger/producer/artist for publisher Manion Music has
fortified me with a desire to treat jazz in its traditional combo medium. Having such
musical gems as Ben Tucker and Marc Cordray here in Savannah sealed the decision to use
the combo. I hope you thoroughly enjoy my tribute to Johnny Mercer. I only regret that a
single CD can accommodate but a fraction of Mercer’s musical treasure chest.
-David Duckworth
Savannah, GA
February, 2002
For his work on this CD, David
Duckworth was interviewed on Georgia Public Radio for the Georgia Gazette
radio show on March 31, 2002. A copy of the 13-minute interview may be heard
here.
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